The Sports Media Thread

[Ksyrup]

I think we've all aged so much that we don't remember being 20-something. I used to listen to political talk radio, sports shit talk shows, and argue online about really, really stupid stuff when I was younger, until I woke up one day and realized it wasn't worth it.

I don't know if it was becoming more mature or just getting tired as I aged, frankly. Or maybe having a family and career by the time I was late-20s into my 30s that I spent most of my energy on left me unable to muster a single fuck to give about "Who's better, LeBron or MJ?," or "Should Barry Bonds be in the HoF?," or "If Romo goes on vacation during the season, does he want to win?"-type bullshit. I'm sure the topics are even more ridiculous in the social media era. But I can totally see 20-something males eating that shit up, because what else is there to do?

[Ksyrup]

Wow. No wonder they were OK shoving MLB to the curb to double-down on the NFL.

ESPN Could Spend As Much As $2 Billion To Buy The NFL Network, NFL RedZone, & NFL+ (https://cordcuttersnews.com/espn-will-reportedly-spend-2-billion-to-buy-the-nfl-network-nfl-redzone-nfl/)

[albionmoonlight]

Sigh.

I like NFL+

I sort of hate the current model of "Create something good that people enjoy so that you can sell it to one of six mega corporations that will make it shitty."

I mean, the NFL certainly will make more money this way, so I get it. Just sucks from the consumer perspective.

[flere-imsaho]

I feel there was a point in my lifetime where a switch flipped from companies, in general, trying to make better products all the time, to companies, in general, trying to make products that were just good enough but, crucially, had better profit margins, but I can't pinpoint exactly when that happened.

This post brought to you by using, yesterday, a Craftsman circular saw inherited from my FIL that I'm sure he bought in the 80s.

[Lathum]

I can't wait to have red zone ruined by Pat Mcafee doing dude bro schtick non stop...

[Ksyrup]

I feel there was a point in my lifetime where a switch flipped from companies, in general, trying to make better products all the time, to companies, in general, trying to make products that were just good enough but, crucially, had better profit margins, but I can't pinpoint exactly when that happened.

This post brought to you by using, yesterday, a Craftsman circular saw inherited from my FIL that I'm sure he bought in the 80s.

And were created/improved just enough to create value so they could be flipped to someone else to ruin.

[miami_fan]

Note to all media but especially sports media.

I will never EVER need to receive an breaking news alert from your media company about the Shannon Sharpe allegations!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sigh.

I like NFL+

I sort of hate the current model of "Create something good that people enjoy so that you can sell it to one of six mega corporations that will make it shitty."

I mean, the NFL certainly will make more money this way, so I get it. Just sucks from the consumer perspective.

I really like NFL+, too. It's really been a great app/service. The ability to watch games and the RedZone from my phone or iPad anywhere is huge.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I think we've all aged so much that we don't remember being 20-something. I used to listen to political talk radio, sports shit talk shows, and argue online about really, really stupid stuff when I was younger, until I woke up one day and realized it wasn't worth it.

I don't know if it was becoming more mature or just getting tired as I aged, frankly. Or maybe having a family and career by the time I was late-20s into my 30s that I spent most of my energy on left me unable to muster a single fuck to give about "Who's better, LeBron or MJ?," or "Should Barry Bonds be in the HoF?," or "If Romo goes on vacation during the season, does he want to win?"-type bullshit. I'm sure the topics are even more ridiculous in the social media era. But I can totally see 20-something males eating that shit up, because what else is there to do?

I totally agree. There is only one local sports talk show that I like and it's really just one guy, who I enjoy. If he's on vacation or something, I won't listen. Even when I do, I only ever listen through the app and only to segments that sound interesting.

[Logan]

Anyone else ever log in for the first time in ~5 years and be shocked to see a thread you started 13 years ago still be on the front page???

Just scrolling and seeing some names really brings me back. Great to see so many still active.

Hope you all have been well :).

[Thomkal]

Anyone else ever log in for the first time in ~5 years and be shocked to see a thread you started 13 years ago still be on the front page???

Just scrolling and seeing some names really brings me back. Great to see so many still active.

Hope you all have been well :).


Hi Logan :)


The best part is when someone doesn't see it was started 10 years ago and acting like it was new :D

[flere-imsaho]

Good to see you, Logan!

[Lathum]

https://www.fox29.com/news/dave-portnoy-revokes-trip-poland-temple-student-involved-antisemitic-incident-philly-bar

[miami_fan]

I used to watch it Around The Horn on a regular basis when we moved to South Dakota and my wife would join me ever so often and enjoyed the show even as a non sports fan.

Fast forward 23 years later, I tuned into for the final episode even though I haven't watched in ten plus years. My wife saw it was on my office TV, was shocked it was on and then proceeded to name all of the old timers on the panel only missing on Frank Isola. She is now in tears at how old Tony Reali has gotten.

What a run.

[Ksyrup]

Not sure he qualified as "famous" so I'll put it here... just saw that John Brenkus died. It's been "a hot minute" as the kids say, since I watched ESPN for anything other than live sports, but there was a time when his Sports Science short videos were all over ESPN.

The announcement I read said that he lost his battle with depression, so I assume that means he killed himself.

[Ksyrup]

I stopped listening to talk radio shows years ago, but apparently Stephen A. Smith has decided he isn't loud enough just on ESPN or General Hospital or whatever else he yells on, so now he's taking his talent for engagement (I guess that's the best way to describe it) to SXM, and some show co-hosted by Michelle Beadle got axed. She went scorched earth on air for a couple of days, and her and her co-host (don't recall the name but I had never heard of him before) got canned.

Probably the most entertaining kind of sports talk show is when the hosts go on the air not long after being blindsided with news they are being replaced. Kinda wish I knew about it as it happened!

[Lathum]

I always liked Beadle. Going to have to find out what happened Steven A is actually pretty mellow on general hospital as one of Sunny’s henchmen.

[Ksyrup]

That's true, but just seeing him on screen makes my ears bleed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

looks like the now-unemployed co-host is former Padres outfield Cody Decker. Probably best known as Jenn Sterger's ex-husband.

[bhlloy]

After watching the Favre documentary, that's the second time I've heard that name in a week after not hearing it for a very long time before that.

[Ksyrup]

ESPN has really screwed the consumer on its coverage of the Australian Open. It used to be, they have main coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 and everything else through ESPN+.

Now, they've spread coverage over multiple networks/streaming services, each with its own fee.

This guy puts a humorous spin on it, but it's total bullshit.

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="740"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/comments/1qk15j2/booby_finn_on_the_australian_open_and_espn/">Booby Finn on the Australian Open and ESPN</a><br> by<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/amy_sport/">u/amy_sport</a> in<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/tennis/">tennis</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

[Ksyrup]

I know no one cares about tennis, so I didn't expect anyone to respond to my last post. But now, this also applies to MLB packages - starting in 2026, there is now basically a double paywall. You have to be an ESPN Unlimited subscriber to purchase MLB.TV.

If you want MLB.tv this season, you’ll need to jump through ESPN’s hoops (https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/mlb-tv-season-need-to-jump-through-hoops.html)

[RainMaker]

Why do I have a feeling they are going to do the same with NFL Redzone next year?

[PilotMan]

I know no one cares about tennis, so I didn't expect anyone to respond to my last post. But now, this also applies to MLB packages - starting in 2026, there is now basically a double paywall. You have to be an ESPN Unlimited subscriber to purchase MLB.TV.

If you want MLB.tv this season, you’ll need to jump through ESPN’s hoops (https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/mlb-tv-season-need-to-jump-through-hoops.html)


This post has been updated to clarify current MLB.tv subscribers that are setup for auto-renewal will not need an ESPN Unlimited subscription this season.


MLB.tv subscribers can cancel the ESPN Unlimited subscription during their free trial and still retain access to MLB.tv throughout the entire season. Likewise, if you already have access to ESPN Unlimited through your cable, satellite, or virtual TV provider, there’s no need to pay the extra $30 per month. Additionally, if your MLB.tv subscription is set to be auto-renewed from last season, you will not need an ESPN Unlimited subscription.

whew

[Ksyrup]

It's still horseshit that they are going to force people to subscribe solely for the fact that X% will forget to unsubscribe or not realize they don't need the subscription. What a racket.

I have YTTV so by fall we're supposed to have Unlimited included in our subscription, but we'll see.

[Sweed]

It's still horseshit that they are going to force people to subscribe solely for the fact that X% will forget to unsubscribe or not realize they don't need the subscription. What a racket.

I have YTTV so by fall we're supposed to have Unlimited included in our subscription, but we'll see.

I also have YTTV. If RZ isn't available from them (whether we get Unlimited or not) at the same $11 a month and the only way to get it is direct through espn with a double subscription I'll pass. I'd rather pay full price for Sunday Ticket to YTTV than give the assholes at espn my money for RZ. Best guess is with them it will be loaded with commercials. Half the screen will have the games without audio a good deal of the time, and the other half commercials with audio.

As far as MLB.TV? It's a joke with the blackout rules and having to wait 90 minutes (?) after a game is over to be able to watch it. Thank goodness the Cubs moved to Marquee. The games are live and it can be bought as a standalone.

[Ksyrup]

Well...as expected!

We want to share an update regarding a member benefit. Due to changes in MLBTV sales channels, ESPN is now the streaming home of MLBTV. As a result, the MLB Players Alumni Association is no longer able to offer an MLBTV subscription discount.

Looks like I won't be buying the package this year.

[Ghost Econ]

T-Mobile is still giving out codes, but no idea how that would interact with ESPN Unlimited (which I have at the moment with Hulu and Disney for $12 month through the end of the year). I should have 2 extra codes whenever it goes live I can try to pay he if anyone wants a free sub.

[Ksyrup]

This year is kinda limbo, I guess. I have YTTV and supposedly "by the end of the year" or this fall, ESPN Unlimited will be included with our subscription. So I think that means that for the 2027 season that likely won't happen, I could buy the package. But I'm not buying ESPN Unlimited now for the privilege of then buying MLB.TV when I'm going to get it free at some point. MLB can suck eggs.

[miami_fan]

I got triggered into going down a YouTube rabbit hole of old time sports broadcasters and some of their most famous moments on air. After watching some of his Wide World of Sports moments, I just got to Jim McKay's coverage of the Munich Massacre.

JFC. That guy was just doing sports?!

While I believe that Bob Costas could probably do the task, I don't think there is anyone in sports media today who could have just turned a switch and become the person to anchor a tragedy of that magnitude like Mckay and be as credible. I don't think I could convince a person unfamiliar with McKay and sports, that the person anchoring that coverage of the Munich Massacre was talking up the greatness of the World Chess Championships and the International Bikini Sports Competition a few weeks prior to that event.

[cuervo72]

James Brown possibly - he's filled in as anchor for CBS News on occasion.