What's going on with ESPN?
 

Watching College Football tonight, and saw some long ad of "Playmakers", their new series that looks pretty much exactly like "Any Given Sunday".

Is ESPN on its way to becoming the new MTV? I'd really be pissed if they start covering less sports games and go more into drama shows.

I'll have to check this show out, looks good...still, this is a risky move.

My only complaint is the amount of times they have run the ad.

Well, it seems like the "Entertainment" part of their network name is getting a little more attention. As long as they don't do a non-sports show, I don't think they'll turn into another MTV.

What's the problem with MTV? ;)

I think the show looks pretty good from the ads. Although I hope it doesn't stink like "A Season on the Brink" did.

I already have "Playmakers" set up for a season pass on my Tivo.

speaking of espn...what happened to PTI last week. i didn't see it on once. checked espn2 too and nothing.

Little league world serie games ... i think

omg i hate when espn does this!

i am SICK AND TIRED of golf coverage

and tennis

and boxing

and horse racing

and auto racing

and badminton

and curling

and lacrosse

and tiddly winks

and chess

and darts (ok darts are cool)

and starring contests

and thumb wrestling

they need to make an ESPN3 and put all that crap on there. leave espn and espn2 for the better sports. theres always a 'big' event in a crap sport thats taking up valuble espn time. why?

pti, around the horn, beg borrow and deal, outside the lines, etc are GOOD shows...besides that, sportscenter and actual real sporting events should be on espn/2 24/7.

period.

Golf, tennis, boxing, and auto racing are 'crap' sports? Just because you don't like them? I don't either but they are legitimate sports that ESPN should be covering. Are you saying live coverage of Wimbledon at 8 in the morning is worse than seeing the 13th repeat of the previous night's SportsCenter?

So it's OK for ESPN to show these non-sports shows* (with the exception of OTL), yet they shouldn't cover golf or tennis? I don't see the logic of this. And yes I am a fan of PTI and occasionally watch ATH.

*I don't care how much you try to argue they're sports shows, there's a reason they are produced by ESPN Original Entertainment.
And yes I know that the E in ESPN stands for entertainment, but the sports should come first.

That's what ESPN News is for.

clemente: word. but i dont get espnews!

yes :)

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So it's OK for ESPN to show these non-sports shows* (with the exception of OTL), yet they shouldn't cover golf or tennis?

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correct :)

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*I don't care how much you try to argue they're sports shows, there's a reason they are produced by ESPN Original Entertainment.
And yes I know that the E in ESPN stands for entertainment, but the sports should come first.

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REAL sports. not wussy sports. :)

But some people find wussy sports to be entertainment...

I for one am a fan of some of these so-called wussy sports :)

just messin with you guys but id still rather watch nfl/nba/nhl over golf/boxing/auto racing (sports that are boring to WATCH, imo)

can we agree that Poker can stay on ESPN because it's the best sport in the world :)

hell yeah! i love watching poker but the best poker show was WPT on travel channel.

Oh yes, poker… truly fine athletes there -confused-

I for one miss Australian Rules Football on ESPN.

Oh and I believe that the World Series of Poker is getting higher ratings on ESPN than their coverage of MLB.

ESPN decides to air ONE drama show, and you go nuts? Come on, at least watch the show before you start badmouthing it.

I find it amusing that some of you want ESPN to change their coverage around what is entertaining to YOU.

Also, I think some people don't understand the concept of broadcast contracts - ESPN is only allowed to air a specified number of 'big sports' games in a week or season.

ESPN has a great brand name and market penetration so they are taking advantage of it. They've been doing original movies, documentaries and an awards show for some time now. It seems to me that they are absolutely using MTV as the model for how to grow the business.

Poker is mentally gruelling because those folks in the WSOP are playing for 10-12 hours a day (provided they don't lose all their chips early).

X Games

yeah. exactly :)