Posted on 05/01/2017 11:35:01 AM PDT by drewh
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you most likely know that ESPN just went through massive layoffs. The reason behind the layoffs? Don't miss the politics factor.
How many times have you or someone you know said the following, “Why doesn’t ESPN just stick to sports?” or “Since when did ESPN become a political channel?” Well, apparently Linda Cohn, who has been with the network for over 25 years, thinks politics IS partly to blame for the layoffs. In an interview this past Friday with WABC’s “Bernie and Sid Show,” Cohn spoke about the loss of viewership the network has been experiencing.
Cohn, when asked if she feels there was a “distaste” among viewers for politics invading the programming decisions, said she feels it that is “definitely a percentage of it....I don’t know how big a percentage,” she said, “but if anyone wants to ignore that fact, then they’re blind. And that’s what I meant about the core group of what made ESPN so successful.”
Cindy Boren of The Washington Post elaborated:
Whether ESPN got there first or was merely led by athletes, who are increasingly becoming vocal about politics and social justice, doesn’t really matter in the face of criticism that has become a nearly constant presence. ESPN was ripped almost two years ago for giving Caitlyn Jenner its Arthur Ashe Courage Award over Lauren Hill, the Mount St. Joseph basketball player who had brain cancer. The criticism continued over its coverage of Colin Kaepernick last year and his protest of the national anthem. The network roamed farther and farther away from coverage, running near-constant debates with “hot takes” that can alienate viewers. Fandom can be polarizing enough without politics creeping into things.
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Despite ESPN’s claim that their lack of viewership and recent layoffs are the result of streaming online video platforms, one thing is for certain – just as the news media couldn't suppress a tone of panic and loathing over Donald Trump and helped sink Hillary Clinton, ESPN seems to be following in their footsteps by choosing politics over audience-building.
Exactly, they are activist liberal - it turns OFF viewers.
Not surprised.
ESPN could employ the most conservative anchors & staff imaginable. But, it would not help if their sports coverage remained the same mess it is now.
I agree that ESPN and their political views reduced their viewership. My husband is a HUGE sports fan and since about a year ago he doesn’t watch ESPN, CNN, HLN, or etc. because of their non-stop war on Trump.
“Why doesn’t ESPN just stick to sports?”
Well the simple fact of the matter is, where I come from you can warn someone about peeing on the electric fence and they will either believe you, or they will have to figure it out for themselves...ESPN chose the latter.
We can call it the Kaepernickification of ESPN.
They went for the black and homosexual demographic and now they have it!
“Well, apparently Linda Cohn, who has been with the network for over 25 years, thinks politics IS partly to blame for the layoffs. In an interview this past Friday with WABC’s “Bernie and Sid Show,” Cohn spoke about the loss of viewership the network has been experiencing.”
Well, Linda need look no further than her Secular Progressive (and mostly Jewish) owners and managers who view their “failing business” as a ready mouthpiece for their radical politics. Who knew pi$$ing off at least have your viewers wouldn’t result in wholesale cancellations? I just hope I live to see the day when they all go completely broke, and that includes Disney, NBC Universal and CNN.
Don’t give that thug any more attention than he already has gotten...............
That’s why I stopped watching football last year, both NFL and NCAA. Those idiots disrespect me so much that they want me to pee with tranny freaks? Screw ‘em.
Much of that mess is attributed to its incorporation of politics, politic topics, or political correctness.
I cut cable TV awhile back and haven’t missed it a bit. I still get to watch and read what I want on the internet. Way too many shows, talk shows, news programs, documentaries were going the way with way too much liberal progressive garbage (regular TV programming is just as bad or worse). I enjoy sports but was glad to be rid of ESPN for these reasons.
I refuse to pay for this agenda, where they constantly try to preach to me through these medias, which I understand their agenda has been one huge failure for America.
Screw them and their failed agenda, I’ll gladly figure something out and go elsewhere, which I did.
CGato
Pseudoliberal politics became a drug on the mart. Surprise, the hangover has come.
I had an argument on the ESPN website comment section over this very issue with a gay snowflake two weeks before the election. He maintained it was a lack of diversity and LGBT coverage for the sharp drop-off in subscriptions. I concluded by telling him he would be in for a rude awakening on November 9th when America would be rejecting his nonsense. The smug SoB thought I was crazy but I still smile contemplating his reaction as Hillary was smacked down.
Come on, that was funny. I honestly believe making his name synonymous with “killing the goose that lays golden eggs” is appropriate.
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