The blue collar viewers hate this stuff. It just costs ESPN commercial eyeball time, as most of us go away and come back (if we do) for actual sports.
Some “bright” person seems to have inculcated management with the idea that sports viewers are dumb and trapped, so they can be indoctrinated. That’s not what happens, IMHO. It just pisses off the targeted viewers.
I have resigned myself not to watch sports in real time. The DVR with fast forward and mute buttons remove the commercials, inane commentary and Super Bowl halftime shows.