Sporting News Today: What's the buzz?

I prefer this method to the ESPN method, where they attribute everything to themselves.

 

I really think they're onto something, and there's not much in the way of new that I like out there right now (other than SI.com's Vault, which I love, and ESPN.com's college football bloggers, who are hit and miss — some must-read, some mediocre).

As impressed as I've been with Sporting News Today, though, I've been blown away by the new magazine. It's completely different. 100 times better than it's been since I've been reading, which is about 1989.

Latest issue, second one under new format, was loaded. And some good outside help too — Feinstein, Vaccaro, to name two.

 

I must get my hands on that. You're not the first I've heard that from.

 

You won't even recognize it. It's completely different than old TSN and others mags out there. I don't even mind that it no longer comes out every week.

 

I second (or third or fourth that, whatever) what you said. TSN the magazine is radically different than what it was and it's definitely full of features and better tidbits.

It's worth looking at.

 

Thanks, Shot.

 

Is there any buzz among readers? Are people paying attention to it?

 

Agreed. Before they started announcing the changes (and the new hires), I'd all but decided to let my subscription run out. Now I'm glad I didn't. Vac's feature on Tom Coughlin was worth the price of admission.

 

Does anyone think this could mean the start of any sort of trend that might turn around our dying industry? Or is this just a one-shop niche in the market?

 

They had a 34-page section today. 49 a week ago. And it's free. Not sure why anyone wouldn't like it. For those who haven't seen, here are a few links to pages:

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080912/?pg=8&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080916/?pg=14&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080723/?pg=23&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080920/?pg=11&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080805/?pg=3&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080916/?pg=20&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080910/?pg=2&pm=1&u1=friend

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20080914/?pg=27&pm=1&u1=friend

 

I started it this week; kind of "leaf" through it very quickly. They did have Dwayne Wade (note spelling) on the cover the other day. Whoops. Like you said, it's free, so the only thing I'm wasting is my time, and even then it's not very long if there's nothing I like in that "issue."

 

That is EXACTLY my thought.
Think of all the advantages. You save money by cutting out paper, ink, press and crew. You can have a later deadline. You can reach anyone anywhere instead of being limited to a certain delivery area. And you can reach any "subscriber" willing to sign up rather than only those who will pay for the product.
If you can get the advertisers to embrace the model — and they seem to be with SNT so far — you can turn this thing around quick, fast and in a hurry.