It came along when there were no sports channels. Hence, it attracted a huge audience at the beginning so there was a natural drop off as the novelty wore off. But it was soon apparent that it would turn left. When Limbaugh was kicked off it became clear what it was, just another liberal channel.
I rarely watch specifically because I have contempt for the network whose hosts are profoundly stupid.
Good riddance.
Anyone remember when they shut down their programming all day to cover Obama’s inauguration? Or making a big production out of having Obama fill out his NCAA brackets each year? To be fair, they did invite Trump this year, but no one really expected him to accept.
Also:
Their two week pre-draft homage to Michael Sam
Jeez, Bruce Jenner, wtf?
Several specials on the University of Missouri’s bravery in standing up for social issues.
Their coverage on black athlete’s opinions of Ferguson (”Hands Up Don’t Shoot”) and Trayvon Martin
Firing Limbaugh and Schilling for going off the ESPN reservation.
Producing a show about Cuban baseball that was very pro-Castro.
The full-court press to make Colin Kapernick a hero.
Also running numerous interviews of only athletes against the Iraq War in 2003, while completely ignoring the Pat Tillman story.
And so many more smaller examples.
ESPN gets $6-7 for every DISH/DirecTV/Comcast subscriber there is. If cable/satellite companies ever went al a carte and allowed non-viewing people to drop the programming, ESPN would go bankrupt.
Not to mention the hypocrisy. Google ESPN and sexual harassment, and you will see a host of names (no pun intended) that settled.
And I’ll bet not one ESPNer would ever live in a minority neighborhood. But watch the groveling during Feb (the so-called and whitewashed “Black History Month” . . . again pun not intended)