ESPN gutting Hockey department

[That Aud Smell]

ESPN released (fired) both LeBrun and Burnside.

 

Oof.

[WildCard]

ESPN released (fired) both LeBrun and Burnside.

 

Oof.

Wow. And Ed Werder. 

 

So they released their top hockey analysts during the playoffs, and a top football analyst during the draft? Not to mention, those three were actually reporters, unlike the personalities they trot out there now. ESPN has become a disgrace 

[Taro T]

ESPN released (fired) both LeBrun and Burnside.

Oof.

No Schlitz?

 

Cost saving moves?

[WildCard]

No Schlitz?

 

Cost saving moves?

They're releasing 100 ee's today alone apparently 

[TrueBlueGED]

ESPN released (fired) both LeBrun and Burnside.

 

Oof.

LeBrun is a real loss, but I always thought Burnside provided very little, if any, value.

[Sabel79]

Buccigross gone as well.  The one ESPN guy who got on camera who actually liked hockey.  Oh well.

[That Aud Smell]

Buccigross gone as well.  The one ESPN guy who got on camera who actually liked hockey.  Oh well.

 

Wow.

 

Melrose as well?

[Taro T]

Buccigross gone as well.  The one ESPN guy who got on camera who actually liked hockey.  Oh well.

Hopefully he goes to NHLN or NBCSN in any capacity EXCEPT pbp.

[LGR4GM]

ESPN released (fired) both LeBrun and Burnside.

 

Oof.

 

 

Wow. And Ed Werder. 

 

So they released their top hockey analysts during the playoffs, and a top football analyst during the draft? Not to mention, those three were actually reporters, unlike the personalities they trot out there now. ESPN has become a disgrace 

It is one of the reason I never watch ESPN. They never talk hockey and when they do it is shallow or about Crosby. Also ESPN kind of sucks. 

[inkman]

Buccigross gone as well. The one ESPN guy who got on camera who actually liked hockey. Oh well.

Steve Levy is a bit of a puck head

[Taro T]

They're releasing 100 ee's today alone apparently

 

Had read about a month ago that some of their lesser networks like ESPNU & ESPN News would be dumped to save costs. Looks like that might be coming to fruition. Which would stink. ESPNU does a great job w/ college lax.

[WildCard]

LeBrun is a real loss, but I always thought Burnside provided very little, if any, value.

I agree with this

 

Buccigross gone as well.  The one ESPN guy who got on camera who actually liked hockey.  Oh well.

Idiots. Bucci is awesome. Custance is still there though

 

It is one of the reason I never watch ESPN. They never talk hockey and when they do it is shallow or about Crosby. Also ESPN kind of sucks. 

They don't even talk sports anymore. I'm not even kidding 

Had read about a month ago that some of their lesser networks like ESPNU & ESPN News would be dumped to save costs. Looks like that might be coming to fruition. Which would stink. ESPNU does a great job w/ college lax.

Wouldn't need to dump costs if they actually showed highlights and sports instead of paying Stephen A Smith 10's of millions to yell at the TV, or outbidding everyone by 3X as much for the rights to MNF

Edited April 26, 2017 by WildCard

[Taro T]

Steve Levy is a bit of a puck head

Is Bill Pito still there? He & Buccigross both really liked hockey & were actually good at what they did, IMHO.

[Sabel79]

Is Bill Pito still there? He & Buccigross both really liked hockey & were actually good at what they did, IMHO.

He's w/ MSG doing Rangers stuff, I think. 

[sabills]

LeBrun and Burnside are gone, possibly Buccigross. Bucci's contract is up in July anyways, so there are rumors they might just wait that out.

 

EDIT: LeBrun will continue at TSN, btw, but will no longer write for ESPN

Edited April 26, 2017 by sabills

[WildCard]

Firing 100 employees today, including Ed Werder too; the NFL draft is tomorrow

 

Karl Ravitch, the only analyst on there outside of Kurkjim who knows anything about baseball, is having his role reduced too. 

 

I would love nothing more than to watch ESPN fail entirely 

[sabills]

Firing 100 employees today, including Ed Werder too; the NFL draft is tomorrow

 

Karl Ravitch, the only analyst on there outside of Kurkjim who knows anything about baseball, is having his role reduced too. 

 

I would love nothing more than to watch ESPN fail entirely 

 

T-minus 5 years and counting.

 

The Ed Werder thing is nuts to me, too.

Edited April 26, 2017 by sabills

[That Aud Smell]

I think ESPN is on its way out, or on its way to taking on a very different form.

[LTS]

Time for turnover.  Bring in the young people who don't demand such high salaries.  Good thing I don't watch ESPN... ever.

[ubkev]

The only time I watch ESPN at home is when the Yankees are on Sunday night baseball, or the odd Syracuse lax/basketball game. I haven't watched sportscenter in about 2 years now. It feels to me like 100% nfl coverage, and I don't watch/like football anymore, so I'm basically out on ESPN.

 

I wish I could package my TV around the 12 channels that I watch.

[WildCard]

I think ESPN is on its way out, or on its way to taking on a very different form.

TMZ. They're literally just TMZ now

 

For all of my sports stuff, I go online, or for fun, follow Barstool. ESPN is unbearable now

[GASabresIUFAN]

TMZ. They're literally just TMZ now

 

For all of my sports stuff, I go online, or for fun, follow Barstool. ESPN is unbearable now

Which is why they are changing things up.  They are also losing subscribers, but ESPN isn't going away or truly losing it's dominance of sports broadcasting.  What it is doing is making itself more profitable, refreshing their image and beginning the long transition to a subscription service.  Changes at ESPN are really the canary in the coal mine for all of cable TV.  

[Taro T]

He's w/ MSG doing Rangers stuff, I think.

 

OK. Thanks.

[WildCard]

Which is why they are changing things up.  They are also losing subscribers, but ESPN isn't going away or truly losing it's dominance of sports broadcasting.  What it is doing is making itself more profitable, refreshing their image and beginning the long transition to a subscription service.  Changes at ESPN are really the canary in the coal mine for all of cable TV.  

They want to change their image from TMZ to what they once were, a reputable and entertaining sports show? Am I misreading what you're saying?

[sabills]

Fox Sports has been nabbing up ESPN talent as they leave recently, at least on the Radio side. They already do good work with soccer over there on FS1, it'd be cool if they could start picking up hockey coverage now, too.