April 29, 200917 yr To me, the worldwide leader is known as NESPN. All Northeast, all the time. Their east coast bias is nothing new. But in past years when the derby was carried on sister network ABC, the coverage during derby week was solid. It usually led on SportsCenter and they carried a half hour special each night, including the Derby draw. Now that NBC carries the derby, you get nothing from ESPN. No post position show, which is understandable and likely not allowed through the NBC contract. But nowhere on the front page of ESPN.com can you find anything about the Derby. Another horse dropped out today. Nothing. Post position draws held. Nothing. No news. No links to columns. Nothing on the Derby. It's nothing new. ESPN gave NASCAR the stepchild treatment when they jumped networks. The did the same to the NHL, although you can expect them to triple their coverage next year when it returns to ESPN. Of course, the only story from the six day baseball games dealt with the Mets. That's because the Yankees and Red Sox play tonight. Nice story on soccer, which ESPN is going to put on ESPN Classic and do away with the format on that channel to make it a 24/7 soccer channel. The bias has gotten so bad, it's almost sickening. And it's why I rarely watch the channel anymore.
April 29, 200917 yr Author Heath Bell of the Padres isn't a fan either... “I truly believe ESPN only cares about promoting the Red Sox and Yankees and Mets - and nobody else,” said the closer, a former Met. “That’s why I like the MLB Network, because they promote everybody. I’m really turned off by ESPN and ‘Baseball Tonight.’ When Jake Peavy threw 8 1/3 innings on Saturday, they showed one pitch in the third inning and that was it. It’s all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets.” STORY LINK
April 30, 200917 yr They didn't even do a post position show this year? They have done that for the past several years. It's had nothing to do with NBC, as far as I can tell. They have scaled back their horse racing coverage this year from last year, and gradually over the past few years. They used to do a weekly NTRA program highlighting stakes races that week and other things, but cancelled that a couple years ago. I can only remember them carrying a handful of prep races this year. Arkansas, Lane's End and a few others. To be honest, their declining coverage rather mirrors the declining general interest in horse racing by the public, but the Derby is still a big deal and warrants heavy coverage. I guess Barbaro followed so closely by Eight Belles last year was just too much for them.
April 30, 200917 yr How many eyeballs do you truly believe would want to watch a post position show? Really. What's in it for ESPN?
April 30, 200917 yr Author How many eyeballs do you truly believe would want to watch a post position show? Really. What's in it for ESPN? People said the same thing to CBS a couple of decades ago about a show that showed college basketball brackets.
April 30, 200917 yr To me, the worldwide leader is known as NESPN. All Northeast, all the time. Their east coast bias is nothing new. But in past years when the derby was carried on sister network ABC, the coverage during derby week was solid. It usually led on SportsCenter and they carried a half hour special each night, including the Derby draw. Now that NBC carries the derby, you get nothing from ESPN. No post position show, which is understandable and likely not allowed through the NBC contract. But nowhere on the front page of ESPN.com can you find anything about the Derby. Another horse dropped out today. Nothing. Post position draws held. Nothing. No news. No links to columns. Nothing on the Derby. It's nothing new. ESPN gave NASCAR the stepchild treatment when they jumped networks. The did the same to the NHL, although you can expect them to triple their coverage next year when it returns to ESPN. Of course, the only story from the six day baseball games dealt with the Mets. That's because the Yankees and Red Sox play tonight. Nice story on soccer, which ESPN is going to put on ESPN Classic and do away with the format on that channel to make it a 24/7 soccer channel. The bias has gotten so bad, it's almost sickening. And it's why I rarely watch the channel anymore. That part I actually like as long as they keep the channel in the same cable tier as Classic was on.
April 30, 200917 yr People said the same thing to CBS a couple of decades ago about a show that showed college basketball brackets. To be fair, college hoops was growing in popularity, and horse racing is steadily declining. Not really the same dynamics at play.
April 30, 200917 yr I agree, Bamanation is always upset with ESPN, but I can't get away from the highlites and ESPN the NEWS/classic.
April 30, 200917 yr Author Baseball Tonight shocker. They lead with the Yankees, the team we just saw for the last three hours. Yankees/Tigers highlights and Yankees discussion lasts 4:10
April 30, 200917 yr I have no problem with it. If it wasn't in their best interests to do so, they wouldn't do it.
April 30, 200917 yr Author Brewers pitcher throws a one-hit shutout. Brewers/Pirates highlights last 2:05
April 30, 200917 yr Author Braves/Cardinals highlights. Cards have the best record in baseball. Highlights and discussion last 2:02
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