The Top 5 Reasons ESPN's Ratings Are in Freefall

PJ Media ^ | March 21, 2017 | Jeff Reynolds

[C19fan]

In March, several outlets gleefully reported that ESPN was near collapse as a network. Conveniently, several of these reports came from competitors to ESPN who hope to capitalize and gain market share. Nonetheless, it is true that ESPN will be cutting $100 million in salaries -- most from very recognizable on-air talent -- in a cost-cutting move to shore up their bottom line.

[Paine in the Neck]

Top 5 reasons in 5 letters:

S
J
W


B
S

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"If Fox sports 1 were smart they would hire conservative sports pundits and commentators and go to the right of ESPN"

As Michael Jordan famously said years ago when asked why he doesn't get behind more "social" causes, conservatives buy shoes also. I think it would be a bad idea for Fox Sports to go right. One of the reasons people like watching sports and sports programming is to escape the rest of life for a while. The reason the liberal pap being thrown out by ESPN is not working is also why it won't work if Fox goes right. As right wing as I am, I don't want to be preached to (whether I agree with the speaker or not) while watching sports.

[Hiro Protaginast]

Their website is even worse. On top of all the SJW aspect of their normal articles, they have a seperate black racist, anti-white section of the mag called ‘The Undefeated”.

[NonValueAdded]

Concur. I like Mike but I cannot stand Mike.

[Fantasywriter]

That bottom gif—if I’d had anything in my mouth when I first watched it, I’d be dead right now. It’s hilarious!

[JimRed]

I watch the games, period. I don’t watch the buildups, the post-game analysis or the speculation shows.

[RayChuang88]

This is why ESPN President John Skipper's reputation is now on the line. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament had a 34% increase in viewership this year, while at the same time, NBA ratings are down 18%. There are serious issues affecting the NBA--too much acting like social justice warriors and the star players "sitting" during showcase games on Thursday and Saturday nights is hugely hurting patronage on TV.

[GOPJ]

Liberal elites - who hate traditional Americans - doing sports color for traditional American audiences?

Maybe the Oscars should be MC’ed by a good old boy from Arkansas - maybe someone like Mike Huckabee. I’m sure Hollywood elites and their ‘fans’ would love it. /s

[Labyrinthos]

Whatever, it is nauseating and I’d rather watch the Weather Channel...

In other words, rather than watching a libtard sports network, you watch a libtard weather station that pushes the global warming agenda and names snowstorms.

[mykroar]

I caught the Duke lacrosse one, that was brutal.

[StoneWall Brigade]

You guys make a good point

[pinkandgreenmom]

Same here. We used to watch Mike and Mike every single day (even though we pretty much only follow football). Greenburg became so insufferable that we stopped watching two years ago. I don’t even turn it on for big events anymore.

[KevinB]

Could something like this be a reason? Nah, couldn't possibly.

ESPN commentator Israel Gutierrez with his "husband".

[Stentor]

Who would have predicted that? /s

[super7man]

My problem is that I would have to get cable TV to not watch ESPN. But that’s too much trouble.

[scooby321]

The Day ESPN declared War on Tim Tebow is the day it started down hill

Today they are claiming the fans are fascist because a no talent unliked by the buying Public Colin Kaepernick

Their business model is horrible

They think their precious NBA is popular yet they are in free fall and going to make their players play every game

Too Late nobody cares

[ohioman]

They can call these weirdos many things, but neither of these mental defectives are a “husband”. These people are as brain damaged as the fictional Norman Bates.

[CommerceComet]

I think that ESPN has been in decline since they started to think that they were more the show than the sports they were covering. The pretentiousness of that group is insufferable.

[rllngrk33]

1. I got rid of cable at the end of last year and don't miss it a bit.

2. I don't care about ESPN sports on TV any more.

3. I haven't watched ESPN for years.

you all can add reasons 4 and 5

[fortheDeclaration]

Agreed. Can’t watch their PC nonsense anymore.