There is a god

ESPN's mobile phone (you know, the one they showcase when discussing someone's sudden death on tv?) is tanking.

Couldn't happen to a better bunch of dick heads.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/
Mobile ESPN has lost $25M so far after launching a $30M ad campaign that included an ad on ABC’s Super Bowl broadcast, according to Alice Cuneo of AD AGE. Disney President & CEO Robert Iger acknowledged, “Initial results were a little bit lower than we had hoped. But we have changed our pricing approach, we have strengthened and redirected our marketing, we’re expanding our presence at retail.” Ovum wireless analyst Roger Entner said that the $25M loss “would be considered ‘normal’ by carrier standards.” Entner added, “I would rather expect that to increase with more customers coming on board, but to swing into profitability [within 2-3 years]”

 

who needs it? you're online or have satellite radio or espnnews or espnradio just the local sports talk station. it's just too dweeby, even for dweebs.

 

UPDATE (via Gawker)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/new_media/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002876092

Merrill Lynch: Kill ESPN Mobile!
Analysts Jessica Reif Cohen and Michael Kopelman on Wednesday wrote that "it is time for Disney to pull the plug on Mobile ESPN," charging that since Disney launched the service with much fanfare during Super Bowl XL, the company has had little luck landing paying subscribers. Merrill added that while Disney significantly reduced the cost of the handset in April, dropping the price of its Samsung model to $99 after the original Sanyo handset launched at $399, "the model does not appear to be a particularly attractive use of capital," as the reseller business traditionally offers a low return on investment.

UPDATE to the Update
A more detailed article (via Deadspin): http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002876073

 

Maybe they just need to air more commercials.

 

They just need to put a page designer-type spin on it. Then people will think they sell by the thousands.

 

Their sales are worse than Quite Frankly's early ratings . . .

 

Next comment like that and you'll get a red card, Dye.

 

Shoot, I was really looking forward to getting a Berman ringtone -- "Backbackbackbackback!"

 

Having seen first-hand just how brilliant the boys in Bristol are, I'm surprised this ridiculous thing's sold more than five copies.

The phone's ugly, expensive, and fills a need no one has. Not unike John Skipper.

 

Yeah, especially with that stalker guy. That would sell more phones.

 

That is perhaps one of your more needlessly asshole-ish statements. You're a fuckhead, plain and simple. And I don't normally call people names on here.

 

I'm sure it's not even in the top 100.

And you need to get better on the name-calling. Fucktard.