ESPN Classic Rant...

[Al_4_State]

Why in the hell doesn't ESPN Classic show college football and NFL on constant blast this time of year? Who the hell watches drag racing from 1985 or a minor tennis tournament from the 90's? The national appetite for football is at a fever pitch and that's about the last thing you see on that channel right now. What a complete waste of programming.

Personally, my hunger for football has gotten to the point where I was watching Big 10 Network on saturday.

Am I crazy, or is ESPN COMPLETELY missing the boat here? I know that if they were playing classic (or even not so classic) CFB games right now, I'd be glued to the set. I'm guessing there are others here who feel the same.

 

[Mr Janny]

Why in the hell doesn't ESPN Classic show college football and NFL on constant blast this time of year? Who the hell watches drag racing from 1985 or a minor tennis tournament from the 90's? The national appetite for football is at a fever pitch and that's about the last thing you see on that channel right now. What a complete waste of programming.

Personally, my hunger for football has gotten to the point where I was watching Big 10 Network on saturday.

Am I crazy, or is ESPN COMPLETELY missing the boat here? I know that if they were playing classic (or even not so classic) CFB games right now, I'd be glued to the set. I'm guessing there are others here who feel the same.

I agree. There must be good reason for it, though. The ESPN brass has to know that it would draw more viewers than their current programming. I would venture a guess and say that it has to do with licensing.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I seriously wish ESPN Classic would re-run every single "good" college football game from the previous season during the month of August. My tv would never leave that channel during that time span.

 

[Al_4_State]

I seriously wish ESPN Classic would re-run every single "good" college football game from the previous season during the month of August. My tv would never leave that channel during that time span.

I just have to think they're leaving a **** ton of viewers on the table right now. I mean seriously, who in the hell watches episodes of Jim Rome from 1993? The ****?

 

[fnclone]

ESPN U has had a lot of college football games on recently. Last night they had UT-kNU championship game from last year. Today they had OU-kNU from 08 and Virginia Tech-Bama from last year.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I just have to think they're leaving a **** ton of viewers on the table right now. I mean seriously, who in the hell watches episodes of Jim Rome from 1993? The ****?

I bet they are, too.
Maybe my previous post was a bit too much to ask for, but just some football games every night in August is good enough for me. I don't like watching the replays on BTN, and I can tell I need to stop because I'm actually starting to find Big 10 football entertaining. :biglaugh:

 

[cyclonedave25]

ESPN U has had a lot of college football games on recently. Last night they had UT-kNU championship game from last year. Today they had OU-kNU from 08 and Virginia Tech-Bama from last year.

Damn, I wish I had that channel! :sad:

 

[Al_4_State]

I'd love to have ESPN U.

 

[CycloneGamecock]

I'd love to have ESPN U.

Haha yeah i was about to say that I had been watching college football pretty steadily all weekend and was wondering where this rant was coming from, then i remembered it wasn't on classic it was on ESPNU. It is a great channel :wink:

 

[CycloneErik]

You would think Al's idea would be an obvious marketing plan. It's not like ESPN Classic is a channel that has too many viewers. This would be a big boost to them.

 

[3TrueFans]

You would think Al's idea would be an obvious marketing plan. It's not like ESPN Classic is a channel that has too many viewers. This would be a big boost to them.

Are you telling me old school wrestling and the WSOP from 2001 aren't drawing viewers?

 

[CycloneErik]

Are you telling me old school wrestling and the WSOP from 2001 aren't drawing viewers?

I love the AWA shows they put on (if I'm awake then), but I learned a long time ago that nobody else is watching whatever I watch.

 

[CycloneGB]

I have no idea why they wouldn't do it.. I guess I had never really even thought of it until I read the OP but now it seems like a no-brainer. I almost never watch that channel exactly for the reasons mentioned.. I dont know who wants to watch "classic" pro wrestling or WSOP reruns... Now I am really interested as to what the reasoning would be behind this.

 

[hawkeye_t]

I recenly read an article (Q&A with a ESPN Exec) on a site to a Texas based newspaper. I don't recall which but I think it may have been the Houston Chronicle. Among other topics, he discussed this very issue. He said that the ratings for these old games just do not justify the airing. I think they also talked about how cheap it is to air old shows like Jim Rome, Cheap Seats, WSOP and particularly boxing vs. football games.

The more interesting topic was about the future of ESPN Classic. He did not come out and say it was going to be eliminated, but certainly inferred that is was. They seem to be making a huge push to brand ESPNU and ESPN3 as viable channels.

 

[cyclonedave25]

I recenly read an article (Q&A with a ESPN Exec) on a site to a Texas based newspaper. I don't recall which but I think it may have been the Houston Chronicle. Among other topics, he discussed this very issue. He said that the ratings for these old games just do not justify the airing. I think they also talked about how cheap it is to air old shows like Jim Rome, Cheap Seats, WSOP and particularly boxing vs. football games.

The more interesting topic was about the future of ESPN Classic. He did not come out and say it was going to be eliminated, but certainly inferred that is was. They seem to be making a huge push to brand ESPNU and ESPN3 as viable channels.

I'd really like to see ESPNU made into a more popular channel and put on basic cable. For as big as college athletics are these days, I think it would do great.

 

[CloneState1028]

I love watching the PBA Tour on ESPN Classic from like 10-20 years ago. I don't know about the rest of you guys but I think it's a can't-miss event!!

 

[cyclonedave25]

I love watching the PBA Tour on ESPN Classic from like 10-20 years ago. I don't know about the rest of you guys but I think it's a can't-miss event!!

Nothing screams "intense competition" more than the "suck it" sign in PBA! :biglaugh:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q8PzkhEDlg"]YouTube - ‪Pete Weber Suck It‬‎[/ame]

Or, getting mad at a camera guy because his flash is on. Which I don't understand why he is so bothered by it because he has sunglasses on anyways.... LOL
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL7TR9RFXY0"]YouTube- ‪Pete Weber (PDW) blowing up at the 2010 PBA **** Weber Open‬‎[/ame]

 

[dualthreat]

i am a huge fan of old college football games. i love watching them on espn classic. Especially big 12 games, 1993-2005 or so era games, or even old rivalry games like 71 ou neb .. etc.

I could watch them all day long.

 

[CycloneGB]

I'd really like to see ESPNU made into a more popular channel and put on basic cable. For as big as college athletics are these days, I think it would do great.

Same here. I wouldn't mind if ESPN U took over in Classic's spot. As long as it is included with basic cable. It would have to do exponentially better than Classic anyway.

 

[CycloneGB]

Nothing screams "intense competition" more than the "suck it" sign in PBA! :biglaugh:
YouTube - ‪Pete Weber Suck It‬‎

Or, getting mad at a camera guy because his flash is on. Which I don't understand why he is so bothered by it because he has sunglasses on anyways.... LOL
YouTube- ‪Pete Weber (PDW) blowing up at the 2010 PBA **** Weber Open‬‎

Was he talking about the actual flash or the sound? He said something about hearing it, maybe he just called it "flashing the camera"