The ESPN Thread

[SDHIll1980 150]

10 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

ESPN is reportedly close to a deal with NFLN.

 

NFL Network is in cost-cutting mode, as they're laying-off some staff, including many on-air personalities, plus cancelling Total Access.  If ESPN takes over NFL Media, then more than likely NFL Live will take over as the Shield's "show of record".  Also, because NFL Media is now currently based across the driveway from SoFi Stadium, it would also potentially give ESPN a second Los Angeles-area studio facility to operate from, if necessary.

 

This has been rumored for years.

[Viper550 318]

ESPN posted a sizzle reel focusing on the new SEC on ABC package, and I think we're definitely getting a new ESPN College Football scoreboard. It's interesting, giving me the more compact vibes of the basketball one at least. I can't see them being exclusive to SEC games (the existing package, except for the scoreboard, aged pretty well)

 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

The SEC on ABC will use a revamped version of the early 2000s ESPN College Football theme.

 

On 7/18/2024 at 3:40 PM, Viper550 said:

ESPN posted a sizzle reel focusing on the new SEC on ABC package, and I think we're definitely getting a new ESPN College Football scoreboard. It's interesting, giving me the more compact vibes of the basketball one at least. I can't see them being exclusive to SEC games (the existing package, except for the scoreboard, aged pretty well)

 

 

Turns out that new scorebug, graphics and music are exclusive to the SEC; all other coverage will continue using the existing 2020 graphics and music.

[MD TV 390]

Adrian Wojnarowski is leaving ESPN for a position at his alma mater:

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41313868/adrian-wojnarowski-retires-espn-joins-st-bonaventure

[Viper550 318]

A promo for the CFP rankings show has a logo that follows the same "shield" template as the SEC on ABC. Though except for the bracket graphics (which used a completely different style of graphic to anything else), the current studio graphics were otherwise out in full force

 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

As per the New York Post, Around The Horn is ending next year.

[J.W. Rodriguez 28]

Reminiscent of what happened at CBS regarding the Jaguars/Chiefs Week 1 NFL game back in 2019, ESPN suffered a malfunction of their own during the Auburn/Kentucky College Basketball game earlier today.

https://awfulannouncing.com/college-basketball/abc-auburn-kentucky-technical-difficulties.html

 

[NYAZSporty 197]

28 minutes ago, J.W. Rodriguez said:

Reminiscent of what happened at CBS regarding the Jaguars/Chiefs Week 1 NFL game back in 2019, ESPN suffered a malfunction of their own during the Auburn/Kentucky College Basketball game earlier today.

https://awfulannouncing.com/college-basketball/abc-auburn-kentucky-technical-difficulties.html

 

More like the 2008 Chargers/Bills game where the power went out & CBS missed loads of action since Chiefs/Jaguars 2019 Week 1 happened when the game was winding down around the 2-minute warning. ESPN/ABC lucked out in the fact that Auburn dominated the 2nd half & it wasn't an exciting, close game at the end. Turned out to have an effect on the game as the refs weren't able to do a replay review on one play, although I'm sure they could've also considered maybe taking video from the arena itself with the jumbotron. I'm sure hockey fans were happy considering if it weren't for this technical issue, they'd probably be scrambling their remotes looking for ESPNEWS to see the start of Bruins/Penguins because AUB/UK dragged out.

Edited March 1, 2025 by NYAZSporty

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Two things from ESPN...

 

Today is the 20th anniversary of ESPN-U.

 

https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2025/03/espnu-turns-20-two-decades-of-elevating-college-sports/

 

Around The Horn has its final episode date... Friday, May 23rd at 5:00 p.m. ET.

 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/03/espns-around-the-horn-to-host-its-final-episode-on-may-23/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=espns-around-the-horn-to-host-its-final-episode-on-may-23&utm_source=ESPN+Front+Row&utm_campaign=2f5babd7ce-MediaZone_Daily_RSSFed_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3cee178e6-2f5babd7ce-138324565

[justin2kx 246]

Say goodbye to "Sportscenter...from Los Angeles". L.A. based editions of SC will shutter by May with All SC editions fully based in Bristol again: 

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/03/26/espn-shutters-la-based-sportscenter-and-soccer-programming-relocates-to-bristol/

[nathannah 2792]

ABC has finally given up on the entire 'temporary simulcast because of strikes' charade involving MNF with the 2025 season; it's on every week for the new season (probably with those odd doubleheader weeks and one of them will have a VR game like the Simpsons game last year most likely)

[MD TV 390]

In more news, the pricing for ESPN's direct to consumer service is out:

 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/05/new-direct-to-consumer-offering-to-be-singularly-branded-espn/

 

$29.99/month or $299/year for everything ESPN (all the ESPN-owned channels, all the sporting events on ABC, ESPN+).

[nomadcowatbk 188]

will ESPN offer at least 1080P (if not limited 4k) and 5.1 audio on their streaming service? they currently only offer 720P and 2.0 audio on watchESPN

Edited May 15, 2025 by nomadcowatbk

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Today's the last day for SportsCenter L.A. and next week is the last for the legendary Around The Horn.

 

My ESPN childhood is slowly going away.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Part of ESPN's operations in New York are moving to WABC-TV/ABC News' headquarters at 7 Hudson Square.

 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/06/espns-get-up-first-take-unsportsmanlike-moving-to-new-home-at-7-hudson-square-in-new-york-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=espns-get-up-first-take-unsportsmanlike-moving-to-new-home-at-7-hudson-square-in-new-york-city&utm_source=ESPN+Front+Row&utm_campaign=04ef203bf5-MediaZone_Daily_RSSFed_Digest&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3cee178e6-04ef203bf5-138324565

[MD TV 390]

On 5/4/2024 at 9:59 AM, Georgie56 said:

ESPN is reportedly close to a deal with NFLN.

It's finally announced:

 

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/08/espn-to-acquire-nfl-network-and-other-media-assets-from-the-nfl-in-exchange-for-a-10-equity-stake-in-espn/

 

ESPN gets to own the NFL Network and RedZone, while the NFL gets a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

[MD TV 390]

Also announced for ESPN the streaming service: WWE PLEs (re: pay per views before the WWE Network and later Peacock included them at no extra cost).

 

https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/45912135/espn-joins-forces-wwe-stream-wrestlemania-beginning-2026

[Viper550 318]

ESPN's annual High School Kickoff showcase has revealed ESPN's third different college football graphics package in a year new "main" college football graphics for the upcoming season. As expected, most of the graphics follow elements of both the SEC and CFP graphics we had already seen.

Edited August 17, 2025 by Viper550

[AaronQ 309]

ESPN went old school when Rich Eisen came back to SportsCenter tonight.

 

Edited August 19, 2025 by AaronQ

[broadcastfan9751 150]

It looks like SEC Network is now using the SEC on ABC graphics.

 

[nomadcowatbk 188]

do SEC fans care about the US Open?

[NYAZSporty 197]

2 minutes ago, nomadcowatbk said:

do SEC fans care about the US Open?

Well, it's SOP for a network run by ESPN showing on the bottom line scores & news from other sports. They do the same with ACC Network & ESPNU. 

Edited August 29, 2025 by NYAZSporty

[MD TV 390]

Elle Duncan got a big sendoff from ESPN yesterday as she's going to work full time for Netflix:

 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

The NFL deal is done.

 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

ESPN replacing Sunday Night Baseball with Women’s Sports Sundays.