ESPN = Wal-Mart

[Idaho]

Yes? No? Why or Why not?

Discuss

An experiment on my part. Just throwing a topic out, letting the masses have at it, if they want to, and waiting to see what happens and how it develops.

 

[Angola!]

espn appears to pay its employees a lot better.

 

[Ace]

Most people would take Wal-Mart over living in Bristol, Conn.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Fnord. Queef. Poot.

But I'll stop short of asking for the bunny, and say that ESPN is trying to be the ubiquitous brand, like Wal-Mart, but it doesn't appear to be cutting every little corner in its expansion; it's bucking up for talent, not hiring minimum wage.

 

[Idaho]

I pose the question because it seems ESPN fits some of the talking points from the anti-Wal-Mart crowd (minus the poor pay) by being bigger, faster, cheaper and crappier in quality in many cases. It also seems to want to rule the world and dominate or drive out competitors.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Well, everybody wants to rule the world.

 

[Ace]

I pose the question because it seems ESPN fits some of the talking points from the anti-Wal-Mart crowd (minus the poor pay) by being bigger, faster, cheaper and crappier in quality in many cases. It also seems to want to rule the world and dominate or drive out competitors.

Wal-Mart is evil

ESPN is a drunken frat boy

 

[pseudo]

Resistance is futile. Prepare to be assimilated.

 

[Idaho]

Well, everybody wants to rule the world.

Take it to the "Post a song you're listening to now" thread.

 

[21]

I guess I can see the resemblance:

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

dominate or drive out competitors.

I don't see that. I don't see anything predatory about hiring people from a variety of newspapers; it doesn't seem that they're picking on any one news organization in particular. And I think they would need to add about 800 reporters to be able to compete for news evenly with large papers in every decent-size pro and major-college market.

 

[jlee]

dominate or drive out competitors.

I don't see that. I don't see anything predatory about hiring people from a variety of newspapers; it doesn't seem that they're picking on any one news organization in particular. And I think they would need to add about 800 reporters to be able to compete for news evenly with large papers in every decent-size pro and major-college market.

I don't think I can name one mom 'n' pop operation that ESPN has caused to fold. Most of the other major sports broadcasters seem to be doing fine as well.

 

[slappy4428]

Yes? No? Why or Why not?

Discuss

An experiment on my part. Just throwing a topic out, letting the masses have at it, if they want to, and waiting to see what happens and how it develops.

I pose the question because it seems ESPN fits some of the talking points from the anti-Wal-Mart crowd (minus the poor pay) by being bigger, faster, cheaper and crappier in quality in many cases. It also seems to want to rule the world and dominate or drive out competitors.

Wal-Mart is evil

ESPN is an evil drunken frat boy

 

[Ace]

Goes without saying, slappy.

 

[pseudo]

dominate or drive out competitors.

I don't see that. I don't see anything predatory about hiring people from a variety of newspapers; it doesn't seem that they're picking on any one news organization in particular. And I think they would need to add about 800 reporters to be able to compete for news evenly with large papers in every decent-size pro and major-college market.

I don't think I can name one mom 'n' pop operation that ESPN has caused to fold. Most of the other major sports broadcasters seem to be doing fine as well.

CNN/SI?

 

[jlee]

Touche.

Most.

 

[DanOregon]

Other than situating itself in a god-forsaken outpost I don't see much similarity. Though if ESPN did drive a number of newspapers (or at least their sports sections) into the the ground, it wouldn't be any different than the corporations that have gobbled up actual mom n' pop operations. News corporations can compete with ESPN, that they choose not to isn't ESPN's problem.

 

[TyWebb]

Wal-Mart has better prices on old DVDs.

ESPN has Erin Andrews.

Edge: ESPN.

 

[DanOregon]

But Lou Holtz would be a great WalMart Greeter.

"Hey how ya doing young man?!"

 

[TyWebb]

Wal-Mart has a fine selection of candy and other snack foods.

ESPN has Stuart Scott.

Edge: Wal-Mart