"Kagan Research says ESPN already harvests more ad revenues than any other cable network, projecting a record $869.2 million in 2005, a 9% gain over those of last year."
Doing what they're doing now.So, lets mess it up.
What it comes down to is simple economics at the end of the day. ESPN can sell these original programs to other networks and put them on DVD and make millions in revenue. They put the season of Tilt on DVD and it sold like hotcakes for some reason,although the show essentially sucked.
The same thing with "3" The Dale Earnhardt Story,they put that out on DVD and also gave rights to SPIKE-TV to air it as well. Tens of millions of dollars.
ESPN is on in many bars. If the bars stop showing ESPN because they are not showing sports I can see some of that beer money going to FOX Sports Net.