Longtime ESPN anchor Linda Cohn says politics to blame for network problems...

[Mojocat]

First, yeah I know there are multiple ESPN threads already, and yes this could have been included in one of them. But this issue - whether ESPN's "politics" have anything to do with its recent troubles, and whether the perception that it's embraced leftist issues is real to begin with - was a central point in some of those threads. Here we have someone with some authority giving an answer, so I thought it deserved to be highlighted.....

Longtime ESPN anchor Linda Cohn believes the network’s embrace of political issues is at least partially to blame for falling subscription rates.

“That is definitely a percentage of it,” Cohn said, when asked Thursday on New York radio show “Bernie and Sid” if viewers were tuning out because of politics, according to the New York Post. “I don’t know how big a percentage, but if anyone wants to ignore that fact, they’re blind.”

https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/04/28/espn-layoffs-linda-cohn-politics

 

[kydmb99]

I expect her to be shipped over to FS1 in short order

 

[Ron Mehico]

My guess is it's 90% cord cutters, being able to get highlights on the internet now, sports websites, streaming, etc. and 10% politics. Arguing ESPN is shrinking is due mainly to politics is like arguing that's the reason newspapers are shrinking, it's a silly argument. All cable and cable channels are shrinking and losing marketplace by the day.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Diary]

KSR should learn from ESPN's mistake but Jones is probably too arrogant to think it would happen to him.

 

[kydmb99]

KSR should learn from ESPN's mistake but Jones is probably too arrogant to think it would happen to him.

Progressives never learn

 

[catben]

She has been a part of ESPN long enough to give expert analysis on the rise and fall of the "Mothership".

It would take pure ignorance not to at least acknowledge the fact that the liberal slant has been a part of the decline.

 

[GonzoCat90]

She used to be really, really good. But for the last several years on the rare occasion she's an anchor, it almost seems like she doesn't know the player names or team situations or something. It's odd. It's not like she's "old" or anything. Maybe too busy with over ventures.

Anyway, her stance is too vanilla to really be accurate or wrong. I mean, if she's talking about .00001% of a factor, that's still a factor. So it's not much of a claim.

I'm sure there are lots of people who tuned out due to the political stuff, but similar to firing these people, it's such an insignificant drop in the bucket when you have billion dollar contracts with sports leagues and more channels than anyone could ever need or want, that it's just become this way for those who lean right to celebrate that their choice not to watch is somehow crumbling a media empire.

Again, ESPN gets paid whether we watch or not as long as we keep our cable subscription. I doubt anyone hates ESPN enough to cancel their entire cable package over it.

 

[BostonCat2001]

KSR should learn from ESPN's mistake but Jones is probably too arrogant to think it would happen to him.

oh the irony...

 

[BlueBomb]

Again, ESPN gets paid whether we watch or not as long as we keep our cable subscription. I doubt anyone hates ESPN enough to cancel their entire cable package over it.

No, but I've considered downgrading to a lesser package that doesn't include ESPN.

 

[rick64]

Linda will be getting her walking papers any day now.

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

No, but I've considered downgrading to a lesser package that doesn't include ESPN.

Even back when I had cable I quit watching ESPN. Got to the point I hated it. THEN, I cut the cord.

 

[GonzoCat90]

No, but I've considered downgrading to a lesser package that doesn't include ESPN.

Just switch to streaming instead. I'm technically hurting ESPN much worse than people who are mad they talk about politics, but I did it because I can get the exact same channels by turning on my playstation for about a third of the cost each month.

This is like people complaining that the seats on trains were too itchy and that killed the railroad industry.

 

[Larry Skaggs]

90% of KSR listeners are white males who voted 90% for Trump and yet Matt never misses an opportunity to bash our president with his LGBTQ,
anti-gun crap

 

[CELTICAT]

Nothing quite like gearing your programming to the population that typically hates sports and abhors those with talent.

 

[catben]

Nothing quite like gearing your programming to the population that typically hates sports and abhors those with talent.

What about the "We Got Next" fans? I thought the WNBA filled the need for that crowd.

 

[BlueBomb]

Even back when I had cable I quit watching ESPN. Got to the point I hated it. THEN, I cut the cord.

The ONLY reason I keep ESPN is to watch some UK games. Yes, I could stream, BUT I want the SEC Network, of course. And any package that includes that also has ESPN.

 

[Blueblood22]

Or maybe people need to grow up and stop this ignorant "well you don't agree with my views, so you're obviously dumb and I'm gonna throw a temper tantrum".

Not everyone is going to agree on everything but some people act like the world should cater to them.

 

[CatEye2010]

My guess is it's 90% cord cutters, being able to get highlights on the internet now, sports websites, streaming, etc. and 10% politics. Arguing ESPN is shrinking is due mainly to politics is like arguing that's the reason newspapers are shrinking, it's a silly argument. All cable and cable channels are shrinking and losing marketplace by the day.

She said "at least partially to blame" on politics. Reading comprehension is your friend, Mehico. Otherwise, brilliant post.

 

[catben]

Or maybe people need to grow up and stop this ignorant "well you don't agree with my views, so you're obviously dumb and I'm gonna throw a temper tantrum".

Not everyone is going to agree on everything but some people act like the world should cater to them.

90% of the media DEFINITELY does "cater" to those with liberal views.

 

[GonzoCat90]

The ONLY reason I keep ESPN is to watch some UK games. Yes, I could stream, BUT I want the SEC Network, of course. And any package that includes that also has ESPN.

Playstation Vue has all the ESPN Channels and both SEC Networks. First month is free, too. Works the same as changing the channel.

 

[AlbanyWildCat]

Have you seen what she looks like of late...time to let her go anyways.

 

[uky8unc5]

I'm a hardline conservative. I am offended by ESPN's liberal political slant.
It has NOT affected my love for sports, and ESPN has cornered the Market.

Cord Cutters is the issue, no doubt about it.

 

[AlbanyWildCat]

90% of KSR listeners are white males who voted 90% for Trump and yet Matt never misses an opportunity to bash our president with his LGBTQ,
anti-gun crap

I am sure progressively slanted Disney and ESPN will be fine without the redneck population of KY. As you can tell, Matt Jones seems to be hurting severly from his liberal politics. You guys sure showed him, eh?

 

[marshalfan]

Or maybe people need to grow up and stop this ignorant "well you don't agree with my views, so you're obviously dumb and I'm gonna throw a temper tantrum".

Not everyone is going to agree on everything but some people act like the world should cater to them.

There is a huge difference between disagreeing and letting someone push their agenda down your throat. I am about fed up with most of the entertainment industry.

 

[specialkd24]

It has NOTHING to do with politics. It is (1) cable cutter and (2) paying outrageous prices for rights to content.

 

[Cantwaitfor8]

I am sure progressively slanted Disney and ESPN will be fine without the redneck population of KY. As you can tell, Matt Jones seems to be hurting severly from his liberal politics. You guys sure showed him, eh?

Because all conservatives are rednecks from kentucky... Must be a ton of rednecks from kentucky to sway a presidential election?

 

[BlueCat43]

ESPN really misread the market. In a time where streaming was on the rise and more people were moving toward that, they continued to expand. They added channels and locked games within "extras packages" channels. On top of that, many of these channels meant them paying out large contracts a la SEC Network, Longhorn Network, etc. They expanded in a time that they should have been protecting themselves.

 

[kydmb99]

I am sure progressively slanted Disney and ESPN will be fine without the redneck population of KY. As you can tell, Matt Jones seems to be hurting severly from his liberal politics. You guys sure showed him, eh?

Give it time. Jones will get progressively more overt about his political views (they can't help themselves). Competitors will pop up or people will just get tired of Jones (his radio show is pretty stale IMO).. Ratings will start to decline. This will cause him to get even more "political" and "controversial" which will perpetuate the decline and eventually Jones will be gone or a shell of what he is today. I've seen it a thousand times.

 

[Mojocat]

Cohn said, “I don’t know how big a percentage, but if anyone wants to ignore that fact, they’re blind.”

It has NOTHING to do with politics. It is (1) cable cutter and (2) paying outrageous prices for rights to content.

Looks like we have a disagreement. heh.

 

[Willy4UK]

Playstation Vue has all the ESPN Channels and both SEC Networks. First month is free, too. Works the same as changing the channel.

Hold the hell up, Gonzo. Are you telling me that a video game station has ESPN?

 

[Smashcat]

Does Cohn still have 12 toes?

 

[LouievileKat]

KSR should learn from ESPN's mistake but Jones is probably too arrogant to think it would happen to him.

 

[LouievileKat]

If you want to know what killed ESPN its huge contracts with The SEC network, the ACC Network, The Big 12 Network all of which they own. Contracts with the NBA and NFL all at a time when the NFL has had plummeting viewership.

 

[JDHoss]

The ONLY reason I keep ESPN is to watch some UK games. Yes, I could stream, BUT I want the SEC Network, of course. And any package that includes that also has ESPN.

You can stream pretty much anything you damn well please, including the SEC Network.

 

[LouievileKat]

You can stream pretty much anything you damn well please, including the SEC Network.

Yep and ESPN still gets paid for that, albeit I assume a smaller percentage since they don't require you to buy every ESPN channel possible to get SECN

 

[UKWildcatT]

I am sure progressively slanted Disney and ESPN will be fine without the redneck population of KY. As you can tell, Matt Jones seems to be hurting severly from his liberal politics. You guys sure showed him, eh?

You know, I don't even vote, so do whatever, but a real assholish thing to say about Kentuckians.

 

[Jkwo]

KSR should learn from ESPN's mistake but Jones is probably too arrogant to think it would happen to him.

He's on the left - he's not a SJW. That's why he won't suffer the same fate.

 

[Blueaz]

My guess is it's 90% cord cutters, being able to get highlights on the internet now, sports websites, streaming, etc. and 10% politics. Arguing ESPN is shrinking is due mainly to politics is like arguing that's the reason newspapers are shrinking, it's a silly argument. All cable and cable channels are shrinking and losing marketplace by the day.

So, an ESPN employee says politics are causing problems and the ESPN ombudsman says that ESPN has significantly increased it's political stance (and if viewers don't like it, that's on them).
However, you know for a fact, that "politics" is only a tiny % of why ESPN is having problems.
Gotcha...

 

[TruBluCatFan]

Does Cohn still have 12 toes?

lol. I wondered if I was only one who remembered that poster.

 

[JDHoss]

I'm a hardline conservative. I am offended by ESPN's liberal political slant.
It has NOT affected my love for sports, and ESPN has cornered the Market.

Cord Cutters is the issue, no doubt about it.

My father in-law is also a staunch conservative. He also loves sports, especially college football and basketball. He doesn't give two shits about ESPN's views, and anytime we go over there and the television is on, odds are it's on an ESPN network. Me? I lean right as a fiscal conservative, but lean left as a social liberal. I couldn't possibly care less about ESPN's political views, left or right. I'm a sports nut as well, mainly college football/basketball, but love NFL/NBA/MLB as well. I'm also a cord cutter because I was tired of Charter bending me over for $185 a month for internet and cable. I went strictly to streaming, cut $100 a month off my bill, and am watching more sports than ever. I've tried to talk my FIL into doing it, but he's stubborn as hell and still pays through the nose with Charter.