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href="#Association_football/soccer_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.2 Association football/soccer coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Association_football/soccer_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-2006_FIFA_World_Cup" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2006_FIFA_World_Cup"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.2.1 2006 FIFA World Cup </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2006_FIFA_World_Cup-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Major_League_Soccer_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Major_League_Soccer_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.2.2 Major League Soccer coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Major_League_Soccer_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Major_League_Baseball_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Major_League_Baseball_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.3 Major League Baseball coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Major_League_Baseball_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Bonds_on_Bonds" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bonds_on_Bonds"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.3.1 Bonds on Bonds </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bonds_on_Bonds-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sunday_Night_Baseball" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sunday_Night_Baseball"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.3.2 Sunday Night Baseball </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sunday_Night_Baseball-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Technical_issues_during_postseason_broadcasts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Technical_issues_during_postseason_broadcasts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.3.3 Technical issues during postseason broadcasts </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Technical_issues_during_postseason_broadcasts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-NASCAR_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NASCAR_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.4 NASCAR coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NASCAR_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Local_station_pre-emptions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Local_station_pre-emptions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.4.1 Local station pre-emptions </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Local_station_pre-emptions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-NBA_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NBA_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.5 NBA coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NBA_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-ABC's_NBA_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#ABC's_NBA_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.5.1 ABC's NBA coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-ABC's_NBA_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Pistons–Pacers_brawl_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Pistons–Pacers_brawl_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.5.2 Pistons–Pacers brawl coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Pistons–Pacers_brawl_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-WNBA_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#WNBA_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.5.3 WNBA coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-WNBA_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-LeBron_James'_"Decision"" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#LeBron_James'_"Decision""> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.5.4 LeBron James' "Decision" </div> </a> <ul id="toc-LeBron_James'_"Decision"-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-NCAA_Basketball_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NCAA_Basketball_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.6 NCAA Basketball coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NCAA_Basketball_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-NFL_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NFL_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7 NFL coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NFL_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Ben_Roethlisberger_sexual_assault_case" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ben_Roethlisberger_sexual_assault_case"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7.1 Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault case </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ben_Roethlisberger_sexual_assault_case-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Fantasy_football_and_advertising_influence" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Fantasy_football_and_advertising_influence"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7.2 Fantasy football and advertising influence </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Fantasy_football_and_advertising_influence-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Conflicts_of_Interests_with_NFL:_Deflategate,_concussions,_legal_issues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Conflicts_of_Interests_with_NFL:_Deflategate,_concussions,_legal_issues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7.3 Conflicts of Interests with NFL: Deflategate, concussions, legal issues </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Conflicts_of_Interests_with_NFL:_Deflategate,_concussions,_legal_issues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2020_NFL_Draft_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2020_NFL_Draft_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7.4 2020 NFL Draft coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2020_NFL_Draft_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Monday_Night_Football_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Monday_Night_Football_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.7.5 Monday Night Football coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Monday_Night_Football_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-UFC_and_MMA_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#UFC_and_MMA_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.8 UFC and MMA coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-UFC_and_MMA_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Lack_of_coverage_and_negative_coverage" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Lack_of_coverage_and_negative_coverage"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.8.1 Lack of coverage and negative coverage </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Lack_of_coverage_and_negative_coverage-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Coverage_of_professional_wrestling_as_a_legitimate_sport" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Coverage_of_professional_wrestling_as_a_legitimate_sport"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.9 Coverage of professional wrestling as a legitimate sport </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Coverage_of_professional_wrestling_as_a_legitimate_sport-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2021_Nathan's_Hot_Dog_Eating_Contest" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2021_Nathan's_Hot_Dog_Eating_Contest"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.10 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2021_Nathan's_Hot_Dog_Eating_Contest-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Alternative_outlets_and_third_party_accountability" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Alternative_outlets_and_third_party_accountability"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 5.11 Alternative outlets and third party accountability </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Alternative_outlets_and_third_party_accountability-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-ESPN_media_outlets" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#ESPN_media_outlets"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 6 ESPN media outlets </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-ESPN_media_outlets-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> Toggle ESPN media outlets subsection </button> <ul id="toc-ESPN_media_outlets-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-ESPN_MVP/Mobile" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#ESPN_MVP/Mobile"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 6.1 ESPN MVP/Mobile </div> </a> <ul id="toc-ESPN_MVP/Mobile-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Longhorn_Network" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Longhorn_Network"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 6.2 Longhorn Network </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Longhorn_Network-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-ESPN_original_programs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#ESPN_original_programs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> 7 ESPN original programs </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-ESPN_original_programs-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> Toggle ESPN original programs subsection </button> <ul id="toc-ESPN_original_programs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-First_Take" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" 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<div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Overview of criticism of ESPN</div> Throughout <a href="/wiki/History_of_ESPN" title="History of ESPN">its history</a>, <a href="/wiki/ESPN" title="ESPN">ESPN</a> and its sister networks have been the targets of criticism<a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a> for programming choices, <a href="/wiki/Media_bias" title="Media bias">biased</a> coverage,<a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a> <a href="/wiki/Conflict_of_interest" title="Conflict of interest">conflict of interest</a>, and controversies with individual broadcasters and analysts.<a href="#cite_note-Freeman-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a> Additionally, ESPN has been criticized for focusing too much on the <a href="/wiki/Dallas_Cowboys" title="Dallas Cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a>, <a href="/wiki/LeBron_James" title="LeBron James">LeBron James</a>,<a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a> <a href="/wiki/Sports_in_Los_Angeles" title="Sports in Los Angeles">Los Angeles</a> and <a href="/wiki/List_of_New_York_City_metropolitan_area_sports_teams" title="List of New York City metropolitan area sports teams">New York</a> teams in general (particularly the <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers" title="Los Angeles Lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Dodgers" title="Los Angeles Dodgers">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, and <a href="/wiki/New_York_Yankees" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees</a>), <a href="/wiki/Shohei_Ohtani" title="Shohei Ohtani">Shohei Ohtani</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aaron_Judge" title="Aaron Judge">Aaron Judge</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lionel_Messi" title="Lionel Messi">Lionel Messi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Basketball" title="Basketball">basketball</a> and <a href="/wiki/American_football" title="American football">American football</a> and very little on other sports such as the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a> (NHL) and <a href="/wiki/Women%27s_National_Basketball_Association" title="Women's National Basketball Association">Women's National Basketball Association</a> (WNBA). Other criticism has focused on issues of race and ethnicity in ESPN's varying mediated forms, as well as carriage fees and issues regarding the exportation of ESPN content.<a href="#cite_note-afterword-11">[11]</a> Some critics argue that ESPN's success is their ability to provide other enterprise and investigative sports news while competing with other hard sports-news-producing outlets such as <a href="/wiki/Yahoo!_Sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Yahoo! Sports">Yahoo! Sports</a> and <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports" title="Fox Sports">Fox Sports</a>. Some scholars have challenged ESPN's journalistic integrity calling for an expanded standard of professionalism to prevent biased coverage and conflicts of interest.<a href="#cite_note-ethics-12">[12]</a> <a href="/wiki/Mike_Freeman_(columnist)" title="Mike Freeman (columnist)">Mike Freeman</a>'s 2001 book ESPN: The Uncensored History,<a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a> which alleged sexual harassment, drug use and gambling, was the first critical study of ESPN. And then in 2011, a detailed oral history<a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a> about ESPN by <a href="/wiki/James_Andrew_Miller" title="James Andrew Miller">James Andrew Miller</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tom_Shales" title="Tom Shales">Tom Shales</a> called Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN<a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a> was released. <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Cost_and_finances">Cost and finances</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Cost and finances">edit</a>]</div> ESPN currently charges the highest <a href="/wiki/Retransmission_consent" title="Retransmission consent">retransmission consent</a> fee of any major cable television network in the United States. In 2011, the main channel alone carried a monthly rate of $4.69 per subscriber (nearly five times the price of the next-costliest channel, <a href="/wiki/TNT_(American_TV_network)" title="TNT (American TV network)">TNT</a>), with ESPN's other English language channels costing an additional $1.13 per subscriber; these prices rise on a nearly constant basis. By 2017, ESPN's fees had risen to over $7 for the main channel and roughly $3 for its sister outlets.<a href="#cite_note-joenocera17-19">[19]</a> As of 2024, the rate was $9.42 per subscriber, which was steady compared to the previous year and had risen more slowly than TNT and <a href="/wiki/Regional_sports_network" title="Regional sports network">regional sports networks</a>.<a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a> Part of the cause of this high fee is the amount of money that ESPN pays for sports rights, particularly the NFL. In August 2011, ESPN agreed to pay the NFL $1.9 billion annually for the rights to carry <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> through 2021; this despite the fact that the broadcast networks pay approximately half that price for their packages, which include lucrative and highly watched contests such as the <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl" title="Super Bowl">Super Bowl</a>, conference championships and <a href="/wiki/NFL_on_Thanksgiving_Day" title="NFL on Thanksgiving Day">Thanksgiving games</a> while ESPN's package does not (ESPN's package does include the <a href="/wiki/NFL_Draft" class="mw-redirect" title="NFL Draft">NFL Draft</a>). Cable and satellite television providers condemned ESPN's most recent contract extension with the NFL and have contemplated moving the network to a higher programming tier to mitigate cost increases.<a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a> In 2012, ESPN reportedly paid about $7.3 billion over 12 years for the broadcasting rights to all seven <a href="/wiki/Bowl_game" title="Bowl game">bowl games</a> of the <a href="/wiki/College_Football_Playoff" title="College Football Playoff">College Football Playoff</a>, an average of about $608 million per year. That includes $215 million per year which they previously agreed to air the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls,<a href="#cite_note-sbd-22">[22]</a> plus $470–475 million annually for the rest of the package.<a href="#cite_note-revenue-cbs-23">[23]</a> Also in 2012, ESPN and <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a> agreed to an eight-year extension, increasing ESPN's average yearly payment from about $360 million to approximately $700 million.<a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a> In October 2014, ESPN signed a nine-year extension with the <a href="/wiki/National_Basketball_Association" title="National Basketball Association">NBA</a>, worth three times as much as the previous deal.<a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a> These deals were made when new sports channels like <a href="/wiki/NBCSN" title="NBCSN">NBCSN</a> and <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports_1" title="Fox Sports 1">Fox Sports 1</a> emerged, and so analysts believe that ESPN deliberately drove the prices up as a defensive measure to block these competitors from acquiring live rights.<a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a> <a href="/wiki/Wall_Street" title="Wall Street">Wall Street</a> analysts have also raised concerns that the amount ESPN is paying for all of these rights could be a major drain on <a href="/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company" title="The Walt Disney Company">The Walt Disney Company</a> as a whole, since the amount of money that can be recuperated from retransmission consent fees and advertising is limited; Disney still profits from the ESPN division but as of 2015 was cutting the network's higher-priced content to ensure long-term profitability.<a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a> In October 2015, ESPN laid off about 300 employees, citing the rights costs combined with the increasing trend of <a href="/wiki/Cord-cutting" title="Cord-cutting">cord-cutting</a>.<a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a> Another 100 employees, mostly in news gathering and including large numbers of public faces of the network, were laid off in April 2017.<a href="#cite_note-joenocera17-19">[19]</a> <a href="/wiki/John_Skipper" title="John Skipper">John Skipper</a>'s time as President of ESPN was tumultuous. During Skipper's tenure (from January 2012 to December 2017) ESPN lost nearly 15% of its subscribers and laid off more than 500 employees. Additionally, ESPN's television ratings declined significantly across the board and the network endured criticism from some quarters over the declining quality of its programming.<a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a><a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a><a href="#cite_note-33">[33]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Bias_towards_certain_teams_and_players">Bias towards certain teams and players</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Bias towards certain teams and players">edit</a>]</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/East_Coast_bias" title="East Coast bias">East Coast bias</a></div> ESPN has been accused of having a <a href="/wiki/Media_bias" title="Media bias">bias</a><a href="#cite_note-34">[34]</a> towards certain sports teams<a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a> and a "love affair" with superstar players. ESPN's <a href="/wiki/Ombudsman" title="Ombudsman">ombudsman</a>, <a href="/wiki/Le_Anne_Schreiber" title="Le Anne Schreiber">Le Anne Schreiber</a>, responded to these criticisms by saying that the industry is ratings-driven.<a href="#cite_note-Le_Anne_Schreiber-36">[36]</a> Since <a href="/wiki/MLB_Network" title="MLB Network">MLB Network</a> launched on January 1, 2009, <a href="/wiki/Baseball_Tonight" title="Baseball Tonight">Baseball Tonight</a> has been the target of criticism because of its perceived bias in favor of certain teams such as the <a href="/wiki/Boston_Red_Sox" title="Boston Red Sox">Boston Red Sox</a> and the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Yankees" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees</a>, both based within driving distance of ESPN's studios in <a href="/wiki/Bristol,_Connecticut" title="Bristol, Connecticut">Bristol, Connecticut</a>. One opinion was expressed by former major-leaguer <a href="/wiki/Heath_Bell" title="Heath Bell">Heath Bell</a>: <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote">I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox and Yankees and Mets – nobody else. That's why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I'm really turned off by ESPN and Baseball Tonight. When <a href="/wiki/Jake_Peavy" title="Jake Peavy">Jake Peavy</a> threw 8⅓ <a href="/wiki/Inning" title="Inning">innings</a> on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It's all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.<a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Carriage_disputes">Carriage disputes</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Carriage disputes">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Dish_Network">Dish Network</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Dish Network">edit</a>]</div> On August 4, 2009, <a href="/wiki/Dish_Network" title="Dish Network">Dish Network</a> sued ESPN for $1 million in a federal <a href="/wiki/Breach_of_contract" title="Breach of contract">breach of contract</a> lawsuit, alleging that the network violated the "Most Favored Nations" clause by not extending the same carriage terms that it provided to Comcast and DirecTV for <a href="/wiki/ESPNU" title="ESPNU">ESPNU</a> and <a href="/wiki/ESPN_Classic" title="ESPN Classic">ESPN Classic</a>.<a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a> On August 5, ESPN announced it would fight the lawsuit and stated in a <a href="/wiki/Press_release" title="Press release">press release</a> that "we have repeatedly advised Dish that we are in full compliance with our agreement and have offered them a distribution opportunity with respect to ESPNU and ESPN Classic consistent with the rest of the industry. We will not renegotiate settled contracts and will vigorously defend this legal action, the apparent sole purpose of which is to get a better deal."<a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a> Dish Network moved ESPNU from its "America's Top 250" package to its "America's Top 120" package on September 30, 2009. However, the provider claimed that the change had nothing to do with the lawsuit.<a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a> On June 22, 2010, ESPN majority owner <a href="/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company" title="The Walt Disney Company">The Walt Disney Company</a> pulled the <a href="/wiki/High-definition_television" title="High-definition television">high definition</a> feeds of <a href="/wiki/ESPNews" title="ESPNews">ESPNews</a>, <a href="/wiki/Disney_Channel" title="Disney Channel">Disney Channel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Disney_XD" title="Disney XD">Disney XD</a> and <a href="/wiki/Freeform_(TV_channel)" title="Freeform (TV channel)">ABC Family</a> from Dish Network's lineup, although the standard definition feeds of all four channels remained on the provider.<a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a> In March 2014, Disney signed a comprehensive carriage deal with Dish Network for its networks (along with several new networks, such as <a href="/wiki/Disney_Junior" class="mw-redirect" title="Disney Junior">Disney Junior</a>, <a href="/wiki/Longhorn_Network" title="Longhorn Network">Longhorn Network</a>, and <a href="/wiki/SEC_Network" title="SEC Network">SEC Network</a>), including high definition feeds and <a href="/wiki/TV_Everywhere" title="TV Everywhere">TV Everywhere</a> access for the networks and ABC owned-and-operated stations, and the ability to distribute their networks on a planned <a href="/wiki/Over-the-top_content" class="mw-redirect" title="Over-the-top content">over-the-top</a> <a href="/wiki/Sling_TV" title="Sling TV">internet television service</a>. As a condition of the new deal, Dish Network agreed to disable the ability to use the automatic commercial skipping function on its <a href="/wiki/Hopper_(DVR)" title="Hopper (DVR)">Hopper DVR</a> on ABC programming within 72 hours of its original airing.<a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a><a href="#cite_note-lat-disneytruce-43">[43]</a> In December 2014, Dish Network reached a similar new carriage deal with <a href="/wiki/CBS" title="CBS">CBS</a>, restricting the use of AutoHop on CBS programming for seven days after its original airing.<a href="#cite_note-verge-dishcbsautohop-44">[44]</a> Disney's channels went dark again on Dish and Sling TV on September 30, 2022. The blackout ended almost 48 hours later.<a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Verizon_FiOS">Verizon FiOS</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Verizon FiOS">edit</a>]</div> In April 2015, ESPN Inc. sued Verizon for offering ESPN and ESPN2 as part of an optional sports theme package under its new "Custom TV" offering for its <a href="/wiki/Verizon_FiOS" class="mw-redirect" title="Verizon FiOS">FiOS</a> service, breaching a requirement for the two networks to be carried as part of the basic service.<a href="#cite_note-verge-fiosespn-46">[46]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="YouTube_TV">YouTube TV</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: YouTube TV">edit</a>]</div> On December 17, 2021, <a href="/wiki/YouTube_TV" title="YouTube TV">YouTube TV</a> stopped carrying all Disney-owned channels including ESPN due to a contract expiration. The channels were restored on the service the next day, after the companies reached a new agreement.<a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Charter_Spectrum">Charter Spectrum</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Charter Spectrum">edit</a>]</div> ESPN and sister Disney channels went dark on <a href="/wiki/Charter_Spectrum" class="mw-redirect" title="Charter Spectrum">Charter Spectrum</a> on September 1, 2023, interrupting coverage of the college football season opener and the <a href="/wiki/US_Open_(tennis)" title="US Open (tennis)">US Open</a>.<a href="#cite_note-48">[48]</a> Charter claims it intends to offer cheaper, non-sports packages to customers, as a way to fight <a href="/wiki/Cordcutting" class="mw-redirect" title="Cordcutting">cordcutting</a> and to prepare for ESPN's potential launch of a full-service over-the-top subscription.<a href="#cite_note-49">[49]</a> On September 11, 2023, all Disney networks returned to the lineup. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="DirecTV">DirecTV</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: DirecTV">edit</a>]</div> On September 1, 2024, <a href="/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company" title="The Walt Disney Company">The Walt Disney Company</a> pulled its networks from <a href="/wiki/DirecTV" title="DirecTV">DirecTV</a> after the two sides <a href="/wiki/Carriage_dispute" title="Carriage dispute">failed to reach a distribution deal</a>. The removal, which included <a href="/wiki/ABC_Owned_Television_Stations" title="ABC Owned Television Stations">ABC Owned Television Stations</a> and <a href="/wiki/ESPN" title="ESPN">ESPN</a>, came hours before a <a href="/wiki/2024_USC_Trojans_football_team" title="2024 USC Trojans football team">USC</a>-<a href="/wiki/2024_LSU_Tigers_football_team" title="2024 LSU Tigers football team">LSU</a> college football game on ABC (<a href="/wiki/KABC-TV" title="KABC-TV">KABC-TV</a> in USC's home market of <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles" title="Los Angeles">Los Angeles</a> was among the stations taken off the satellite provider), and also affected ESPN's coverage of the <a href="/wiki/2024_US_Open_(tennis)" title="2024 US Open (tennis)">US Open</a> tennis tournament. On September 7, two days before ESPN's <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> was set to premiere for <a href="/wiki/2024_NFL_season" title="2024 NFL season">the season</a>, DirecTV filed a complaint with the <a href="/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission" title="Federal Communications Commission">FCC</a>, claiming Disney had violated the commission's good-faith mandates by predicating any licensing agreement on DirecTV’s waiving any legal claims on Disney’s “anti-competitive actions,” including its ongoing packaging and minimum penetration demands.<a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a><a href="#cite_note-51">[51]</a><a href="#cite_note-52">[52]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Integration_of_ABC_Sports">Integration of ABC Sports</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Integration of ABC Sports">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/ESPN_on_ABC#Siphoning" title="ESPN on ABC">ESPN on ABC § Siphoning</a></div> In August 2006, ESPN announced that ABC Sports<a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a> would be fully integrated into ESPN,<a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a> using the channel's graphics and music for its sports presentations, in addition to handling production responsibilities for the ABC sports telecasts. The last live sporting event televised under the ABC Sports banner was the U.S. Championship Game of the <a href="/wiki/2006_Little_League_World_Series" title="2006 Little League World Series">Little League World Series</a> on August 26, 2006 (ABC was slated to carry the Little League World Series Championship Game on August 27, but the game was postponed to August 28 due to rain, and subsequently aired on <a href="/wiki/ESPN2" title="ESPN2">ESPN2</a>). The changeover took effect the following weekend to coincide with the start of the <a href="/wiki/College_football" title="College football">college football</a> season, with <a href="/wiki/NBA_on_ABC" title="NBA on ABC">NBA</a>, <a href="/wiki/Indy_Racing_League" class="mw-redirect" title="Indy Racing League">IndyCar Series</a> and <a href="/wiki/NASCAR_on_ABC" class="mw-redirect" title="NASCAR on ABC">NASCAR</a> coverage eventually following suit. Despite the rebranding, <a href="/wiki/George_Bodenheimer" title="George Bodenheimer">George Bodenheimer</a>'s<a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a> official title remained "President, ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports" until his retirement at the end of 2011, upon which the "ABC Sports" portion of the title was retired.<a href="#cite_note-56">[56]</a> In addition, ABC itself maintains the copyright over many of the ESPN-branded broadcasts, if they are not contractually assigned to the applicable league or organizer. ABC-affiliated stations owned by <a href="/wiki/Hearst_Television" title="Hearst Television">Hearst Television</a> (such as <a href="/wiki/WTAE-TV" title="WTAE-TV">WTAE-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh" title="Pittsburgh">Pittsburgh</a>; <a href="/wiki/WCVB-TV" title="WCVB-TV">WCVB-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Boston" title="Boston">Boston</a>; <a href="/wiki/WMUR-TV" title="WMUR-TV">WMUR-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Manchester,_New_Hampshire" title="Manchester, New Hampshire">Manchester, New Hampshire</a>; <a href="/wiki/WISN-TV" title="WISN-TV">WISN-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Milwaukee" title="Milwaukee">Milwaukee</a> and <a href="/wiki/KMBC-TV" title="KMBC-TV">KMBC-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City,_Missouri" title="Kansas City, Missouri">Kansas City</a>) have the <a href="/wiki/Right_of_first_refusal" title="Right of first refusal">right of first refusal</a> over the local simulcasts of ESPN-televised <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> games involving teams within their home market, which are very rarely waived to other local stations in their market areas. Equally, other Hearst-owned stations affiliated with other networks (such as NBC affiliate <a href="/wiki/WBAL-TV" title="WBAL-TV">WBAL-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Baltimore" title="Baltimore">Baltimore</a>) have been able to air NFL games from ESPN for the same reason.<a href="#cite_note-57">[57]</a> ESPN has been criticized for decreasing the number of sports broadcasts on ABC,<a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a><a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a> especially during the summer months. One such example is <a href="/wiki/NASCAR" title="NASCAR">NASCAR</a>: from 2007 to 2009, ABC aired all of the Chase for the <a href="/wiki/NASCAR_Cup_Series" title="NASCAR Cup Series">NASCAR Sprint Cup</a> races, along with the penultimate race to the chase. From 2010 to 2014, ABC only broadcast three Sprint Cup races with only one Chase race (held in <a href="/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina" title="Charlotte, North Carolina">Charlotte</a>, <a href="/wiki/North_Carolina" title="North Carolina">North Carolina</a>) to the outrage of many NASCAR <a href="/wiki/Fan_(person)" title="Fan (person)">fans</a> and sponsors. Several other events such as the <a href="/wiki/Rose_Bowl_Game" title="Rose Bowl Game">Rose Bowl</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Citrus_Bowl" title="Citrus Bowl">Citrus Bowl</a> and The Open Championship, have also been moved from ABC to ESPN. This, however, is not entirely the fault of ESPN, as ABC in general has attracted a primarily female viewership in recent years,[<a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement" title="Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute">dubious</a> – <a href="/wiki/Talk:Criticism_of_ESPN#Dubious" title="Talk:Criticism of ESPN">discuss</a>] with sports largely attracting a male-dominated audience.<a href="#cite_note-61">[61]</a> Under NFL broadcasting rules, game telecasts aired on cable must be simulcast on broadcast television in the local markets of the teams playing, though the game cannot be televised in the market of the home team if it does not sell out tickets 72 hours before the time of kickoff – games that are not sold out must be <a href="/wiki/NFL_blackout" class="mw-redirect" title="NFL blackout">blacked out in the market of origin</a>. Similar rules and rights were previously in place for ESPN-televised <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a> playoff games. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Coverage_of_individual_sports">Coverage of individual sports</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Coverage of individual sports">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Arena_Football_League_coverage">Arena Football League coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Arena Football League coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League_on_ESPN" title="Arena Football League on ESPN">Arena Football League on ESPN</a></div> Some <a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League_(1987%E2%80%932008)" class="mw-redirect" title="Arena Football League (1987–2008)">Arena Football League</a> fans complained that ESPN's 2007 and 2008 game broadcast schedule "inequitably favors teams" such as the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Soul" title="Philadelphia Soul">Philadelphia Soul</a>, <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Rush" title="Chicago Rush">Chicago Rush</a> and <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Crush" title="Colorado Crush">Colorado Crush</a>, teams whose ownerships respectively include <a href="/wiki/Jon_Bon_Jovi" title="Jon Bon Jovi">Jon Bon Jovi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mike_Ditka" title="Mike Ditka">Mike Ditka</a> and <a href="/wiki/John_Elway" title="John Elway">John Elway</a>. Fourteen of the seventeen ESPN games featured at least one of the three teams playing in the broadcasts. The Soul (whose part-owner and team president is former <a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League_on_ESPN" title="Arena Football League on ESPN">Arena Football League on ESPN</a> analyst Ron Jaworski) appeared in seven of the 17 regular season games aired on ESPN platforms, more than any other team in the league.<a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a> This criticism was also present when <a href="/wiki/AFL_on_NBC" title="AFL on NBC">NBC</a> opted to not let certain teams appear on their schedule. In 2008, the Chicago Rush had nine regular season games on ESPN and ABC, while the 2007 Arena Bowl Champion <a href="/wiki/San_Jose_SaberCats" title="San Jose SaberCats">San Jose SaberCats</a> appeared in just one – a Week 1 game against the Rush; and the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Dragons" title="New York Dragons">New York Dragons</a> appeared in one broadcast, a 10:30 pm game versus the Crush. Other criticism includes the scheduling of games on various days and times, as opposed to a weekly AFL gameday. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Association_football/soccer_coverage">Association football/soccer coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Association football/soccer coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Soccer_on_ESPN/ABC" title="Soccer on ESPN/ABC">Soccer on ESPN/ABC</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2006_FIFA_World_Cup">2006 FIFA World Cup</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: 2006 FIFA World Cup">edit</a>]</div> <a href="/wiki/Dave_O%27Brien_(sportscaster)" title="Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)">Dave O'Brien</a> joined <a href="/wiki/Marcelo_Balboa" title="Marcelo Balboa">Marcelo Balboa</a> on the lead broadcast team for the <a href="/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup" title="2006 FIFA World Cup">2006 FIFA World Cup</a> coverage on ESPN and ABC Sports, despite having no experience calling <a href="/wiki/Association_football" title="Association football">soccer</a> matches before that year. Because The Walt Disney Company, owner of both <a href="/wiki/Television" title="Television">television</a> outlets, retained control over on-air talent, the appointment of O'Brien as the main play-by-play voice was made over the objections of <a href="/wiki/Soccer_United_Marketing" title="Soccer United Marketing">Soccer United Marketing</a>, which wanted <a href="/wiki/JP_Dellacamera" title="JP Dellacamera">JP Dellacamera</a> to continue in that role. Disney stated that its broadcast strategy was intended, in voice and style, to target the vast majority of Americans who do not follow the sport regularly. However, <a href="/wiki/Mispronunciation" title="Mispronunciation">Mispronunciation</a> and incorrect addressing of names, misuse of soccer terminology, and lack of insight into tactics and history plagued the telecasts, resulting in heavy criticism from <a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English-speaking</a> soccer fans, many of whom ended up watching the games on Spanish-language channel <a href="/wiki/Univision" title="Univision">Univision</a> instead.<a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a><a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Major_League_Soccer_coverage">Major League Soccer coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Major League Soccer coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/ESPN_Major_League_Soccer" class="mw-redirect" title="ESPN Major League Soccer">ESPN Major League Soccer</a></div> ESPN<a href="#cite_note-65">[65]</a> has been accused of putting more emphasis on overall negativity and the more violent aspect of MLS games (such as two confrontations, two challenges, and a player nursing a bloody head in its first six shots) in "Greatest Highlights of the Month" segment for their intermission reports.<a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Major_League_Baseball_coverage">Major League Baseball coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Major League Baseball coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/ESPN_Major_League_Baseball" title="ESPN Major League Baseball">ESPN Major League Baseball</a> and <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_on_ESPN_Radio" title="Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio">Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Bonds_on_Bonds">Bonds on Bonds</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Bonds on Bonds">edit</a>]</div> In 2006, former <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco_Giants" title="San Francisco Giants">San Francisco Giants</a> outfielder <a href="/wiki/Barry_Bonds" title="Barry Bonds">Barry Bonds</a> starred in <a href="/wiki/Bonds_on_Bonds" title="Bonds on Bonds">Bonds on Bonds</a>, a 10-part <a href="/wiki/Reality_television" title="Reality television">reality series</a> that aired on ESPN. At the time, Bonds was mired in allegations of steroid use during his Major League Baseball career. ESPN was criticized<a href="#cite_note-mckay-67">[67]</a> for allowing Bonds such a one-sided public pulpit, as he was the most powerful name in American sports journalism. The show was seen by some as ESPN giving up any semblance of journalism in favor of becoming a <a href="/wiki/Public_relations" title="Public relations">public relations</a> front for major sports teams and players. ESPN responded to the criticism by claiming that Bonds would not have creative control and that the episodes would be fair and balanced, and only document the day-to-day activities of Bonds as they occurred, not as Bonds wanted them to occur. ESPN and producer Tollin/Robbins Productions officially pulled the plug on the reality series, citing "creative control" issues with star Barry Bonds and his representatives.<a href="#cite_note-imdb-68">[68]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Sunday_Night_Baseball">Sunday Night Baseball</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Sunday Night Baseball">edit</a>]</div> On May 14, 2023, ESPN was widely criticized<a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a> for its decision to implement a <a href="/wiki/Split_screen_(video_production)" title="Split screen (video production)">split screen</a> between its <a href="/wiki/NHL_on_ESPN" title="NHL on ESPN">coverage</a> of Game 6 of the <a href="/wiki/2023_Stanley_Cup_playoffs#(P1)_Vegas_Golden_Knights_vs._(P2)_Edmonton_Oilers" title="2023 Stanley Cup playoffs">Stanley Cup Playoff series</a> between the <a href="/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Vegas_Golden_Knights_season" title="2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights season">Vegas Golden Knights</a> and <a href="/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Edmonton_Oilers_season" title="2022–23 Edmonton Oilers season">Edmonton Oilers</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Sunday_Night_Baseball" title="Sunday Night Baseball">Sunday Night Baseball</a> telecast between the <a href="/wiki/2023_St._Louis_Cardinals_season" title="2023 St. Louis Cardinals season">St. Louis Cardinals</a> and <a href="/wiki/2023_Boston_Red_Sox_season" title="2023 Boston Red Sox season">Boston Red Sox</a>, which was being played at the same time and was ultimately won by St. Louis by the score of 9-1.<a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Technical_issues_during_postseason_broadcasts">Technical issues during postseason broadcasts</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Technical issues during postseason broadcasts">edit</a>]</div> On October 1–2, 2024, <a href="/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company" title="American Broadcasting Company">ABC</a> aired Games 1 and 2 of the <a href="/wiki/2024_American_League_Wild_Card_Series" title="2024 American League Wild Card Series">American League Wild Card Series</a> between the <a href="/wiki/2024_Detroit_Tigers_season" title="2024 Detroit Tigers season">Detroit Tigers</a> and <a href="/wiki/2024_Houston_Astros_season" title="2024 Houston Astros season">Houston Astros</a>. The games on ABC were produced by ESPN, and during the 4th inning of Game 1 from <a href="/wiki/Minute_Maid_Park" title="Minute Maid Park">Houston</a>, the graphics department displayed incorrect stats<a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a> during the players' at-bats. During the top of the 8th inning of Game 2, ABC's broadcast was hit with further technical issues that this time, resulted in poor and out of sync audio quality.<a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="NASCAR_coverage">NASCAR coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: NASCAR coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/NASCAR_on_ESPN" title="NASCAR on ESPN">NASCAR on ESPN</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Local_station_pre-emptions">Local station pre-emptions</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Local station pre-emptions">edit</a>]</div> NASCAR's coverage during its time on ESPN when races aired on ABC was affected by local pre-emptions, usually for <a href="/wiki/Breaking_news" title="Breaking news">breaking news</a> and weather coverage in the vast majority of cases, but also due to conflicts in <a href="/wiki/Local_programming" title="Local programming">local programming</a> schedules; many of these examples pre-dated the current solution of most television stations, where the NASCAR race is moved to a sister station or <a href="/wiki/Digital_subchannel" title="Digital subchannel">digital subchannel</a> network. The <a href="/wiki/2007_Subway_500" title="2007 Subway 500">2007 Subway 500</a> from <a href="/wiki/Martinsville_Speedway" title="Martinsville Speedway">Martinsville Speedway</a> was not shown on ABC <a href="/wiki/Owned-and-operated_station" title="Owned-and-operated station">owned-and-operated station</a> <a href="/wiki/KABC-TV" title="KABC-TV">KABC-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles" title="Los Angeles">Los Angeles</a> (owned by ESPN co-parent The Walt Disney Company) on October 21 due to coverage of a series of <a href="/wiki/California_wildfires_of_October_2007" class="mw-redirect" title="California wildfires of October 2007">wildfires</a> that affected <a href="/wiki/Southern_California" title="Southern California">Southern California</a>, specifically the <a href="/wiki/Buckweed_fire" class="mw-redirect" title="Buckweed fire">Buckweed fire</a> in <a href="/wiki/Santa_Clarita,_California" title="Santa Clarita, California">Santa Clarita</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Canyon_Fire_(2007)" class="mw-redirect" title="Canyon Fire (2007)">Canyon Fire</a> in <a href="/wiki/Malibu,_California" title="Malibu, California">Malibu</a>. The race was instead shown on its second <a href="/wiki/Digital_subchannel" title="Digital subchannel">digital subchannel</a> (branded as "ABC7+"), then not available on satellite providers or on select cable providers in the area. Several stations chose to pre-empt the pre-race show <a href="/wiki/NASCAR_Countdown" title="NASCAR Countdown">NASCAR Countdown</a> to carry local newscasts. KABC-TV pre-empted the pre-race program before every Saturday night race, and as well as before the <a href="/wiki/2007_Ford_400" title="2007 Ford 400">2007 Ford 400</a>, which was held on a Sunday afternoon, to air an episode of the Disney Channel series <a href="/wiki/The_Suite_Life_of_Zack_%26_Cody" title="The Suite Life of Zack & Cody">The Suite Life of Zack & Cody</a> from the network's <a href="/wiki/ABC_Kids_(TV_programming_block)" title="ABC Kids (TV programming block)">ABC Kids</a> block to fulfill <a href="/wiki/E/I" class="mw-redirect" title="E/I">E/I</a> programming requirements enforced by the <a href="/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission" title="Federal Communications Commission">Federal Communications Commission</a>. ABC affiliates <a href="/wiki/WPLG" title="WPLG">WPLG</a> in <a href="/wiki/Miami" title="Miami">Miami, Florida</a>, and <a href="/wiki/KSAT-TV" title="KSAT-TV">KSAT-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/San_Antonio" title="San Antonio">San Antonio, Texas</a>, also pre-empted NASCAR Countdown at least once during the 2007 NASCAR season. <a href="/wiki/KTKA-TV" title="KTKA-TV">KTKA-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Topeka,_Kansas" title="Topeka, Kansas">Topeka, Kansas</a>, located about 55 miles (89 km) from <a href="/wiki/Emporia,_Kansas" title="Emporia, Kansas">Emporia</a>, the hometown of NASCAR Cup driver (and 2007 Chase participant) <a href="/wiki/Clint_Bowyer" title="Clint Bowyer">Clint Bowyer</a> and about 55 miles from the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_Speedway" title="Kansas Speedway">Kansas Speedway</a> in <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City,_Kansas" title="Kansas City, Kansas">Kansas City</a>, broke away from ABC's coverage of the <a href="/wiki/2007_Bank_of_America_500" title="2007 Bank of America 500">2007 Bank of America 500</a> early on October 13 to air its nightly 10:00 pm newscast and did not resume its broadcast of the race. KSAT also aired a brief news update, which came during a <a href="/wiki/Racing_flags#Red_flag" title="Racing flags">red flag</a>, but returned in time for the checkered flag. The 2008 Sharpie MINI 300 was not seen on several ABC stations for various reasons, ranging from weather bulletins (such as those aired on <a href="/wiki/WSB-TV" title="WSB-TV">WSB-TV</a> in <a href="/wiki/Atlanta" title="Atlanta">Atlanta</a> and <a href="/wiki/WSOC-TV" title="WSOC-TV">WSOC-TV</a> in Charlotte) to stations airing coverage of the <a href="/wiki/2008_Big_12_men%27s_basketball_tournament" title="2008 Big 12 men's basketball tournament">Big 12 men's basketball tournament</a> at the time of the race (such as with <a href="/wiki/KLKN" title="KLKN">KLKN</a> in <a href="/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska" title="Lincoln, Nebraska">Lincoln, Nebraska</a>; where the race moved to an ESPN2 alternate feed, which is normally used when <a href="/wiki/Syndication_exclusivity" title="Syndication exclusivity">syndication exclusivity</a> rules force an ESPN blackout). In addition, ABC's <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a> <a href="/wiki/Flagship_(broadcasting)" title="Flagship (broadcasting)">flagship station</a> <a href="/wiki/WABC-TV" title="WABC-TV">WABC-TV</a> carried the race, but pre-empted NASCAR Countdown and the rain delay to cover a construction accident at a <a href="/wiki/High-rise_building" class="mw-redirect" title="High-rise building">high-rise building</a> in <a href="/wiki/Manhattan" title="Manhattan">Manhattan</a>.<a href="#cite_note-73">[73]</a> One pre-emption instance involved the network's primetime programming, After a red flag during lap 284, the <a href="/wiki/2008_Checker_Auto_Parts_500" class="mw-redirect" title="2008 Checker Auto Parts 500">2008 Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil</a>, viewers in the <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Time_Zone" title="Eastern Time Zone">Eastern</a> and <a href="/wiki/Central_Time_Zone" title="Central Time Zone">Central Time Zones</a> were forced to watch the finish of the race on Lap 284 on ESPN2 as ABC ended its broadcast of the race to air <a href="/wiki/America%27s_Funniest_Home_Videos" title="America's Funniest Home Videos">America's Funniest Home Videos</a> at 7:30 pm Eastern Time, while the network continued the race to its conclusion (ending at 313 laps) in the <a href="/wiki/Mountain_Time_Zone" title="Mountain Time Zone">Mountain</a> and <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Time_Zone" title="Pacific Time Zone">Pacific Time Zones</a>. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="NBA_coverage">NBA coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: NBA coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/NBA_on_ESPN" title="NBA on ESPN">NBA on ESPN</a> and <a href="/wiki/NBA_on_ABC" title="NBA on ABC">NBA on ABC</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="ABC's_NBA_coverage">ABC's NBA coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: ABC's NBA coverage">edit</a>]</div> Some complaints regarding ESPN have concerned the promotion of NBA telecasts.<a href="#cite_note-74">[74]</a> The <a href="/wiki/2003_NBA_Finals" title="2003 NBA Finals">2003 NBA Finals</a> received very little significant promotion on ABC or corporate partner ESPN; while subsequent Finals were promoted more often on both networks, NBA-related advertisements on ABC were still significantly fewer compared to promotions on NBC.[<a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] NBA promos took up 3 minutes and 55 seconds of airtime on ABC during the week of May 23, <a href="/wiki/2003-04_NBA_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2003-04 NBA season">2004</a>, according to the Sports Business Daily, comparable to 2 minutes and 45 seconds for the <a href="/wiki/2004_Indianapolis_500" title="2004 Indianapolis 500">Indianapolis 500</a>. Promotions for the Indianapolis 500 outnumbered promotions for the NBA Finals fourteen-to-nine from the timeframe between 9:00 and 11:00 pm Eastern Time during that week.<a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Pistons–Pacers_brawl_coverage">Pistons–Pacers brawl coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Pistons–Pacers brawl coverage">edit</a>]</div> ESPN's studio team was generally more criticized<a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a> than praised. After the <a href="/wiki/Malice_at_the_Palace" title="Malice at the Palace">Pacers–Pistons brawl</a> in November 2004, ESPN's studio team came under severe criticism, both by the media<a href="#cite_note-77">[77]</a> and by the network itself<a href="#cite_note-:0-78">[78]</a> for their stance regarding the actions of <a href="/wiki/Indiana_Pacers" title="Indiana Pacers">Indiana Pacers</a> player <a href="/wiki/Metta_World_Peace" class="mw-redirect" title="Metta World Peace">Ron Artest</a> (who entered the stands to confront a fan, sparking the melee). <a href="/wiki/John_Saunders_(journalist)" title="John Saunders (journalist)">John Saunders</a> came down hard on Detroit fans, referring to them as "punks",<a href="#cite_note-:0-78">[78]</a> while <a href="/wiki/Greg_Anthony" title="Greg Anthony">Greg Anthony</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tim_Legler" title="Tim Legler">Tim Legler</a> defended Artest. The day after the brawl, Steve Levy led into a report on the brawl on <a href="/wiki/SportsCenter" title="SportsCenter">SportsCenter</a> by saying, "before you unconditionally blame the players, take a look and a listen."<a href="#cite_note-:1-79">[79]</a> He concluded the report on the brawl by calling it "on an overall sorry night for the NBA, and especially fans of the Detroit Pistons," without any reference to the Pacers.<a href="#cite_note-:1-79">[79]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="WNBA_coverage">WNBA coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: WNBA coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/WNBA_on_ESPN" title="WNBA on ESPN">WNBA on ESPN</a></div> During the <a href="/wiki/2006_WNBA_Finals" title="2006 WNBA Finals">2006 WNBA Finals</a>, <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Shock" title="Detroit Shock">Detroit Shock</a> head coach, and former ESPN NBA analyst, <a href="/wiki/Bill_Laimbeer" title="Bill Laimbeer">Bill Laimbeer</a> became irritated by ESPN's coverage. He was quoted by the <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Free_Press" title="Detroit Free Press">Detroit Free Press</a> as saying: <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote">I just hear from our family and friends back home that, 'Boy, ESPN is killing you guys,' ... 'And <a href="/wiki/Nancy_Lieberman" title="Nancy Lieberman">(Nancy) Lieberman</a> and <a href="/wiki/Doris_Burke" title="Doris Burke">Doris Burke</a> are just trashing you left and right.' Not only me, but also some of our players on our ballclub. ... We're telling ESPN today to basically stick it.</blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="LeBron_James'_"Decision"">LeBron James' "Decision"</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: LeBron James' "Decision"">edit</a>]</div> On July 8, 2010, basketball player <a href="/wiki/LeBron_James" title="LeBron James">LeBron James</a> announced on a live, one-hour ESPN special titled <a href="/wiki/The_Decision_(TV_special)" class="mw-redirect" title="The Decision (TV special)">The Decision</a> that he would leave the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Cavaliers" title="Cleveland Cavaliers">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> and join the <a href="/wiki/Miami_Heat" title="Miami Heat">Miami Heat</a>, beginning with the <a href="/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_NBA_season" title="2010–11 NBA season">2010–11 season</a>.<a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a> In exchange for the exclusive rights to air the special, ESPN agreed to hand over its advertising and airtime to James. James arranged for the special to include an interview conducted by <a href="/wiki/Jim_Gray_(sportscaster)" title="Jim Gray (sportscaster)">Jim Gray</a>, who was paid by James' marketing company and had no affiliation with the network. ESPN's reporting leading up to the James special, its decision to air the program, and its decision to relinquish editorial independence were widely cited as gross violations of journalistic ethics.<a href="#cite_note-81">[81]</a><a href="#cite_note-82">[82]</a><a href="#cite_note-83">[83]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="NCAA_Basketball_coverage">NCAA Basketball coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: NCAA Basketball coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/College_Basketball_on_ESPN" class="mw-redirect" title="College Basketball on ESPN">College Basketball on ESPN</a></div> ESPN is often accused of having a bias towards certain college basketball teams, including those in the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Coast_Conference" title="Atlantic Coast Conference">Atlantic Coast Conference</a> (ACC), particularly the <a href="/wiki/Duke_Blue_Devils_men%27s_basketball" title="Duke Blue Devils men's basketball">Duke Blue Devils</a> and <a href="/wiki/North_Carolina_Tar_Heels_men%27s_basketball" title="North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball">North Carolina Tar Heels</a> as well as the <a href="/wiki/Kentucky_Wildcats_men%27s_basketball" title="Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball">Kentucky Wildcats</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Southeastern_Conference" title="Southeastern Conference">Southeastern Conference</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Le_Anne_Schreiber-36">[36]</a> ESPN maintains a broadcast rights agreement with the ACC that runs through the 2026–2027 season, which provides additional football, men's and women's basketball and Olympic sports coverage on a variety of platforms, suggesting that the bias may have a financial motivation.<a href="#cite_note-84">[84]</a> <a href="/wiki/Dick_Vitale" title="Dick Vitale">Dick Vitale</a> is often criticized for being a "homer" for Duke, especially for Coach <a href="/wiki/Mike_Krzyzewski" title="Mike Krzyzewski">Mike Krzyzewski</a>, as well as most teams within the ACC. He is also known for mentioning Duke frequently during broadcasts, even when the Blue Devils are not playing. Former <a href="/wiki/Temple_Owls_men%27s_basketball" title="Temple Owls men's basketball">Temple University</a> head coach <a href="/wiki/John_Chaney_(basketball,_born_1932)" title="John Chaney (basketball, born 1932)">John Chaney</a> once said "You can't get Dick Vitale to say 15 words without Duke coming out of his mouth".<a href="#cite_note-Phil_Axelrod-85">[85]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="NFL_coverage">NFL coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: NFL coverage">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Ben_Roethlisberger_sexual_assault_case">Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault case</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault case">edit</a>]</div> On July 18, 2009, <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> quarterback <a href="/wiki/Ben_Roethlisberger" title="Ben Roethlisberger">Ben Roethlisberger</a> was accused of sexual assault in a civil lawsuit filed by Andrea McNulty. ESPN came under fire for being the only major media outlet that refused to report on the story.<a href="#cite_note-86">[86]</a><a href="#cite_note-87">[87]</a> ESPN officials attempted to justify their actions by stating that the case is a private matter. Furthermore, ESPN claimed that since Roethlisberger had not addressed the issue publicly, and since no criminal charges had been filed, there was no reason to report on it. However, many have been quick to point out other instances where ESPN has reported on civil cases as well as statements addressing the matter by Roethlisberger's attorney.<a href="#cite_note-88">[88]</a> The network's actions resulted in some media sources accusing them of <a href="/wiki/Double_standard" title="Double standard">double standards</a> and poor journalistic practices.<a href="#cite_note-89">[89]</a> ESPN began reporting on the story on July 23, 2009; one month later on August 18, ESPN released a column on its website explaining the network's decision.<a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a><a href="#cite_note-91">[91]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Fantasy_football_and_advertising_influence">Fantasy football and advertising influence</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Fantasy football and advertising influence">edit</a>]</div> In 2015, ESPN received criticism from <a href="/wiki/Deadspin" title="Deadspin">Deadspin</a> for accepting advertising from <a href="/wiki/DraftKings" title="DraftKings">DraftKings</a>, a daily <a href="/wiki/Fantasy_sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Fantasy sports">fantasy sports</a> site, and integrating DraftKings into the network's football coverage through <a href="/wiki/Product_placement" title="Product placement">product placement</a>, breaching the ethical wall between journalism and sponsorship.<a href="#cite_note-92">[92]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Conflicts_of_Interests_with_NFL:_Deflategate,_concussions,_legal_issues">Conflicts of Interests with NFL: Deflategate, concussions, legal issues</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Conflicts of Interests with NFL: Deflategate, concussions, legal issues">edit</a>]</div> In 2011, ESPN agreed to a deal with the NFL worth more than $15 billion.<a href="#cite_note-93">[93]</a> This fact led several media organizations, including <a href="/wiki/Forbes" title="Forbes">Forbes</a>, to argue whether the financial relationship with the league creates a conflict of interest when ESPN covers the NFL.<a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a> The network has also been accused of alleged pro-NFL bias on labor issues with the league and the union and ignoring or downplaying crimes or scandals committed by owners.<a href="#cite_note-truth-out.org-95">[95]</a> Also, <a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a> reported that ESPN spiked its partnership with the <a href="/wiki/PBS" title="PBS">PBS</a> series <a href="/wiki/Frontline_(American_TV_program)" title="Frontline (American TV program)">Frontline</a> on the 2013 documentary "<a href="/wiki/League_of_Denial" title="League of Denial">League of Denial</a>", which chronicles the history of head injuries in the NFL, shortly after a meeting between ESPN executives and league commissioner <a href="/wiki/Roger_Goodell" title="Roger Goodell">Roger Goodell</a> took place in <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a>, though ESPN denies pressure from the NFL led to its backing out of the project, claiming a lack of editorial control instead.<a href="#cite_note-96">[96]</a><a href="#cite_note-97">[97]</a> Boston-based journalist Michael Corcoran stated that in the first seven months after the <a href="/wiki/Deflategate" title="Deflategate">Deflategate</a> scandal became national news, ESPN.com used the term "Deflategate" in 844 separate articles or videos, including the <a href="/wiki/Chris_Mortensen" title="Chris Mortensen">Chris Mortensen</a>'s erroneous report about 11 of the 12 footballs used in the <a href="/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_NFL_playoffs#AFC:_New_England_Patriots_45,_Indianapolis_Colts_7" title="2014–15 NFL playoffs">2014 AFC Championship Game</a> were 2 pounds per square inch (PSI) under NFL regulation.<a href="#cite_note-auto-98">[98]</a> This was compared to when <a href="/wiki/Jimmy_Haslam" title="Jimmy Haslam">Jimmy Haslam</a>, owner of the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns" title="Cleveland Browns">Cleveland Browns</a>, was accused by the <a href="/wiki/FBI" class="mw-redirect" title="FBI">FBI</a> in a 120-page affidavit<a href="#cite_note-99">[99]</a> of a five-year-long "conspiracy to scheme" and "defraud its customers" out of millions in rebates for his company <a href="/wiki/Pilot_Flying_J" title="Pilot Flying J">Pilot Flying J</a>. In the first seven months after the FBI raided Haslam's company, ESPN only mentioned the scandal 23 times, less than 3 percent of the coverage of the allegations of football deflation. "ESPN should, at a minimum, disclose the details of its enormous vested interest before reporting any serious story about the league," Corcoran's article concluded.<a href="#cite_note-truth-out.org-95">[95]</a> Nonetheless, in July 2015, <a href="/wiki/The_Hollywood_Reporter" title="The Hollywood Reporter">The Hollywood Reporter</a> reported that sources within ESPN believed that the NFL gave them a "terrible" 2015 <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> schedule as "payback" for remarks made on air by both ESPN commentators <a href="/wiki/Keith_Olbermann" title="Keith Olbermann">Keith Olbermann</a> and <a href="/wiki/Bill_Simmons" title="Bill Simmons">Bill Simmons</a> that were critical of the league and Goodell;<a href="#cite_note-100">[100]</a> ESPN parted ways with both Olbermann and Simmons during that same year.<a href="#cite_note-101">[101]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="2020_NFL_Draft_coverage">2020 NFL Draft coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: 2020 NFL Draft coverage">edit</a>]</div> ESPN immediately came under fire for their coverage<a href="#cite_note-102">[102]</a> of the first two nights of the <a href="/wiki/2020_NFL_draft" title="2020 NFL draft">2020 NFL draft</a> for focusing too much on the family tragedies of players as they are drafted. Sports blog site <a href="/wiki/Barstool_Sports" title="Barstool Sports">Barstool Sports</a> called it "tragedy porn",<a href="#cite_note-103">[103]</a> adding that ESPN not only kept focusing on the death of players' family members, but also questionable stories like a mom battling drug addiction for 16 years. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Monday_Night_Football_coverage">Monday Night Football coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Monday Night Football coverage">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/History_of_Monday_Night_Football#2006–present:_ESPN_era" title="History of Monday Night Football">History of Monday Night Football § 2006–present: ESPN era</a></div> In <a href="/wiki/2006_NFL_season" title="2006 NFL season">2006</a>, ESPN took over the <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> package from its sister network <a href="/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company" title="American Broadcasting Company">ABC</a>,<a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a> who had broadcast the series for 36 years. 14 years later, in <a href="/wiki/2020_NFL_season" title="2020 NFL season">2020</a>, Aaron Barnhart of Primetimer wrote: <blockquote> The <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">NFL</a> was never one to turn down a lunatic network waving a blank checkbook, so it agreed to let ESPN take Monday Night Football over to <a href="/wiki/Cable_television_in_the_United_States" title="Cable television in the United States">cable</a>. Like a billionaire who locks his <a href="/wiki/Trophy_wife" title="Trophy wife">trophy wife</a> up in their <a href="/wiki/The_Hamptons" title="The Hamptons">Hamptons</a> home, ESPN immediately moved to minimize its prize. It started referring to the game as just "MNF", three letters, kind of like <a href="/wiki/Fuck#Modern_usage" title="Fuck">WTF</a>. It pulled in <a href="/wiki/List_of_Monday_Night_Football_commentators" title="List of Monday Night Football commentators">announcers</a> who would work for ESPN's modest salary.<a href="#cite_note-105">[105]</a> The results, over 15 years, are plain to see. Now it is Monday Night Football, with its second-rate <a href="/wiki/List_of_Monday_Night_Football_results_(2010%E2%80%93present)" class="mw-redirect" title="List of Monday Night Football results (2010–present)">football matchups</a> and endless turnover in the booth, that embodies the "droning blandness of <a href="/wiki/Prime_time" title="Prime time">prime time</a>", while <a href="/wiki/NBC_Sunday_Night_Football" title="NBC Sunday Night Football">Sunday Night Football</a> is the biggest show on turf, and most weeks is the <a href="/wiki/List_of_most_watched_television_broadcasts_in_the_United_States" title="List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States">top-rated show</a> on television. And <a href="/wiki/NFL_on_NBC" title="NFL on NBC">NBC</a> is not alone. <a href="/wiki/NFL_on_CBS" title="NFL on CBS">CBS</a> and <a href="/wiki/Fox_NFL" class="mw-redirect" title="Fox NFL">Fox</a> have outbid ESPN in recent years for game and league rights, since nothing like live events can bring a crowd to broadcast TV. Meanwhile, cable customers fed up with high monthly bills have been <a href="/wiki/Cord-cutting" title="Cord-cutting">cord-cutting</a> at record pace. All of this has upended <a href="/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company" title="The Walt Disney Company">Disney</a>'s apple cart. ESPN was able to justify paying sports leagues billions in contract deals because it made tens of billions in revenue on those games. ESPN has always been the priciest channel in your cable bundle, $9 per month per customer in 2017.<a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a> </blockquote> Awful Announcing's Ben Koo wrote<a href="#cite_note-107">[107]</a> on October 23, 2018, that <a href="/wiki/Jason_Witten" title="Jason Witten">Jason Witten</a> was "in over his head" as an analyst. Koo added that "Witten made mistakes, was inconsistent, got tongue tied, and could be awkward at times". Meanwhile, the gimmick of placing <a href="/wiki/Booger_McFarland" title="Booger McFarland">Booger McFarland</a> in on-field mobile platform<a href="#cite_note-108">[108]</a><a href="#cite_note-109">[109]</a> is clunky because all involved had to have direct comments and questions to each other explicitly, and there were lulls in the broadcast at times when it's not clear which of McFarland or Witten should be jumping in. As for play-by-play man <a href="/wiki/Joe_Tessitore" title="Joe Tessitore">Joe Tessitore</a>, Koo regarded him as an acquired taste and many were not acquiring it. This was due to Tessitore's style<a href="#cite_note-110">[110]</a> of "going HARD on a lot of calls, in energy and volume." Besides the commentators, Ben Koo complained about the distracting sponsorships from <a href="/wiki/Old_Spice" title="Old Spice">Old Spice</a> and <a href="/wiki/Genesis_Motor" title="Genesis Motor">Genesis Motor</a>. On November 29, 2018, <a href="/wiki/Deadspin" title="Deadspin">Deadspin</a>'s Drew Magary said<a href="#cite_note-111">[111]</a> that ESPN "Is too busy living in Monday Night Football's glorious past, trying to turn the franchise into an event with needless innovations and halftime concerts – like <a href="/wiki/The_Chainsmokers" title="The Chainsmokers">The Chainsmokers</a> during last week's <a href="/wiki/2018_Los_Angeles_Rams_season" title="2018 Los Angeles Rams season">Rams</a>-<a href="/wiki/2018_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season" title="2018 Kansas City Chiefs season">Chiefs</a> game. All of those efforts to recapture MNF's magic failed, but that hasn't stopped ESPN from continuously trying to doctor up ways to make the game as much of an EVENT as it was back in the 1970s. This is a show imprisoned by its own history. They still have pictures of <a href="/wiki/Howard_Cosell" title="Howard Cosell">Howard Cosell</a> adorning the MNF production trucks. They still use the <a href="/wiki/Heavy_Action" title="Heavy Action">theme</a>. They dragged <a href="/wiki/Hank_Williams_Jr." title="Hank Williams Jr.">Hank Williams Jr.</a> out of racist mothballs to sing his stupid fucking <a href="/wiki/All_My_Rowdy_Friends_Are_Coming_Over_Tonight" title="All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight">song</a> from the '80s salad days. They still use ancient clips of Cosell slurring 'He could go all the way' and 'What a game this turned out to be' and all that nonsense. They refer to Monday records as if they are hallowed... None of that has stopped ESPN from still trying desperately to make Monday Night Football a thing. In the process, they've in fact cheapened the product." Early on in the <a href="/wiki/2019_NFL_season" title="2019 NFL season">2019 season</a>, there were so many <a href="/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> complaints over ESPN's then new <a href="/wiki/1st_%26_Ten_(graphics_system)" title="1st & Ten (graphics system)">down and distance marker</a> that it was dropped after halftime.<a href="#cite_note-112">[112]</a> ESPN had made the down-and-distance graphic yellow, so it looked like there was a <a href="/wiki/Penalty_flag" title="Penalty flag">flag</a> on every play.<a href="#cite_note-113">[113]</a> ESPN's Bill Hofheimer tweeted "Our ESPN production team is aware of the feedback on the #MNF down and distance graphic. We have called an audible and adjusted for the 2nd half of #<a href="/wiki/2019_Houston_Texans_season" title="2019 Houston Texans season">HOUvs</a><a href="/wiki/2019_New_Orleans_Saints_season" title="2019 New Orleans Saints season">NO</a> and for the #<a href="/wiki/2019_Denver_Broncos_season" title="2019 Denver Broncos season">DENvs</a><a href="/wiki/2019_Oakland_Raiders_season" title="2019 Oakland Raiders season">OAK</a> game to follow." When reviewing ESPN's production of the <a href="/wiki/2019_New_England_Patriots_season" title="2019 New England Patriots season">New England Patriots</a>-<a href="/wiki/2019_New_York_Jets_season" title="2019 New York Jets season">New York Jets</a> game from Week 7 of the 2019 season, <a href="/wiki/The_A.V._Club" title="The A.V. Club">The A.V. Club</a>'s John Teti wrote<a href="#cite_note-114">[114]</a> that "Once, Monday Night was the climax of an NFL week. Now it often feels like a last gasp. Monday Night isn't special anymore, but the production never formed a new identity to contend with that reality. So there's a lot of pretending. We all must pretend it matters when, say, a running back gains more yards in the third quarter of a Monday Night Football game than anyone has before. It's not clear why the Monday Night-ness of an achievement matters to anyone in 2019—though, did it ever? Regardless, part of the lore of Monday Night Football is that the lore of Monday Night Football is very important indeed." Oliver Connolly, on November 26, 2019 in <a href="/wiki/Guardian_US" title="Guardian US">The Guardian</a>, wrote "Monday Night Football: the once great NFL show was now the worst on television".<a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a> The article cited the overblown announcing by Tessitore, incoherent analysis by McFarland and bizarre <a href="/wiki/Digital_on-screen_graphic" title="Digital on-screen graphic">graphics</a>. Connolly further wrote that "It often feels like the show's producers are more interested in their carefully choreographed packages and graphics than the actual game unfolding on the field. No other broadcast misses a play as consistently as Monday Night Football, continuing to prove that there is nothing in media or entertainment that cannot be ruined by more money and time." <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="UFC_and_MMA_coverage">UFC and MMA coverage</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: UFC and MMA coverage">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Lack_of_coverage_and_negative_coverage">Lack of coverage and negative coverage</h4>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Lack of coverage and negative coverage">edit</a>]</div> Despite the growth in popularity of <a href="/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial arts</a> and its largest promotion – the <a href="/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship" title="Ultimate Fighting Championship">Ultimate Fighting Championship</a> – in particular, many fans of the sport felt that ESPN treated MMA as a fringe sport by either not showing highlights of recent drawing matchups or by portraying the sport in a negative light.<a href="#cite_note-116">[116]</a> Commentators such as <a href="/wiki/Mike_Wilbon" class="mw-redirect" title="Mike Wilbon">Mike Wilbon</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tony_Kornheiser" title="Tony Kornheiser">Tony Kornheiser</a> of <a href="/wiki/Pardon_the_Interruption" title="Pardon the Interruption">Pardon the Interruption</a>, along with <a href="/wiki/Skip_Bayless" title="Skip Bayless">Skip Bayless</a>, formerly of <a href="/wiki/ESPN_First_Take" class="mw-redirect" title="ESPN First Take">First Take</a> have openly criticized the sport as inferior to <a href="/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a>. <a href="/wiki/Jim_Rome" title="Jim Rome">Jim Rome</a> of the former ESPN program <a href="/wiki/Jim_Rome_is_Burning" class="mw-redirect" title="Jim Rome is Burning">Jim Rome is Burning</a> however, often defends the sport and featured fighters as guests.<a href="#cite_note-117">[117]</a> Some MMA fans feel that the influence of ESPN's corporate parent The Walt Disney Company (both due to not having broadcast rights and due to Disney's traditionally family friendly image), along with the influence of the boxing media have contributed to what they perceived as negative coverage of the sport on the channel. Other complaints included the ESPN show <a href="/wiki/MMA_Live" title="MMA Live">MMA Live</a> being aired in a late Friday night (1:00 am Eastern Time) timeslot that many MMA fans feel is inadequate, and is often prone to preemptions due to live programming.<a href="#cite_note-118">[118]</a> After the UFC signed a television rights deal with rival <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports_(United_States)" title="Fox Sports (United States)">Fox Sports</a>, UFC president <a href="/wiki/Dana_White" title="Dana White">Dana White</a> lashed out at ESPN following the cancellation of an appearance for an interview promoting the <a href="/wiki/UFC_134" title="UFC 134">UFC 134</a> event.<a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a><a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a> In 2018, however, ESPN ultimately acquired the U.S. media rights to the UFC beginning in 2019, with a large focus on its subscription service <a href="/wiki/ESPN%2B" title="ESPN+">ESPN+</a>.<a href="#cite_note-121">[121]</a><a href="#cite_note-122">[122]</a><a href="#cite_note-123">[123]</a><a href="#cite_note-124">[124]</a><a href="#cite_note-125">[125]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Coverage_of_professional_wrestling_as_a_legitimate_sport">Coverage of professional wrestling as a legitimate sport</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Coverage of professional wrestling as a legitimate sport">edit</a>]</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Kayfabe" title="Kayfabe">Kayfabe</a></div> In its early days, ESPN aired various <a href="/wiki/Professional_wrestling" title="Professional wrestling">professional wrestling</a> programs, including <a href="/wiki/AWA_Championship_Wrestling" title="AWA Championship Wrestling">AWA Championship Wrestling</a> from the <a href="/wiki/American_Wrestling_Association" title="American Wrestling Association">American Wrestling Association</a> as well as <a href="/wiki/World_Class_Championship_Wrestling" title="World Class Championship Wrestling">World Class Championship Wrestling</a> / (<a href="/wiki/United_States_Wrestling_Association" title="United States Wrestling Association">United States Wrestling Association</a>). ESPN started distancing itself from professional wrestling after the more athletic-oriented AWA went out of business in 1991, two years after <a href="/wiki/WWE" title="WWE">World Wrestling Federation</a> owner <a href="/wiki/Vince_McMahon" title="Vince McMahon">Vince McMahon</a> admitted that professional wrestling was <a href="/wiki/Kayfabe" title="Kayfabe">staged</a> and was more about entertainment than about legitimate athletic competition. ESPN would not distance itself completely from professional wrestling, as the network commissioned the <a href="/wiki/Global_Wrestling_Federation" title="Global Wrestling Federation">Global Wrestling Federation</a> for three years following AWA's failure, and Canadian sister network <a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network" title="The Sports Network">TSN</a> held the Canadian rights to <a href="/wiki/WWE_Raw" title="WWE Raw">WWE Raw</a> from 1996 to 2006, as well as the parent network having aired <a href="/wiki/This_is_SportsCenter" title="This is SportsCenter">This is SportsCenter</a> ads featuring <a href="/wiki/The_Undertaker" title="The Undertaker">The Undertaker</a>, <a href="/wiki/Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin" title="Stone Cold Steve Austin">Stone Cold Steve Austin</a>, <a href="/wiki/John_Cena" title="John Cena">John Cena</a> and <a href="/wiki/Becky_Lynch" title="Becky Lynch">Becky Lynch</a> on occasion. On March 24, 2015, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and then-current <a href="/wiki/WWE_World_Heavyweight_Champion" class="mw-redirect" title="WWE World Heavyweight Champion">WWE World Heavyweight Champion</a> <a href="/wiki/Brock_Lesnar" title="Brock Lesnar">Brock Lesnar</a> appeared on SportsCenter for a "huge announcement" after it became public knowledge that Lesnar's WWE contract was set to expire after <a href="/wiki/WrestleMania_31" title="WrestleMania 31">WrestleMania 31</a> and that he had been training for a return to MMA. However, Lesnar used the air time to announce that he in fact had re-signed with WWE and was retired from MMA, with part of the interview being done by then-SportsCenter anchor <a href="/wiki/Jonathan_Coachman" title="Jonathan Coachman">Jonathan Coachman</a>, himself a then-former WWE announcer. This would be followed up by a segment on SportsCenter covering Lesnar's match with <a href="/wiki/Roman_Reigns" title="Roman Reigns">Roman Reigns</a> at WrestleMania 31 for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, featuring Lesnar, Reigns, and Lesnar's manager <a href="/wiki/Paul_Heyman" title="Paul Heyman">Paul Heyman</a> in studio for the segment. (<a href="/wiki/Seth_Rollins" title="Seth Rollins">Seth Rollins</a> ultimately won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the event after he cashed in his <a href="/wiki/Money_in_the_Bank_ladder_match" title="Money in the Bank ladder match">Money in the Bank</a> contract mid-match.) Although ESPN was not criticized for covering WWE, it did receive criticism for covering WWE like a legitimate sport as opposed to entertainment; unlike other countries, the United States generally views professional wrestling as entertainment due to it being an <a href="/wiki/Open_secret" title="Open secret">open secret</a> that professional wrestling is staged.<a href="#cite_note-126">[126]</a> Lesnar would subsequently return to MMA (while under contract with WWE) for a one-off match at <a href="/wiki/UFC_200" title="UFC 200">UFC 200</a> while WWE and ESPN would gradually increase their collaboration into a regular segment on SportsCenter hosted by Coachman, as well as a subsection devoted to professional wrestling on <a href="/wiki/ESPN.com" title="ESPN.com">ESPN.com</a>. The association between ESPN and WWE has received criticism outside of mainstream media and within the two organizations themselves. Coachman (who himself would leave ESPN in 2017 and eventually return to WWE a few months afterwards) stated he had wanted a connection between ESPN and WWE for years following his departure from WWE in 2008, but had to wait "until the right person was in charge" before the two sides started forming a partnership.<a href="#cite_note-127">[127]</a> In 2016, the wife of WWE wrestler <a href="/wiki/Kevin_Owens" title="Kevin Owens">Kevin Owens</a> would post on <a href="/wiki/Social_media" title="Social media">social media</a> their eight-year-old son's reaction following Owens winning the <a href="/wiki/WWE_Universal_Championship" title="WWE Universal Championship">WWE Universal Championship</a>. While the post would receive positive responses from most reporters, Amin Elhassin for ESPN <a href="/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">tweeted</a> that it was feel-good moment for their son "until he finds out its scripted". Fellow wrestler <a href="/wiki/Cody_Rhodes" title="Cody Rhodes">Cody Rhodes</a>, who had left WWE earlier that year, said that WWE needs to cut ties with ESPN and that having mainstream recognition "ain't always worth it" when one of their reporters tries to ruin it for a child.<a href="#cite_note-128">[128]</a> Rhodes did eventually return to the WWE at <a href="/wiki/WrestleMania_38" title="WrestleMania 38">WrestleMania 38</a> in April 2022. Despite ESPN and WWE having somewhat scaled back their relationship since (partially due to other mainstream sports media such as <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports" title="Fox Sports">Fox Sports</a>, <a href="/wiki/CBS_Sports" title="CBS Sports">CBS Sports</a>, <a href="/wiki/Yahoo!_Sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Yahoo! Sports">Yahoo! Sports</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Bleacher_Report" title="Bleacher Report">Bleacher Report</a> also reporting on WWE), the two still partner on occasion. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2021_Nathan's_Hot_Dog_Eating_Contest">2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest">edit</a>]</div> On July 4, 2021, ESPN experienced on and off technical difficulties during the last minutes of the 2021 <a href="/wiki/Nathan%27s_Hot_Dog_Eating_Contest" title="Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest">Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest</a>, where <a href="/wiki/Joey_Chestnut" title="Joey Chestnut">Joey Chestnut</a> set a new world record by eating 76 hot dogs to win the event for the 14th time. The issues forced the network to take two in-competition commercial breaks. The feed cut off again during the finish of the competition, thus preventing viewers from seeing it. Many fans and viewers took to social media to express their anger towards ESPN over the technical issues.<a href="#cite_note-129">[129]</a><a href="#cite_note-130">[130]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Alternative_outlets_and_third_party_accountability">Alternative outlets and third party accountability</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Alternative outlets and third party accountability">edit</a>]</div> Aside from ESPN's main competitors, such as <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports" title="Fox Sports">Fox Sports</a>, <a href="/wiki/NBC_Sports" title="NBC Sports">NBC Sports</a>, <a href="/wiki/CBS_Sports" title="CBS Sports">CBS Sports</a>, <a href="/wiki/Turner_Sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Turner Sports">Turner Sports</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Yahoo!_Sports" class="mw-redirect" title="Yahoo! Sports">Yahoo! Sports</a>, independent and regional sports-focused media firms and blogs, including <a href="/wiki/Deadspin" title="Deadspin">Deadspin</a> (now owned by <a href="/wiki/G/O_Media" title="G/O Media">G/O Media</a>), <a href="/wiki/The_Big_Lead" title="The Big Lead">The Big Lead</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bleacher_Report" title="Bleacher Report">Bleacher Report</a> (now owned by Turner Sports parent <a href="/wiki/Warner_Media" class="mw-redirect" title="Warner Media">Warner Media</a>), and 700 Level (now associated with NBC Sports parent <a href="/wiki/Comcast" title="Comcast">Comcast</a>), have served as alternatives for fans looking for balanced coverage or better local coverage.<a href="#cite_note-131">[131]</a><a href="#cite_note-132">[132]</a> Accountability attempts by third parties range from news articles, websites, and blogs either in a response to specific events or the ongoing lack of or over coverage by ESPN. <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone" title="Rolling Stone">Rolling Stone</a> writers Jordan Burchette and <a href="/wiki/Michael_Weinreb" class="mw-redirect" title="Michael Weinreb">Michael Weinreb</a> each published articles examining the implications of ESPN's perceived SEC bias during the 2014 college football season.<a href="#cite_note-133">[133]</a><a href="#cite_note-134">[134]</a> Moreover, independent blogging group Are You Cereal Box's main tactic is to track mentions of ESPN's alleged <a href="#Bias_towards_certain_teams_and_players">favorite</a> teams and players via mentions on ESPN.com's front page.<a href="#cite_note-135">[135]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="ESPN_media_outlets">ESPN media outlets</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: ESPN media outlets">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="ESPN_MVP/Mobile">ESPN MVP/Mobile</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: ESPN MVP/Mobile">edit</a>]</div> The book Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN notes that <a href="/wiki/Apple_Inc." title="Apple Inc.">Apple</a> CEO <a href="/wiki/Steve_Jobs" title="Steve Jobs">Steve Jobs</a> reportedly told ESPN President <a href="/wiki/George_Bodenheimer" title="George Bodenheimer">George Bodenheimer</a> in reference to the network's failed attempt at a <a href="/wiki/Mobile_virtual_network_operator" title="Mobile virtual network operator">mobile virtual network operator</a> <a href="/wiki/Mobile_phone" title="Mobile phone">mobile phone</a> service, <a href="/wiki/ESPN_MVP" class="mw-redirect" title="ESPN MVP">Mobile ESPN</a>, in 2006, that "your phone is the dumbest fucking idea I have ever heard".<a href="#cite_note-136">[136]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Longhorn_Network">Longhorn Network</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=40" title="Edit section: Longhorn Network">edit</a>]</div> Concerns have been raised by some fans, bloggers and <a href="/wiki/Journalist" title="Journalist">journalists</a> that ESPN's financial stake in the <a href="/wiki/Longhorn_Network" title="Longhorn Network">Longhorn Network</a> (which launched in August 2011) creates a potential <a href="/wiki/Conflict_of_interest" title="Conflict of interest">conflict of interest</a>.<a href="#cite_note-USA_Today-137">[137]</a><a href="#cite_note-138">[138]</a><a href="#cite_note-139">[139]</a> Some fear that ESPN's involvement in the network will inhibit <a href="/wiki/Journalism_ethics_and_standards" title="Journalism ethics and standards">journalistic integrity</a> as ESPN has a financial interest in the success of the athletic programs at the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Texas_at_Austin" title="University of Texas at Austin">University of Texas</a>. <a href="/wiki/Sports_Illustrated" title="Sports Illustrated">Sports Illustrated</a> writer Richard Deitsch wrote: "The network's existence... creates an impossible situation for ESPN's college football producers and reporters (plenty of whom care about reporting). For every story ESPN does on Texas and its opponents, they'll be skeptics wondering what the motivation was for the story."<a href="#cite_note-140">[140]</a> It has also created issues where the various teams of the <a href="/wiki/Iowa_State_Cyclones" title="Iowa State Cyclones">Iowa State Cyclones</a>, a <a href="/wiki/Big_12_Conference" title="Big 12 Conference">Big 12</a> team well outside the prime Longhorn Network footprint, has had to <a href="/wiki/Broadcast_syndication" title="Broadcast syndication">syndicate</a> and create cable networks carried throughout Iowa (in this case, <a href="/wiki/Mediacom" title="Mediacom">Mediacom</a> carries a network known as "Cyclones.tv") to carry Longhorn Network-exclusive content involving the Longhorns as an opponent within Iowa under a secondary agreement with UT and ESPN. Additionally, some have questioned the stipulation included in the network's founding agreement that gives Texas the right to dismiss LHN announcers that do not "reflect the quality and reputation of UT."<a href="#cite_note-USA_Today-137">[137]</a><a href="#cite_note-141">[141]</a> An ESPN spokesperson addressed the situation by stating: "This is not common in ESPN agreements because this UT network is so unique/new for us ...The provision does not allow for random replacement of commentators or reaction to critical comments... it's more about potential situations where a commentator makes completely inappropriate comments or gets involved in inappropriate actions."<a href="#cite_note-142">[142]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="ESPN_original_programs">ESPN original programs</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: ESPN original programs">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="First_Take">First Take</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: First Take">edit</a>]</div> Through the show's success, <a href="/wiki/ESPN_First_Take" class="mw-redirect" title="ESPN First Take">ESPN First Take</a> has also experienced substantial controversy and faced increasing criticism.<a href="#cite_note-143">[143]</a><a href="#cite_note-144">[144]</a> The show was criticized for what is perceived by many as its excessive coverage of the career of <a href="/wiki/Tim_Tebow" title="Tim Tebow">Tim Tebow</a>. During his tenure with the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Jets" title="New York Jets">New York Jets</a>, in which he did not start in a game, and threw just eight passes the entire season, Tebow was nonetheless often a leading topic.<a href="#cite_note-deadspin.com-145">[145]</a> As forward <a href="/wiki/LeBron_James" title="LeBron James">LeBron James</a> began a series of playoff appearances with the Cleveland Cavaliers, host <a href="/wiki/Skip_Bayless" title="Skip Bayless">Skip Bayless</a> became well known for his belief that James had been overrated by the media and not received enough criticism for his team's playoff failures.<a href="#cite_note-146">[146]</a> Bayless has himself been criticized by fans as well as members of the media for exaggerating James' failures and diminishing his successes.<a href="#cite_note-147">[147]</a> In an exchange with <a href="/wiki/Dallas_Mavericks" title="Dallas Mavericks">Dallas Mavericks</a> owner <a href="/wiki/Mark_Cuban" title="Mark Cuban">Mark Cuban</a>, Cuban argued that Bayless had reduced his analysis of the <a href="/wiki/2011_NBA_Finals" title="2011 NBA Finals">2011</a> and <a href="/wiki/2012_NBA_Finals" title="2012 NBA Finals">2012 NBA Finals</a> series to subjective assessments of player psyche rather than relying on objective analysis based on the schematic principles used by the teams in each series.<a href="#cite_note-148">[148]</a> The show has also received criticism for its treatment of issues of race. During a December 2012 discussion regarding Washington Redskins quarterback <a href="/wiki/Robert_Griffin_III" title="Robert Griffin III">Robert Griffin III</a> and his commenting that he did not wish to be perceived solely as a black quarterback, frequent guest Rob Parker asked whether Griffin III was a "brother" or a "cornball brother". When pressed by host Cari Champion on what he meant, he mentioned that Griffin III had a white fiancé and questioned whether he was a Republican. Parker, though, acknowledged that he did not have any information substantiating that claim.<a href="#cite_note-149">[149]</a> In response, Bayless asked whether Griffin III's braids did anything to assuage his concerns.<a href="#cite_note-150">[150]</a> To many, this exchange was part of a larger trend of the nature of the treatment of issues of race by the show.<a href="#cite_note-151">[151]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Sociopolitical_issues">Sociopolitical issues</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: Sociopolitical issues">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2015_Arthur_Ashe_Courage_Award_controversy">2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award controversy</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=44" title="Edit section: 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award controversy">edit</a>]</div> In June 2015, ESPN's announcement of <a href="/wiki/Caitlyn_Jenner" title="Caitlyn Jenner">Caitlyn Jenner</a>, formerly Bruce Jenner, as the recipient of that year's <a href="/wiki/Arthur_Ashe_Courage_Award" title="Arthur Ashe Courage Award">Arthur Ashe Courage Award</a>, one of its annual <a href="/wiki/ESPY_Awards" title="ESPY Awards">ESPY Awards</a>, led to significant criticism among online commenters<a href="#cite_note-Falzone-152">[152]</a> and some members of the media, with <a href="/wiki/Bob_Costas" title="Bob Costas">Bob Costas</a> calling the decision to give Jenner the award a "crass exploitation play".<a href="#cite_note-153">[153]</a> Most of the critics of the Jenner award considered <a href="/wiki/Lauren_Hill_(basketball)" class="mw-redirect" title="Lauren Hill (basketball)">Lauren Hill</a>, who <a href="/wiki/2014_Hiram_vs._Mount_St._Joseph_women%27s_basketball_game" title="2014 Hiram vs. Mount St. Joseph women's basketball game">played college basketball</a> despite suffering from a <a href="/wiki/Diffuse_intrinsic_pontine_glioma" class="mw-redirect" title="Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma">brain tumor</a> that would claim her life only a few months later, a more worthy recipient. Others cited <a href="/wiki/Noah_Galloway" title="Noah Galloway">Noah Galloway</a>, an <a href="/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a> double amputee who competes in extreme sports and was also a finalist in the <a href="/wiki/Dancing_with_the_Stars_(U.S._season_20)" class="mw-redirect" title="Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 20)">spring 2015 season</a> of <a href="/wiki/Dancing_with_the_Stars_(U.S._TV_series)" class="mw-redirect" title="Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)">Dancing with the Stars</a>, as a worthy candidate.<a href="#cite_note-Falzone-152">[152]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Robert_Lee_controversy">Robert Lee controversy</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=45" title="Edit section: Robert Lee controversy">edit</a>]</div> ESPN made the decision to remove <a href="/wiki/Robert_Lee_(sports_announcer)" title="Robert Lee (sports announcer)">Robert Lee</a> from the broadcast team calling the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Virginia" title="University of Virginia">University of Virginia</a> home opener against <a href="/wiki/College_of_William_and_Mary" class="mw-redirect" title="College of William and Mary">College of William and Mary</a> on September 2, 2017, because he shares the same name as <a href="/wiki/Confederate_General" class="mw-redirect" title="Confederate General">Confederate General</a> <a href="/wiki/Robert_E._Lee" title="Robert E. Lee">Robert E. Lee</a>. Robert Lee, who is not related to the confederate general, is of <a href="/wiki/Asian_Americans" title="Asian Americans">Asian American</a> heritage. The decision was made in the aftermath of the <a href="/wiki/Unite_the_Right_rally" title="Unite the Right rally">Unite the Right rally</a> in <a href="/wiki/Charlottesville,_Virginia" title="Charlottesville, Virginia">Charlottesville, Virginia</a>, which protested the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee.<a href="#cite_note-154">[154]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Jemele_Hill_tweets_about_President_Trump">Jemele Hill tweets about President Trump</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=46" title="Edit section: Jemele Hill tweets about President Trump">edit</a>]</div> On September 11, 2017, SportsCenter anchor <a href="/wiki/Jemele_Hill" title="Jemele Hill">Jemele Hill</a> made a series of <a href="/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">tweets</a> critical of President <a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a>, including describing him as a "<a href="/wiki/White_supremacy" title="White supremacy">white supremacist</a>".<a href="#cite_note-155">[155]</a><a href="#cite_note-156">[156]</a> ESPN issued a statement saying Hill's comments "do not represent the position of ESPN. We have addressed this with Jemele and she recognizes her actions were inappropriate."<a href="#cite_note-157">[157]</a> Hill later clarified that she stood by her comments as representative of her personal beliefs. "My regret is that my comments and the public way I made them painted ESPN in an unfair light", she added.<a href="#cite_note-Johnson-158">[158]</a> Some criticized Hill's comments,<a href="#cite_note-159">[159]</a><a href="#cite_note-160">[160]</a><a href="#cite_note-161">[161]</a> including <a href="/wiki/White_House" title="White House">White House</a> press secretary <a href="/wiki/Sarah_Huckabee_Sanders" title="Sarah Huckabee Sanders">Sarah Huckabee Sanders</a>, who called them "a fireable offense by ESPN";<a href="#cite_note-162">[162]</a> Trump criticized the network and demanded an apology.<a href="#cite_note-Johnson-158">[158]</a> Others voiced support for Hill<a href="#cite_note-163">[163]</a><a href="#cite_note-164">[164]</a> and criticized ESPN<a href="#cite_note-165">[165]</a> and the White House's responses, arguing that Hill's comments were accurate<a href="#cite_note-166">[166]</a><a href="#cite_note-167">[167]</a><a href="#cite_note-168">[168]</a> and that a White House official suggesting Hill be fired infringed on the <a href="/wiki/First_Amendment" class="mw-redirect" title="First Amendment">First Amendment</a>.<a href="#cite_note-169">[169]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Coverage_of_the_Hong_Kong_protests">Coverage of the Hong Kong protests</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=47" title="Edit section: Coverage of the Hong Kong protests">edit</a>]</div> On October 8, 2019, in the wake of Chinese boycotts of the NBA after <a href="/wiki/Houston_Rockets" title="Houston Rockets">Houston Rockets</a> general manager <a href="/wiki/Daryl_Morey" title="Daryl Morey">Daryl Morey</a> made a Twitter post in support of the <a href="/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_Hong_Kong_protests" class="mw-redirect" title="2019–20 Hong Kong protests">2019–20 Hong Kong protests</a>,<a href="#cite_note-170">[170]</a><a href="#cite_note-171">[171]</a> it was reported that ESPN's senior news director Chuck Salituro had issued an internal memo directing on-air personalities to not discuss political aspects of the controversy unrelated to their effects on sport, as per prior directives discouraging "pure politics".<a href="#cite_note-172">[172]</a><a href="#cite_note-173">[173]</a> On October 10, ESPN faced criticism for displaying a map of China during a SportsCenter report that included <a href="/wiki/Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Nine-dash_line" title="Nine-dash line">nine-dash line</a>.<a href="#cite_note-174">[174]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Doug_Adler_lawsuit">Doug Adler lawsuit</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=48" title="Edit section: Doug Adler lawsuit">edit</a>]</div> Former tennis player and ESPN commentator Doug Adler was fired after making an allegedly racist comment about <a href="/wiki/Venus_Williams" title="Venus Williams">Venus Williams</a> on-air. In January 2017, during the broadcast of the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Open" title="Australian Open">Australian Open</a> match, Adler commented "Venus is all over her. And you'll see Venus move in and put the guerrilla effect on, charging."<a href="#cite_note-175">[175]</a> ESPN insisted that Adler did not use the word <a href="/wiki/Guerrilla" class="mw-redirect" title="Guerrilla">guerrilla</a>, but rather <a href="/wiki/Gorilla" title="Gorilla">gorilla</a> to describe Williams, who is <a href="/wiki/African-American" class="mw-redirect" title="African-American">African-American</a>. Adler apologized for the remark after being told by his superiors to apologize on air, but was fired by ESPN the next day.<a href="#cite_note-176">[176]</a> In February 2017, Adler filed a lawsuit against ESPN for wrongful termination.<a href="#cite_note-177">[177]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="On-air_promotion_of_Disney+">On-air promotion of Disney+</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=49" title="Edit section: On-air promotion of Disney+">edit</a>]</div> In November 2019, ESPN's owner The Walt Disney Company launched <a href="/wiki/Disney%2B" title="Disney+">Disney+</a>, which came with a publicity push through both ABC and ESPN personalities, and the latter was pointed out as a blurring of lines between corporate publicity and journalistic integrity.<a href="#cite_note-178">[178]</a><a href="#cite_note-179">[179]</a> For example, there was a <a href="/wiki/The_Simpsons" title="The Simpsons">Simpsons</a>-themed <a href="/wiki/SportsCenter" title="SportsCenter">SportsCenter</a> "Top 10" to star NFL reporter <a href="/wiki/Adam_Schefter" title="Adam Schefter">Adam Schefter</a> tweeting that Disney+ "will change lives". Writing in <a href="/wiki/Slate_(magazine)" title="Slate (magazine)">Slate</a>, Laura Wagner said that the "tongue bath" for Disney+ "represents a new inflection point in ESPN's decline from journalistic institution to entertainment company". Wagner added "This clumsy marketing blitz is an embarrassing exercise that turns ostensible reporters into stooges. It's also a stark example of just how flimsy ESPN's editorial vision has become."<a href="#cite_note-180">[180]</a> Meanwhile, Kelly McBride of the nonprofit journalism organization the <a href="/wiki/Poynter_Institute" title="Poynter Institute">Poynter Institute</a> in an interview with <a href="/wiki/The_Washington_Post" title="The Washington Post">The Washington Post</a> said "You're turning the journalist into a salesperson and asking them to upsell the product. That's not the relationship you want the journalist to have with the audience member. You want that relationship to be about trust in the journalist's expertise."<a href="#cite_note-181">[181]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Accusations_of_a_racist_culture_behind_the_scenes">Accusations of a racist culture behind the scenes</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=50" title="Edit section: Accusations of a racist culture behind the scenes">edit</a>]</div> In July 2020, New York Times writer Kevin Draper spoke<a href="#cite_note-182">[182]</a> with more than two dozen current and former ESPN employees, who "described a company that projected a diverse outward face, but did not have enough Black executives, especially ones with real decision-making power. They said the company did not provide meaningful career paths for Black employees behind the camera and made decisions based on assumptions that its average viewer is an older White man, in spite of its audience trends." <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Accusations_of_political_bias">Accusations of political bias</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=51" title="Edit section: Accusations of political bias">edit</a>]</div> Republican political leaders including <a href="/wiki/Donald_Trump" title="Donald Trump">Donald Trump</a><a href="#cite_note-183">[183]</a> and then-<a href="/wiki/Fox_News" title="Fox News">Fox News</a> anchor <a href="/wiki/Tucker_Carlson" title="Tucker Carlson">Tucker Carlson</a> have accused ESPN incorporating their political bias<a href="#cite_note-184">[184]</a> into sports news. A 2017 survey of 1,423 adults found that 30 percent of respondents believed that ESPN was politically biased. Of those respondents, 63 percent responded that they saw a liberal bias, while 30 percent saw a conservative bias.<a href="#cite_note-185">[185]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Gambling_ventures">Gambling ventures</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=52" title="Edit section: Gambling ventures">edit</a>]</div> In August 2023, <a href="/wiki/Penn_Entertainment" title="Penn Entertainment">Penn Entertainment</a> reached a ten-year, $2 billion agreement with <a href="/wiki/ESPN_Inc." title="ESPN Inc.">ESPN Inc.</a>, under which Penn will rebrand Barstool Sportsbook as "ESPN Bet". To license the branding, Penn will pay $1.5 billion in cash, and give ESPN $500 million in shares. Concurrently, Penn announced that it would sell <a href="/wiki/Barstool_Sports" title="Barstool Sports">Barstool</a> back to its founder <a href="/wiki/David_Portnoy" title="David Portnoy">David Portnoy</a>.<a href="#cite_note-186">[186]</a><a href="#cite_note-187">[187]</a> In response to this transaction, <a href="/wiki/SFGate" title="SFGate">SFGate</a> columnist <a href="/wiki/Drew_Magary" title="Drew Magary">Drew Magary</a> wrote<a href="#cite_note-188">[188]</a> that the alliance could ultimately leave ESPN in a greater state of market vulnerability. At worse, Magary argues that ESPN could run the risk of rendering itself as little more than a niche product that only serves <a href="/wiki/Problem_gambling" title="Problem gambling">gambling addicts</a>. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Delayed_responses_to_breaking_news_stories">Delayed responses to breaking news stories</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=53" title="Edit section: Delayed responses to breaking news stories">edit</a>]</div> On February 14, 2024, ESPN garnered criticism for its perceived delayed response to a <a href="/wiki/Breaking_news" title="Breaking news">breaking news</a> story regarding a <a href="/wiki/2024_Kansas_City_parade_shooting" title="2024 Kansas City parade shooting">mass shooting</a> following a <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_LVIII" title="Super Bowl LVIII">Super Bowl LVIII</a> victory parade for the <a href="/wiki/2024_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season" title="2024 Kansas City Chiefs season">Kansas City Chiefs</a>.<a href="#cite_note-189">[189]</a><a href="#cite_note-190">[190]</a><a href="#cite_note-191">[191]</a><a href="#cite_note-192">[192]</a> ESPN first addressed the news on air at approximately 3:57 p.m. Eastern Time. For comparison, <a href="/wiki/CNN" title="CNN">CNN</a> began covering the shooting at 3:07 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, <a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports_1" title="Fox Sports 1">FS1</a> began simulcasting <a href="/wiki/Fox_News" title="Fox News">Fox News</a>' coverage at approximately 3:26 p.m. ET, after previously providing live coverage of the victory parade.<a href="#cite_note-193">[193]</a> On April 17, 2024, <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Raptors" title="Toronto Raptors">Toronto Raptors</a> player <a href="/wiki/Jontay_Porter" title="Jontay Porter">Jontay Porter</a> was <a href="/wiki/List_of_people_banned_or_suspended_by_the_NBA" title="List of people banned or suspended by the NBA">banned by the National Basketball Association</a> for violating the league's gambling policies. Despite the fact that ESPN reporter <a href="/wiki/Adrian_Wojnarowski" title="Adrian Wojnarowski">Adrian Wojnarowski</a> first broke the news of Porter's lifetime ban on <a href="/wiki/Twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> at approximately 12:16 p.m. ET, ESPN did not formally discuss the news on the air until almost two hours later.<a href="#cite_note-194">[194]</a> Within that time frame, ESPN was instead airing <a href="/wiki/The_Pat_McAfee_Show" title="The Pat McAfee Show">The Pat McAfee Show</a>, which did not acknowledge the news of Porter's ban. On the September 30, 2024 edition of <a href="/wiki/SportsCenter" title="SportsCenter">SportsCenter</a> at approximately 7:16 p.m. ET, <a href="/wiki/ESPN_Major_League_Baseball" title="ESPN Major League Baseball">ESPN baseball</a> analyst <a href="/wiki/Eduardo_P%C3%A9rez" title="Eduardo Pérez">Eduardo Pérez</a> shared the breaking news to anchor <a href="/wiki/Jay_Harris_(sportscaster)" title="Jay Harris (sportscaster)">Jay Harris</a> that <a href="/wiki/Major_League_Baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a>'s <a href="/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_career_hits_leaders" title="List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders">career leader in hits</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pete_Rose" title="Pete Rose">Pete Rose</a> had died.<a href="#cite_note-195">[195]</a> Shortly thereafter, Harris ended his conversation with Pérez with no further questions to ask about Rose. SportsCenter soon segued back to a discussion from co-anchor <a href="/wiki/Hannah_Storm" title="Hannah Storm">Hannah Storm</a> about that night's forthcoming <a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a> game . It wasn't until approximately 7:34 p.m. ET that SportsCenter formally aired a segment on Rose's death. In-between that time, SportsCenter devoted about six minutes to discussing the upcoming Monday Night Football match-up before moving on to a segment on <a href="/wiki/Naismith_Memorial_Basketball_Hall_of_Fame" title="Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame">Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer</a> <a href="/wiki/Dikembe_Mutombo" title="Dikembe Mutombo">Dikembe Mutombo</a>, whose death had been announced earlier in the day. <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=54" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a>]</div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Walt_Disney_Company" title="Criticism of the Walt Disney Company">Criticism of the Walt Disney Company</a> – pertaining to criticism and controversies regarding ESPN's majority owner</li> <li><a href="/wiki/East_Coast_bias" title="East Coast bias">East Coast bias</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_NASCAR" title="Criticism of NASCAR">Criticism of NASCAR</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=55" title="Edit section: References">edit</a>]</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hooch.net/here-are-20-behind-the-scene-scandals-that-took-place-at-espn/?view-all">"Behind the Scene Scandals That Took Place At ESPN"</a>. Hooch.net. October 20, 2016.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Hooch.net&rft.atitle=Behind+the+Scene+Scandals+That+Took+Place+At+ESPN&rft.date=2016-10-20&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hooch.net%2Fhere-are-20-behind-the-scene-scandals-that-took-place-at-espn%2F%3Fview-all&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/knicks-pacers-game-7-nba-countdown-stephen-a-smith.html">"Was Knicks Game 7 fanfest a new low for ESPN's NBA Countdown?"</a>. Awful Announcing. May 19, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=Was+Knicks+Game+7+fanfest+a+new+low+for+ESPN%27s+NBA+Countdown%3F&rft.date=2024-05-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fknicks-pacers-game-7-nba-countdown-stephen-a-smith.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Freeman-3"><a href="#cite_ref-Freeman_3-0">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFreeman2001" class="citation book cs1">Freeman, Michael (December 11, 2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/espnuncensoredhi00free_0">ESPN: The Uncensored History</a>. Taylor Trade Publishing. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0878332700" title="Special:BookSources/978-0878332700"><bdi>978-0878332700</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=ESPN%3A+The+Uncensored+History&rft.pub=Taylor+Trade+Publishing&rft.date=2001-12-11&rft.isbn=978-0878332700&rft.aulast=Freeman&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fespnuncensoredhi00free_0&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFurdyk2024" class="citation news cs1">Furdyk, Brent (March 31, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nickiswift.com/1548593/shady-side-espn/">"The Shady Side Of ESPN"</a>. 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Retrieved May 25, 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=TheStreet.com&rft.atitle=ESPN+is+Receiving+Heavy+Criticism+for+Its+NBA+Playoffs+Coverage&rft.date=2023-05-23&rft.aulast=Salao&rft.aufirst=Colin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thestreet.com%2Fsports%2Fespn-is-receiving-heavy-criticism-for-its-nba-playoffs-coverage%3Fpuc%3Dyahoo%26cm_ven%3DYAHOO&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPantuosco2023" class="citation news cs1">Pantuosco, Jesse (May 23, 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/espn-showed-nuggets-celebration-for-all-of-four-seconds-before-panning-to-lebron.html">"ESPN showed Nuggets celebration for all of four seconds before panning to LeBron"</a>. 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Awful Announcing. Retrieved May 27, 2023.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=Charles+Barkley+%27disappointed%27+LeBron+used+the+%27fools+on+ESPN%27+to+overshadow+Nuggets&rft.date=2023-05-27&rft.aulast=Contes&rft.aufirst=Brandon&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fcharles-barkley-disappointed-lebron-used-espn-overshadow-nuggets.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAxelrod2024" class="citation news cs1">Axelrod, Ben (June 20, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/morning-shows-completely-ignoring-stanley-cup-final.html">"Why are ESPN's morning shows ignoring Stanley Cup Final?"</a>. Awful Announcing. Retrieved June 21, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=Why+are+ESPN%27s+morning+shows+ignoring+Stanley+Cup+Final%3F&rft.date=2024-06-20&rft.aulast=Axelrod&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fmorning-shows-completely-ignoring-stanley-cup-final.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFContes2024" class="citation news cs1">Contes, Brandon (August 30, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/first-take-johnny-gaudreau-death.html">"ESPN's 'First Take' never mentioned Johnny Gaudreau's death"</a>. Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 31, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=ESPN%27s+%27First+Take%27+never+mentioned+Johnny+Gaudreau%27s+death&rft.date=2024-08-30&rft.aulast=Contes&rft.aufirst=Brandon&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fnhl%2Ffirst-take-johnny-gaudreau-death.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-afterword-11"><a href="#cite_ref-afterword_11-0">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEarnheardt2015" class="citation book cs1">Earnheardt, Adam C. (July 17, 2015). "Chapter 20 Afterword: Challenging the Worldwide Leader in Sports". In McGuire, John; Armfield, Greg; Earnheardt, Adam C. (eds.). The ESPN Effect: Exploring the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Peter Lang. pp. 265–270. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1433126000" title="Special:BookSources/978-1433126000"><bdi>978-1433126000</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Chapter+20+Afterword%3A+Challenging+the+Worldwide+Leader+in+Sports&rft.btitle=The+ESPN+Effect%3A+Exploring+the+Worldwide+Leader+in+Sports&rft.pages=265-270&rft.pub=Peter+Lang&rft.date=2015-07-17&rft.isbn=978-1433126000&rft.aulast=Earnheardt&rft.aufirst=Adam+C.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-ethics-12"><a href="#cite_ref-ethics_12-0">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOatesPauly2007" class="citation journal cs1">Oates, T. P.; Pauly, J. (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://epublications.marquette.edu/comm_fac/172">"Sports journalism as moral and ethical discourse"</a>. Journal of Mass Media Ethics. 22 (4): 332–347. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F08900520701583628">10.1080/08900520701583628</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:143559022">143559022</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+Mass+Media+Ethics&rft.atitle=Sports+journalism+as+moral+and+ethical+discourse.&rft.volume=22&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=332-347&rft.date=2007&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F08900520701583628&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A143559022%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Oates&rft.aufirst=T.+P.&rft.au=Pauly%2C+J.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fepublications.marquette.edu%2Fcomm_fac%2F172&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFreeman2001" class="citation book cs1">Freeman, Martin (2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=tcFXL_CP7-IC&q=Those+Guys+Have+All+the+Fun:+Inside+the+World+of+ESPN">ESPN: The Uncensored History</a>. Rowman & Littlefield. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780878332700" title="Special:BookSources/9780878332700"><bdi>9780878332700</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=ESPN%3A+The+Uncensored+History&rft.pub=Rowman+%26+Littlefield&rft.date=2001&rft.isbn=9780878332700&rft.aulast=Freeman&rft.aufirst=Martin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DtcFXL_CP7-IC%26q%3DThose%2BGuys%2BHave%2BAll%2Bthe%2BFun%3A%2BInside%2Bthe%2BWorld%2Bof%2BESPN&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWeiss2011" class="citation web cs1">Weiss, Will (June 7, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2011/06/07/bronx-banter-book-review-the-espn-book/">"Bronx Banter Book Review: The ESPN Book"</a>. 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Little, Brown. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780316125765" title="Special:BookSources/9780316125765"><bdi>9780316125765</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Those+Guys+Have+All+the+Fun%3A+Inside+the+World+of+ESPN&rft.pub=Little%2C+Brown&rft.date=2011-05-24&rft.isbn=9780316125765&rft.aulast=Shales%2C+Miller&rft.aufirst=Tom%2C+James+Andrew&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DSkYN5eMreOUC%26q%3DThose%2BGuys%2BHave%2BAll%2Bthe%2BFun%253A%2BInside%2Bthe%2BWorld%2Bof%2BESPN&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" title="Template:Cite book">cite book</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>) </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFYoder2011" class="citation news cs1">Yoder, Matt (May 26, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/those-guys-have-all-the-fun-book-review.html">"Those Guys Have All The Fun Book Review"</a>. 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Los Angeles Times.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Los+Angeles+Times&rft.atitle=Book+review%3A+%27ESPN%3A+Those+Guys+Have+All+the+Fun%27&rft.date=2011-05-27&rft.aulast=Brownfeld&rft.aufirst=Paul&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbooks%2Fla-xpm-2011-may-27-la-et-book-20110527-story.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-joenocera17-19">^ <a href="#cite_ref-joenocera17_19-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-joenocera17_19-1">b</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNocera2017" class="citation news cs1">Nocera, Joe (April 28, 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-04-28/espn-can-t-afford-to-go-on-like-this">"ESPN Can't Afford to Go On Like This"</a>. Bloomberg.com. 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Retrieved September 2, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Yahoo+Finance&rft.atitle=ESPN+Price+Per+Subscriber+Still+%249.42&rft.date=2024-08-19&rft.aulast=Frankel&rft.aufirst=Daniel&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffinance.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fespn-price-per-subscriber-still-183822236.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a> Atkinson, Claire (September 10, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/pn_foes_grow_YIO92AxAE3kOE66mobOoUI?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=">Cable operators rip ESPN's $15B rights deal with NFL</a>. The New York Post. Retrieved September 11, 2011. </li> <li id="cite_note-sbd-22"><a href="#cite_ref-sbd_22-0">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohn_OurandMichael_Smith2012" class="citation web cs1">John Ourand; Michael Smith (November 9, 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Special-Content/News/2012/BCS-ESPN.aspx">"ESPN homes in on 12-year BCS package"</a>. Sports Business Daily. 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The Big Lead.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Big+Lead&rft.atitle=Were+ESPN+stars+forced+to+plug+Disney%2B+this+morning%3F&rft.date=2019-11-12&rft.aulast=Koster&rft.aufirst=Kyle&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebiglead.com%2Fposts%2Fespn-employees-are-enthusiastically-touting-disney-launch-01dsg64zv4wb&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-180"><a href="#cite_ref-180">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWagner2019" class="citation news cs1">Wagner, Laura (November 13, 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://slate.com/culture/2019/11/espn-shilling-for-disney-plus.html">"ESPN's tongue bath for Disney+ is a fatal blow to the network's vanishing integrity"</a>. 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Retrieved February 15, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=ESPN%27s+breaking+news+coverage+of+Chiefs+parade+shooting+fell+short+of+its+previous+standards&rft.date=2024-02-15&rft.aulast=Axelrod&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fcoverage-chiefs-parade-shooting-fell-short-previous-standards.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-192"><a href="#cite_ref-192">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPollock2024" class="citation news cs1">Pollock, Chuck (February 15, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wellsvillesun.com/blog/2024/02/15/pollock-after-shooting-at-kansas-city-super-bowl-parade-espn-once-again-dropped-the-ball/">"Pollock: After shooting at Kansas City Super Bowl parade, ESPN once again dropped the ball"</a>. 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Retrieved February 15, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Wellsville+Sun&rft.atitle=Pollock%3A+After+shooting+at+Kansas+City+Super+Bowl+parade%2C+ESPN+once+again+dropped+the+ball&rft.date=2024-02-15&rft.aulast=Pollock&rft.aufirst=Chuck&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwellsvillesun.com%2Fblog%2F2024%2F02%2F15%2Fpollock-after-shooting-at-kansas-city-super-bowl-parade-espn-once-again-dropped-the-ball%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-193"><a href="#cite_ref-193">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKleen2024" class="citation news cs1">Kleen, Brendon (February 14, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/fox/first-things-first-broadcast-kansas-city-shooting-fox-news.html">"'First Things First' broadcast live from Kansas City Chiefs parade abruptly cuts to Fox News report amid shooting; crew is safe"</a>. 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Awful Announcing. Retrieved April 23, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=It+took+ESPN+more+than+an+hour+to+acknowledge+Jontay+Porter%27s+NBA+ban+on+TV&rft.date=2024-04-17&rft.aulast=Axelrod&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fjontay-porter-nba-ban-tv-delay.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-195"><a href="#cite_ref-195">^</a> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKeeley2024" class="citation news cs1">Keeley, Sean (September 30, 2024). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/pete-rose-eduardo-perez-sportscenter.html">"'SportsCenter' seemed thrown off when Eduardo Pérez shared news of Pete Rose's passing"</a>. Awful Announcing. Retrieved September 30, 2024.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Awful+Announcing&rft.atitle=%E2%80%98SportsCenter%E2%80%99+seemed+thrown+off+when+Eduardo+P%C3%A9rez+shared+news+of+Pete+Rose%E2%80%99s+passing&rft.date=2024-09-30&rft.aulast=Keeley&rft.aufirst=Sean&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fespn%2Fpete-rose-eduardo-perez-sportscenter.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_ESPN&action=edit&section=56" title="Edit section: Further reading">edit</a>]</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMcGuireArmfieldEarnheardt2015" class="citation book cs1">McGuire, John; Armfield, Greg G.; Earnheardt, Adam C., eds. (2015). The ESPN Effect: The Making of a Sports Media Empire. Peter Lang. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1433126000" title="Special:BookSources/978-1433126000"><bdi>978-1433126000</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+ESPN+Effect%3A+The+Making+of+a+Sports+Media+Empire&rft.pub=Peter+Lang&rft.date=2015&rft.isbn=978-1433126000&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFVogan2015" class="citation book cs1">Vogan, Travis (2015). ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire. University of Illinois Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-252-03976-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-252-03976-8"><bdi>978-0-252-03976-8</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=ESPN%3A+The+Making+of+a+Sports+Media+Empire&rft.pub=University+of+Illinois+Press&rft.date=2015&rft.isbn=978-0-252-03976-8&rft.aulast=Vogan&rft.aufirst=Travis&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriticism+of+ESPN" class="Z3988"></li></ul> </div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output 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ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output 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.navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="ESPN_Inc." style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:ESPN" title="Template:ESPN"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:ESPN" title="Template talk:ESPN"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:ESPN" title="Special:EditPage/Template:ESPN"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="ESPN_Inc." style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Inc." title="ESPN Inc.">ESPN Inc.</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Executives</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/George_Bodenheimer" title="George Bodenheimer">George Bodenheimer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edwin_Durso" title="Edwin Durso">Edwin Durso</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chuck_Pagano_(ESPN)" title="Chuck Pagano (ESPN)">Chuck Pagano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Norby_Williamson" title="Norby Williamson">Norby Williamson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_Pitaro" title="James Pitaro">James Pitaro</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="9" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><a href="/wiki/File:ESPN_wordmark.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ESPN_wordmark.svg/120px-ESPN_wordmark.svg.png" decoding="async" width="120" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ESPN_wordmark.svg/180px-ESPN_wordmark.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/ESPN_wordmark.svg/240px-ESPN_wordmark.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="554" data-file-height="137" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">U.S. networks</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Streaming</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN%2B" title="ESPN+">ESPN+</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN3" title="ESPN3">ESPN3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venu_Sports" title="Venu Sports">Venu Sports</a> (33.33%)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Linear TV</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN" title="ESPN">ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN2" title="ESPN2">ESPN2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPNU" title="ESPNU">ESPNU</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPNews" title="ESPNews">ESPNews</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Deportes" title="ESPN Deportes">Deportes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ACC_Network" title="ACC Network">ACC Network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SEC_Network" title="SEC Network">SEC Network</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Part-time</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ACC_Network" title="ACC Network">ACC Network Xtra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_on_ABC" title="ESPN on ABC">ESPN on ABC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SEC_Network" title="SEC Network">SEC Network +</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Radio</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Radio" title="ESPN Radio">ESPN Radio</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Deportes_Radio" title="ESPN Deportes Radio">Deportes</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Xtra" class="mw-redirect" title="ESPN Xtra">Xtra</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/ESPN_International" title="ESPN International">International</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/CTV_Specialty_Television" class="mw-redirect" title="CTV Specialty Television">Canada</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network" title="The Sports Network">TSN</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network#Channels" title="The Sports Network">1</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TSN2" title="TSN2">2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network#Channels" title="The Sports Network">3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network#Channels" title="The Sports Network">4</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Sports_Network#Channels" title="The Sports Network">5</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/R%C3%A9seau_des_sports" title="Réseau des sports">RDS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RDS2" title="RDS2">RDS2</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RDS_Info" title="RDS Info">RDS Info</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Animal_Planet_(Canadian_TV_channel)" title="Animal Planet (Canadian TV channel)">Animal Planet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Discovery_Channel_(Canadian_TV_channel)" title="Discovery Channel (Canadian TV channel)">Discovery Channel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Discovery_Science_(Canadian_TV_channel)" title="Discovery Science (Canadian TV channel)">Discovery Science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Discovery_Velocity" title="Discovery Velocity">Discovery Velocity</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Japan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/J_Sports" title="J Sports">J Sports</a> (3%)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Panregional</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_(Latin_America)" title="ESPN (Latin America)">ESPN (Latin America)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Brazil</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_(Brazil)" title="ESPN (Brazil)">ESPN (Brazil)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Caribbean</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Caribbean" title="ESPN Caribbean">ESPN Caribbean</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Netherlands</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_(Netherlands)" title="ESPN (Netherlands)">ESPN (Netherlands)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Australia" title="ESPN Australia">ESPN Australia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sub-Saharan Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Africa" title="ESPN Africa">ESPN Africa</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ventures</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/ESPN.com" title="ESPN.com">ESPN.com</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Bet" title="ESPN Bet">ESPN Bet</a> (with <a href="/wiki/Penn_Entertainment" title="Penn Entertainment">Penn Entertainment</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Deportes.com" title="ESPN Deportes.com">ESPN Deportes.com</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Broadband" title="ESPN Broadband">ESPN Broadband</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Events" title="ESPN Events">ESPN Events</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Films" title="ESPN Films">ESPN Films</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Deportes_La_Revista" title="ESPN Deportes La Revista">ESPN Deportes La Revista</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Books" title="ESPN Books">ESPN Books</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPY_Awards" title="ESPY Awards">ESPY Awards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Integration" title="ESPN Integration">ESPN Integration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_PPV" title="ESPN PPV">ESPN PPV</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Defunct ventures</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arena_Football_League" title="Arena Football League">Arena Football League</a> (minority stake, 2006–2009)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_3D" title="ESPN 3D">ESPN 3D</a> (2010–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_America" title="ESPN America">ESPN America</a> (2002–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Classic" title="ESPN Classic">ESPN Classic (U.S.)</a> (1995–2021)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Classic_(European_TV_channel)" title="ESPN Classic (European TV channel)">ESPN Classic (UK)</a> (2006–2013)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Classic_(Canadian_TV_channel)" title="ESPN Classic (Canadian TV channel)">ESPN Classic Canada</a> (2001–2023)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_College_Extra" title="ESPN College Extra">ESPN College Extra</a> (2015–2023)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Full_Court" title="ESPN Full Court">ESPN Full Court</a> (2007–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_GamePlan" title="ESPN GamePlan">ESPN GamePlan</a> (1992–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Goal_Line_%26_Bases_Loaded" title="ESPN Goal Line & Bases Loaded">ESPN Goal Line & Bases Loaded</a> (2010–2020)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grantland" title="Grantland">Grantland</a> (2011–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_HS" title="ESPN HS">ESPN HS</a> (1997–2012)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_The_Magazine" title="ESPN The Magazine">ESPN The Magazine</a> (1998–2019)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mobile_ESPN" title="Mobile ESPN">ESPN MVP</a> (2005–2006)</li> <li>ESPNscrum (2007–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports_(Asian_TV_network)" title="Fox Sports (Asian TV network)">ESPN Star Sports</a> (equity stake, 1996–2012; incl. ESPN Asia (1995–2013))</li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Network_(Canadian_TV_channel)" title="NHL Network (Canadian TV channel)">NHL Network Canada</a> (2001–2015)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/One_Sports" title="One Sports">ESPN5</a> (2017–2020)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/WatchESPN" title="WatchESPN">WatchESPN</a> (2011–2019)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sony_ESPN" title="Sony ESPN">Sony ESPN</a> (2016–2020)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Regional_sports_network#Defunct_networks" title="Regional sports network">ESPN West</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Longhorn_Network" title="Longhorn Network">Longhorn Network</a> (2011–2024)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/WTSN_(TV_channel)" title="WTSN (TV channel)">WTSN</a> (2001–2003)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sports broadcasting rights</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/CFL_on_TSN" title="CFL on TSN">CFL on TSN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_College_Basketball" title="ESPN College Basketball">ESPN College Basketball</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_College_Football" title="ESPN College Football">ESPN College Football</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Major_League_Baseball" title="ESPN Major League Baseball">ESPN Major League Baseball</a> <ul><li>KayRod Cast</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/FCS_Kickoff" title="FCS Kickoff">FCS Kickoff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Golf_on_ESPN" title="Golf on ESPN">Golf on ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/High_School_Showcase" title="High School Showcase">High School Showcase</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MLS_Soccer_Sunday" title="MLS Soccer Sunday">MLS Soccer Sunday</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NBA_on_ESPN" title="NBA on ESPN">NBA on ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NBA_on_ABC" title="NBA on ABC">NBA on ABC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NFL_on_ESPN" title="NFL on ESPN">NFL on ESPN</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Monday_Night_Football" title="Monday Night Football">Monday Night Football</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manningcast" title="Manningcast">Manningcast</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_on_ESPN" title="NHL on ESPN">NHL on ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TSN_Hockey" title="TSN Hockey">TSN Hockey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soccer_on_ESPN/ABC" title="Soccer on ESPN/ABC">Soccer on ESPN/ABC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tennis_on_ESPN" title="Tennis on ESPN">Tennis on ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WNBA_on_ESPN" title="WNBA on ESPN">WNBA on ESPN</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ESPN_sports_properties" class="mw-redirect" title="List of ESPN sports properties">Other events</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other properties</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Andscape" title="Andscape">Andscape</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPNcricinfo" title="ESPNcricinfo">ESPNcricinfo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jayski%27s_Silly_Season_Site" title="Jayski's Silly Season Site">Jayski's Silly Season Site</a> (formerly)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_FC" title="ESPN FC">ESPN FC</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scouts_Inc." title="Scouts Inc.">Scouts Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/TrueHoop" title="TrueHoop">TrueHoop</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Notable personalities</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ESPN_personalities" title="List of ESPN personalities">Current personalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_past_ESPN_personalities" title="List of past ESPN personalities">Former personalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ESPNews_personalities" class="mw-redirect" title="List of ESPNews personalities">ESPNews personalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ESPNU_personalities" class="mw-redirect" title="List of ESPNU personalities">ESPNU personalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ESPN_Radio_personalities" title="List of ESPN Radio personalities">ESPN Radio personalities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_ESPN" title="List of presidents of ESPN">Presidents of ESPN</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Miscellaneous</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_ESPN" title="History of ESPN">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_ESPN" title="List of programs broadcast by ESPN">Programs</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Criticism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/This_is_SportsCenter" title="This is SportsCenter">This is SportsCenter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First_Battery_Armory" title="First Battery Armory">ESPN Armory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Zone" title="ESPN Zone">ESPN Zone</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_Wide_World_of_Sports_Complex" title="ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex">ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN_BottomLine" title="ESPN BottomLine">ESPN BottomLine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ESPN8_The_Ocho" title="ESPN8 The Ocho">ESPN8 The Ocho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/X_Games" title="X Games">X Games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fox_Sports_International" title="Fox Sports International">Fox Sports International</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div>Owners: <a href="/wiki/Walt_Disney_Company" class="mw-redirect" title="Walt Disney Company">Walt Disney Company</a> (80%); <a href="/wiki/Hearst_Communications" title="Hearst Communications">Hearst Communications</a> (20%)</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img 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