Is ESPN killing the local newspaper/news sites? (BigLead Article)

[Donoghus]

This article was brought to my attention yesterday courtesy of Bruce Allen's BostonSportsMedia website.  He linked an article from  TheBigLead concerning ESPN's current forray into the local sports news spectrum with the advent of ESPNBoston, ESPNChicago, ESPNDallas and plans to branch into New York, Los Angelas, as well as other big sports markets.

http://thebiglead.com/?p=22762

I do think, to an extent, that these sites are a direct threat at the local sports news organizations.  It's already turning into quite a battle out there for those providing news.  Just look at Boston right now between Boston.com, WEEI.com, Comcast's website, ESPNBoston, among others.  At some point, you're going to reach the over-saturation point.

I don't think fanblogs will be necessarily be that hurt by this.  I thing the good ones with regular followers will continue to survive while the others will pop up then fade away.  FanBlogs like this are so team specific that diehards are going to choose them over the bigger media outlets that cover more than one team.

Just curious about what peoples' thoughts are to ESPN expanding into the local media markets with region oriented websites?

[guava_wrench]

In principle, I have no problem with competition. The problem is that too many news sources means pressure to be the first to report and less fact checking.

Fortunately in sports, fact checking isn't difficult. Unlike in science reporting, for example.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Great post Donoghus, I had the same question myself when ESPN360 started running the ads for the city specific sites. 

ESPN is the biggest kid on the block when it comes to sports and I think it will put pressure on local sports reporting by competing for the already scarce advertising dollars that support organizations like the Globe and the Herald.  I can't say how much pressure, but then how much more pressure can the newsies stand?

My guess is that in the long run ESPN will bully some local news organizations out of business.  One effect I see is that ESPN is essentially creating their own farm team.  Instead of snatching up good Globe reporters/columnists, they'll be promoting their own.  Cast another way, it's more vertical integration of the sports infotainment biz. 

Subjectively, I'm not down with even more ESPN-style sports and reporting, even if it is just web-based for now.  I will however give ESPN and ESPN360 their due for the fact that they opened the door to so much more programming than I'd otherwise be able to get. 

[yall hate]

I say yes, for the simple fact that they are like the yankee's.  they can offer more money for the best players (reporters) which in turn will reduce the quality of the local sites.   Just look at the ESPNBoston site, and who they have acquired. 

From personal experience, I know my visit's to the Globe's website has dropped drastically (~75%) since Reiss switched over to ESPNBoston.  If that happens with enough people, the local sites wont be able to compete and will end up folding.

 

[Donoghus]

I say yes, for the simple fact that they are like the yankee's.  they can offer more money for the best players (reporters) which in turn will reduce the quality of the local sites.   Just look at the ESPNBoston site, and who they have acquired. 

From personal experience, I know my visit's to the Globe's website has dropped drastically (~75%) since Reiss switched over to ESPNBoston.  If that happens with enough people, the local sites wont be able to compete and will end up folding.

 

Yeah, I gotta say that I tend to "follow the names/talent" more than I follow the particular outlet.  Mike Reiss is case #1 in my book.  The local papers and news outlets have lost a great deal of talent to digital media (many going to ESPN) over the past few years.  Its not promising for the Globe or Herald.

I tend to give these new beat writers a chance but I do find myself going with the familiarity more often than not.  That's bringing me more and more away from the Globe or Herald.

[the_Bird]

There was some talk a month or so back about the Globe pehaps changing to a subscription model for their website.  I might well have been willing to pay a modest amount (a few bucks a month) for their content, IF that content included Mike Reiss.  For a Pats fan, the Reiss' Pieces blog, his mailbags, all of that content was and is outstanding and something that I'll pay a little bit of money for.

With Reiss at ESPN, not a chance.

The content that I will pay for online is business (WSJ) and I might pay for ESPN Insider, if Reiss' content goes over the wall.  That's about it.  I don't think I'm alone, a lot of people will pay good money for in-depth sports coverage but won't pay for it for general news coverage, since there are so many places to get news for free but not a lot of places that offer the equivalent of Mike Reiss.

Net result, ESPNBoston I think makes the proposed business model change for Boston.com less viable; they just lost one of their biggest, most valuable attractions.

How long until ESPN hires Bob Ryan?

[sully00]

Yeah the newspaper is dead but it is the vehicle itself not ESPN's fault.  I look at ESPN, NBC, and CBS and the talk radio websites filling the void that print journalism will leave behind.  Sadly I don't think that ESPN pays more I think actually the opposite but most of the traditional print reporters are just seeing the writing on the wall.  At least they pay.

[GroverTheClover]

I say yes, for the simple fact that they are like the yankee's.  they can offer more money for the best players (reporters) which in turn will reduce the quality of the local sites.   Just look at the ESPNBoston site, and who they have acquired. 

From personal experience, I know my visit's to the Globe's website has dropped drastically (~75%) since Reiss switched over to ESPNBoston.  If that happens with enough people, the local sites wont be able to compete and will end up folding.

 

This is exactly what has happened with me as well. I like Reiss's Pieces so obviously, I've been following him on ESPN Boston. However, I still read the Globe for Amalie Benjamin, CHB and Ryan and the occassional Jackie article. Competition is good.

[Fan from VT]

I think the local news sites have themselves to blame too. What advantage do they have over a big media source like ESPN? Well, though the internet and ease of media shrink the globe, they should have quicker turnaround, more in depth stories, more relevant stories, a finger on the local pulse, etc. But really, no local outlets adjusted and took advantage of their location to provide these things. Instead, they were mostly duplicating the stories available through ESPN. So why would I choose them over a place like ESPN where I can get the same info about my local teams and about leagues and sports in general? As for feeling out the local pulse and providing content for consumers with similar interests, that's what blogs like this do so well in a superior way to local news. So unless local news can fill fill a separate role, what are they doing that I can't find better or easier elsewhere?