Tag Archives: John Skipper

Skipper defends ESPN: Standards of journalism are at highest order

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It’s been open season on ESPN of late. John Skipper has decided to fight back.

In an interview with John Ourand of Street and Smith’s Sports Business Daily, the ESPN president reacted to mounting criticism from various outlets (Deadspin, Awful Announcing in particular) that the network’s journalistic standards have been reduced, and that its brand has been diminished by an endless array of debate shows, headed by First Take.

The always candid Skipper clearly thinks enough is enough. “The brand’s never been stronger,” he said.

Regarding standards:

We have standards of journalism that are at the highest order. There’s a separate question, which is, ‘Are we adhering to them?’ But at least our intention and what we publish is that we are going to adhere to high standards. We don’t discourage the scrutiny, we welcome it. Generally, we react to it….

We started Front Row so we could be a little more transparent. I don’t think anybody responds more or has higher standards. So I reject the overall criticism that we’re not doing this stuff.”

On whether ESPN goes soft with its league partners:

The thing that makes me angriest is that ESPN has a conflict. Give me three examples where we pulled up. I think that we did a comprehensive story on stadium and arena food standards and found about one quarter of the stadiums to be deficient in terms of their health standards. I don’t recall anyone else doing that or being in that much conflict with all of their partners. I think I remember a whole week of stories about the concussions in the NFL. But people still write it as a matter of fact, ‘Of course, ESPN’s not leading the way in writing about concussions.’ Other than the N.Y. Times, we’ve clearly been the most aggressive on that. Talk to David Stern about whether he thinks we pull up on stories.

And here’s my favorite. Regarding criticism of First Take:

It’s just another show. It’s not journalism. Nobody goes, ‘Gee, look how awful it is that CBS does these awful reality shows. Doesn’t that taint their great news organization?’ We have seven networks. There’s 8,760 hours per year. We’re programming 50-60,000 hours per year. … But people say, ‘Gee, that awful debate that you’re doing, how can the great ‘SportsCenter’ coexist with the debate of ‘First Take.’ I don’t know, how do infomercials coexist with the great journalism they’re doing someplace else? We’re not a micromanaged place. Jamie Horowitz is the producer of ‘First Take.’ He’s gone in a direction that’s working. Ratings are up.

So here’s my question: Who’s going to be the more upset? Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith over Skipper comparing them to “awful” reality shows; or with the polarizing hosts, reality shows being compared to First Take?

Given the way Skipper spoke out, I’m sure he would have no problem holding his own on First Take. Now there’s a show.

 

 

ESPN’s Skipper says network won’t ask for increased subscriber fees from new mega MLB deal; Do you believe him?

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ESPN just went double-down on its new deal with Major League Baseball. The 8-year deal, which begins in 2014, will see the WWL shelling out $700 million per year, up from the current $350 million.

And just who is going to pay for that tidy bump in rights? Will it be you? What do you think?

ESPN president John Skipper pushed off that responsibility on the cable distributors during a conference call Tuesday afternoon.

“We don’t determine what your cable bill will be,” Skipper said. “But I’ll tell you, this is a good day for distributor partners. We have just increased the quality and quantity of content we will provide our distributors.

“And no, we are not going to our distributors to ask for an increase for this content.”

OK, ESPN currently charges $5.06 per subscriber for the baseball content and more. It is by far the most of any cable network. That is the reason why CBS, Fox and NBC are enhancing their sports cable operations. They want their piece of the pie, even if it is only a sliver.

Technically, ESPN might not ask for an increase because of the MLB deal, as Skipper said. But make no mistake, the network will be asking for higher fees. Besides MLB, ESPN has to pay for other new mega deals with the NFL, ACC, SEC, the Rose Bowl, etc.

ESPN will seek increased rates because it can. The network has too much content, and it knows a cable operator would face a revolt if it said no to ESPN.

So whenever you hear the announcement of one of these big rights deals, just know that somebody is reaching in your pocket to pull out of a few more quarters. Of course, we’re paying. We always do.

 

 

 

A little trash talk between ESPN-NBC Sports Network

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It isn’t often that we get trash talking between two sports networks. So let’s celebrate while it’s here.

In an interview on SI.com, Richard Deitsch asked ESPN President John Skipper the following question: “How concerned are you about NBC and Comcast creating a national network to rival  you?”

OK, Skipper had to know the question was coming. Initially, he was corporate respectful, but then in mid-answer he turned into Rex Ryan.

We know those guys. They have significant resources and smart folks there. They  have platforms, so we have a lot of respect for what they do, and we of course  pay attention.

Trash talk alert:

However, we’ve been doing this for 32 years and I do think  there’s a little too much respect paid to the great brand names. Everybody sort  of assumes, ‘Oh, my gosh, NBC is going to a 24/7 network and it’s a two-horse  race.” But they don’t look like we look. You guys saw all the stuff today —  mobile, Internet. We have more viewers in an average minute on ESPN mobile than  they have on NBC Sports Network.

Sure enough, that is the case. During the average minute in TV daytime, there’s 93,999 people using ESPN Mobile and apps compared to 82,421 watching NBC Sports Network, said ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys in USA Today.

Nevertheless, NBC Sports Network wasn’t about to let that shot slide. From USA Today.

NBC Sports Group spokesman Greg Hughes responded Wednesday with a statement suggesting ESPN overcharges TV customers. And that NBC Sports Network provides more value for the buck than the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader in Sports.

“The NBC Sports Group brands are among the most powerful brands in sports. We don’t look like anyone else and we’re very proud of that fact. They’ve been at this a long time and at a significantly higher cost to consumers,” Hughes said. “Our audience and market share are increasing as evidenced by the NHL playoffs and at great value to our viewers.”

Interesting comment. Let’s examine.

Yes, ESPN does charge much more than anyone else. You know why? Because they can. Let’s not kid ourselves, for all the talk of being such a bargain, NBC Sports Network would do the same thing if they could. Comcast isn’t running a non-for-profit.

However, NBC Sports Network can’t reach those pricing levels because its programing doesn’t come close to matching ESPN’s arsenal. And it won’t for a long time with ESPN locking up many long-term deals.

Perhaps that should be ESPN’s retort here. But I’m guessing we have heard enough trash talk for now.