F... ESPN.com
 

Enough with the full screen advertisements.
I need a 46inch tv just to view the whole website.

Unfortunately it takes me 30 minutes just to figure out how to minimize the ads...

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

I moved over to SI.com almost exclusively for that very reason.

SI still hits you with ads but they're not as obtrusive.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

F ads especially pop ups and those videos that automatically start playing.

Just keep it simple. Why is that so hard to do these days?

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

Yeah, ESPN.com is way too busy. I like their television, but I dont care for their website at all. I like cbssports.com. Yahoo is pretty good too.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525156]F ads especially pop ups and those videos that automatically start playing.

Just keep it simple. Why is that so hard to do these days?[/quote]

Yeah the autoplaying videos kill me on espn. Honestly it is just disrespectful to their users to just start playing a video.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

ESPN.com is a really really busy site (full disclosure: I was pretty heavily involved with the early stages of the redesign). So much good information but it ain't all that easy to find nor worth the time.

Which page are you seeing autoplaying on?

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

I never understood why people don't take the simple and elegant deign approach. Google took off largely because they weren't obtrusive yet we still have sites inundating users with crap.

The main NFL page auto plays and throws pop ups at you.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

SI.com is where it is at. I like their morning jolt and I enjoy the cheerleader of the week. Plus you can add your fav teams for quick looks.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

Does anyone else hate NFL.com like I do? Unless I'm looking for something simple like a team's schedule or record I feel like it takes me forever to find what I'm looking for. That site annoys me to no end.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;525248]Does anyone else hate NFL.com like I do? Unless I'm looking for something simple like a team's schedule or record I feel like it takes me forever to find what I'm looking for. That site annoys me to no end.[/quote]

Yeah, NFL.com is a pain in the ass. If I'm looking for anything statistics-related, [URL="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/"]Pro Football Reference[/URL] is where it's at.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525193]ESPN.com is a really really busy site (full disclosure: I was pretty heavily involved with the early stages of the redesign). So much good information but it ain't all that easy to find nor worth the time.
[B]
Which page are you seeing autoplaying on?[/B][/quote]

I clicked on a 160 word snipet about Cassel accepting the Pats' franchise tender, and got autoplay from both the caption picture that turned into a [I]Transformers 2[/I] trailer (can't wait for that movie), as well as the right column of the page selling Powerade Zero. Not to mention the NASCAR banner ad scrolling across the top of the screen.

I understand the financial crunch and how important marketing dollars are right now. However, when you have to hunt around the ads and trailers, and other miscellaneous revenue pieces begin to overpower the great content of the site, it just gets kind of annoying. Maybe I'm overblowing it. I dunno. Just a thought I guess.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[URL="http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/espn-stands-fir.html"]Another big FU to ESPN[/URL]

ESPN Monday Night Football crew is horrible.
I can't watch NFL pregame or highlight because I can't stand Berman.
Now this Internet bullshit?

ESPN has turned into MTV.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=jamf;525787][URL="http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/02/espn-stands-fir.html"]Another big FU to ESPN[/URL]

ESPN Monday Night Football crew is horrible.
I can't watch NFL pregame or highlight because I can't stand Berman.
Now this Internet bullshit?

ESPN has turned into MTV.[/quote]

Not sure how ESPN has turned into MTV but anyway...

What's this Internet bull you're talking about

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=GMScud;525775]I clicked on a 160 word snipet about Cassel accepting the Pats' franchise tender, and got autoplay from both the caption picture that turned into a [I]Transformers 2[/I] trailer (can't wait for that movie), as well as the right column of the page selling Powerade Zero. Not to mention the NASCAR banner ad scrolling across the top of the screen.

I understand the financial crunch and how important marketing dollars are right now. However, when you have to hunt around the ads and trailers, and other miscellaneous revenue pieces begin to overpower the great content of the site, it just gets kind of annoying. Maybe I'm overblowing it. I dunno. Just a thought I guess.[/quote]

They'vecut back a lot on the autostarts, particularly on the homepage. But yeah, unfortunately, you'll still get those other autostarts for at least a while because as you say times are tough.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525793]Not sure how [B]ESPN has turned into MTV[/B] but anyway...

What's this Internet bull you're talking about[/quote]
i kind of hear what he is saying. a whole lot of glitz swamping over the real info

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

I agree with the MTV comparison. ESPN has definitely compromised their core competencies to appeal to the lowest common denominator.

ESPN now = glitzy, over produced content

ESPN 5 years ago = best source of information and more quality content of interest. I'd say ESPN's current trajectory has it heading towards joke territory like MTV.

I gues guess much of the news industry is heading the same way though. This isn't confined to ESPN at all.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

ESPN, unlike MTV and music, is still about sports. And it's, more often than not, the first place people go to.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525794]They'vecut back a lot on the autostarts, [B]particularly on the homepage[/B]. But yeah, unfortunately, you'll still get those other autostarts for at least a while because as you say times are tough.[/quote]

I did notice that. The right hand column of the main page used to have an autostart that annoyed me to the point I would mute my laptop speakers before going to the site. You guys dropped that, which is nice. You gotta do what you gotta do.

I bought ESPN Insider a few years back, and it's probably the main reason I visit the site. Great stuff on Insider, especially this time of year when the combine/draft gets rolling.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525793]Not sure how ESPN has turned into MTV but anyway...

What's this Internet bull you're talking about[/quote]

For MTV Comparison, See FRPLGs Post.

The internet bull is ESPN is only making it' ESPN360 product accessible to people who have an ISP that pays ESPN for their product. I'm my opinion this goes against everything the Internet is about. I understand if they want to charge customers for their product but they should not be extorting ISPs.

But its not ESPNs fault. They are owned by Disney and they are doing the same thing with some of their sites.
Hell, Even the NFL does it.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

As long as ESPN has journalists like John Clayton, Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian (who I've talked to at the gym a few times- super nice guy), Peter Gammons, and Bill Simmons, I'll continue to navigate around ads/autoplays for their content.

Jamf, I agree that the whole ISP/ESPN360 issue is annoying. I had Verizon internet a year ago at this time, and I got to watch a lot of Gator bball on the computer with 360. Now with stupid Comcast I can't.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

It's called adblock plus and NoScript. Gets rid of all that BS.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525820]ESPN, unlike MTV and music, is still about sports. And it's, more often than not, the first place people go to.[/quote]

I think that's the point. If it is really is about sports then why all the junk? At some point the whiny internet crowd is not going to be just the whiny internet crowd anymore. In my opinion, and a lot of other people it seems, ESPN is headed the wrong direction.

I would argue that ESPN's focus is no longer sports. Their focus is story-telling using sports as the backdrop. They have to keep sports in the fore-front as much as they can but it is clear they consider the entertainment value of the story of the sports most important. They constantly highlight personalities and conflict. It seems very clear that ESPN "makes" stories. Not that they make them up but instead they turn what just 10 years ago would have been an afterthought into major strories. When you become the news maker and not the news teller you are on dangerous ground. Again, it really is the entire industry but ESPN, as far as sports goes is the leader in this regard.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=FRPLG;525855]
I would argue that ESPN's focus is no longer sports. Their focus is story-telling using sports as the backdrop. They have to keep sports in the fore-front as much as they can but it is clear they consider the entertainment value of the story of the sports most important. They constantly highlight personalities and conflict. It seems very clear that ESPN "makes" stories. Not that they make them up but instead they turn what just 10 years ago would have been an afterthought into major strories. When you become the news maker and not the news teller you are on dangerous ground. Again, it really is the entire industry but ESPN, as far as sports goes is the leader in this regard.[/quote]

I agree with this. It is clearly evident from shows like E:60, etc. ESPN tries to make stories compelling, overhype, etc. The thing is it may hurt their credentials with the hardcore sports fan, but for the casual fan I think it helps ESPN capture them.

IMO this is byproduct of ESPN's growth and domination of the sports world. Once the taste of success is there pursuing the goal of simply providing the best information ends and the goal of targeting different markets arises.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

The changes to MNF and the rise of "Sunday" night football is also another example.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=FRPLG;525855]I think that's the point. If it is really is about sports then why all the junk? At some point the whiny internet crowd is not going to be just the whiny internet crowd anymore. In my opinion, and a lot of other people it seems, ESPN is headed the wrong direction.

I would argue that ESPN's focus is no longer sports. Their focus is story-telling using sports as the backdrop. They have to keep sports in the fore-front as much as they can but it is clear they consider the entertainment value of the story of the sports most important. They constantly highlight personalities and conflict. It seems very clear that ESPN "makes" stories. Not that they make them up but instead they turn what just 10 years ago would have been an afterthought into major strories. When you become the news maker and not the news teller you are on dangerous ground. Again, it really is the entire industry but ESPN, as far as sports goes is the leader in this regard.[/quote]

The E does stand for Entertainment, but ESPN is still about sports, whether it's sports stories, sports scores, sports news, sports events, it's still about sports first and foremost

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

As for ESPN360.com, a few things

-No other place can offer the live sports content (legally) that ESPN360.com can, and to do that people expect to get paid (and I'm not talking about ESPN)

-Think of it not as some internet site, but a television network that just happens to be delivered via broadband. So just like you pay Comcast to have Style Network, you pay Verizon (among others) for ESPN360.com

-When you think of all the hidden fees that Comcast, and others charge and add each month the amount their customers would have to pay for 360 is such a non-factor

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525862]As for ESPN360.com, a few things

-No other place can offer the live sports content (legally) that ESPN360.com can, and to do that people expect to get paid (and I'm not talking about ESPN)

-Think of it not as some internet site, but a television network that just happens to be delivered via broadband. So just like you pay Comcast to have Style Network, you pay Verizon (among others) for ESPN360.com

-When you think of all the hidden fees that Comcast, and others charge and add each month the amount their customers would have to pay for 360 is such a non-factor[/quote]

It really sucks ass that I can't get ESPN360 no matter what simply because Comcast is my lame ISP.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=GMScud;525863]It really sucks ass that I can't get ESPN360 no matter what simply because Comcast is my lame ISP.[/quote]

Don't piss me off and I'll tell you how to get it anyway... :)

Actually, you should have gotten it by now but a deal fell apart at the last minute. You will soon enough though

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525864][B]Don't piss me off and I'll tell you how to get it anyway... :)[/B]

Actually, you should have gotten it by now but a deal fell apart at the last minute. You will soon enough though[/quote]

Awww, don't tease

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

Not sure what the big deal is because its a free site and thats the reason they have all these comercials. They have to pay for the site and its contents without charging.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=firstdown;525915]Not sure what the big deal is because its a free site and thats the reason they have all these comercials. They have to pay for the site and its contents without charging.[/quote]

It's not free for those that pay for insider access. It would be nice if they had reduced ads for insiders.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525927]It's not free for those that pay for insider access. It would be nice if they had reduced ads for insiders.[/quote]

Just wondering, do you ever watch PTI on Insider?

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525927]It's not free for those that pay for insider access. It would be nice if they had reduced ads for insiders.[/quote]

If I'm correct the cost for the insiders is pretty cheap and I'm sure the advertising helps offset the price. I agree they are a pain but without them most site would be pretty bear.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=SmootSmack;525930]Just wondering, do you ever watch PTI on Insider?[/quote]

No can't say that I have. I only use the insider stuff for NFL news mostly related to the Skins, and around draft time is probably my peak use of insider.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=GMScud;525824]As long as ESPN has journalists like John Clayton, Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian (who I've talked to at the gym a few times- super nice guy), Peter Gammons, and Bill Simmons, I'll continue to navigate around ads/autoplays for their content.

Jamf, I agree that the whole ISP/ESPN360 issue is annoying. I had Verizon internet a year ago at this time, and I got to watch a lot of Gator bball on the computer with 360. Now with stupid Comcast I can't.[/quote]

What the hell is with the mods on this site? Smootsmack goes to school with Rachel Nichols while Scud workouts at the same gym as Tim Kurkjian. On top of that Smootsmack has all these scources that seem to be a little to accurate for comfort. What do I have other then I post on the same board as the guy who went to school with Rachel Nichols and the guy who works out with Kurkjian? Can't wait to hear that Matty plays pickup games with Obama.

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;525952]What the hell is with the mods on this site? Smootsmack goes to school with Rachel Nichols while Scud workouts at the same gym as Tim Kurkjian. On top of that Smootsmack has all these scources that seem to be a little to accurate for comfort. What do I have other then I post on the same board as the guy who went to school with Rachel Nichols and the guy who works out with Kurkjian? Can't wait to hear that Matty plays pickup games with Obama.[/quote]

LOL! Funny post. I'm not a mod though, I just stayed at Holiday Inn Express last night.

Ask SmootSmack who he works for. He's our very own insider at the "mothership."

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525951]No can't say that I have. I only use the insider stuff for NFL news mostly related to the Skins, and around draft time is probably my peak use of insider.[/quote]

Yeah, it's only recently been added and I was just curious if people have really been watching Around the Horn and PTI on Insider.

Without getting into too much detail, the Insider business is still "evolving"

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Mattyk72;525951]No can't say that I have. I only use the insider stuff for NFL news mostly related to the Skins, [B]and around draft time is probably my peak use of insider[/B].[/quote]

Me too. This is my 3rd year of having Insider, and I get BY FAR the most use out of it during draft time.

Hey SmootSmack- do you think you could convince Van Pelt to have a link to some streaming video of him doing his Mel Kiper impression? It's priceless. Maybe it could be for Insiders only, giving people a little more incentive to sign up...:)

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

Scud, you like baseball right? (I think) so you might like this

[url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/173817-MLB_com_and_ESPN_to_Offer_Premium_Content_Services_at_Discount.php]MLB.com and ESPN to Offer Premium Content Services at Discount - 2009-02-09 15:34:16 - Broadcasting & Cable[/url]

Re: F... ESPN.com
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;525952]What the hell is with the mods on this site? Smootsmack goes to school with Rachel Nichols while Scud workouts at the same gym as Tim Kurkjian. On top of that Smootsmack has all these scources that seem to be a little to accurate for comfort. What do I have other then I post on the same board as the guy who went to school with Rachel Nichols and the guy who works out with Kurkjian? Can't wait to hear that Matty plays pickup games with Obama.[/quote]I stayed at Scott Van Pelt's mom's beach house a couple of summers ago. His mom is really good friends with my aunt. So I've got that going for me... which is nice.