Deitsch on the Skip Bayless-ization of ESPN

Brandon,

I have a question.

How much of the content at the Magazine is tied to the television programming. I have been a subscriber of the Magazine since issue two. I still receive it, I think because I am a subscriber to ESPN Insider.

I look at all the the emphasis the magazine has given the X games. Is that because the editors think that the typical sports fan/ESPN subscriber cares about the X games or is that a sop to programming department.

Maybe my examples are outdated (I decided to ignore the magazine a while ago) but my memory is that the Magazine frequently read like the monthly magazine my cable company sends me touting upcoming programming.

I realize that tons of talented and ethical journalists work at ESPN but is there a wall between programming and the magazine? Or does programming dictate story selection?

 

You need to dust off some of those ESPN Mags piling up in your garage if you think it's still big on X-games features.

Each issue has a theme, so if there is a College Basketball Issue, it's tied to start of college basketball season, which the network covers a lot of. Beyond that, there is very little connection with TV programing and the Magazine.