The problem, I think, is that ESPN has outlived its usefulness: it was a great idea in the early days of national cable channels to reach a collection of niche markets (baseball fans, hockey fans, etc.), but it is no longer necessary with the proliferation of TV and post-TV methods of obtaining sports. The only way it can keep itself relevant in the eyes of those who regulate the media is to hug the liberal standards as tightly as possible, knowing it will lose audience for its non-sports-event shows, but it will be able to stay in the cable cabal for a while longer.
There are some interesting articles and blogs out there on the future of ESPN, particularly since it is believed to have lost 2 million “cable cutters” in the past year or two.
SportsCenter took alot of hits, that its usefulness has been supplanted by instant scores/videos etc.
And that ESPN has locked itself into annual commitments of $6 BILLION for sports rights for years to come.
definitely ESPN is a drag on the Disney stock price....