ESPN President Demands Less Tebow Coverage

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

ESPN president orders producers to cut back on Tebow coverage:

ESPN president John Skipper has told producers that the cable giant needs to spend less time talking about Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow.

 

"I said, 'Guys, we didn't handle this very well.' Going to training camp wasn't a problem. We just stayed on it relentlessly and too long," Skipper told Sports Business Journal.

 

ESPN did send anchors and reporters to upstate New York’s Cortland this summer to cover the Jets training camp, and have continued to talk about Tebow significantly despite the fact he has been a non-factor on the field. Skipper told the website that he was bothered when former ESPN college basketball analyst and radio host Doug Gottlieb went on the “Dan Patrick Show” and revealed that he was “told specifically, 'You can't talk enough Tebow.’”

 

"The quote that I hated was from Doug Gottlieb. ... I didn't love that,” Skipper said. “I want people to think about what works for the next 10 minutes might not be the best thing for us for three years. That one hit home with me."

 

My questions are: Did Skipper not realize how much Tebow was being discussed on ESPN? Did it really take Gottlieb saying it, or was it simply the fact that the strategy was out there that bothered him?

"We've had some good discussions internally about trying to be careful. In some ways, the more difficult internal conflict is between long-term story telling and ratings,” Skipper said. “We all know that if you focus on the Tebow story, for the next 10 minutes you're going to do better. But the question is trying to take a long-term perspective and saying, 'Guys, let's not get over excited about one story and hyping it.'"

 

The Jets acquired Tebow from the Broncos this offseason, but has been limited to being a punt protector and Wildcat quarterback. When Sanchez was pulled last week against the Cardinals, Tebow was out with fractured ribs, and Greg McElroy was serving as the backup. Tebow returned to his reserve role in the victory against the Jaguars, but did not see the field.

 

Read more: ESPN president orders producers to cut back on Tebow coverage: report http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/jetsblog/espn_president_orders_producers_TSOsv1BiqBe6JPdoFrPEmJ#ixzz2EhNsyF43

 

 

About time. Go figure this comes out when the coverage is being cut anyway.

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

That's a step in the right direction, but there are still a lot of other things ESPN needs to spend less time on.

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

lol, This is nothing more than a PR move by ESPN. They don't fucking care.

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

One thing to keep in mind is as sports fans, you will never be the target audience for ESPN. That sounds insane, I know, but think about it. Diehard sports fans will always check for ESPN, NFL/MLB Network, NBA TV, etc. They have that guaranteed static demographic. They don't have to cater to us. So like any TV station, they're out for ratings. What gets ratings? Gossip, entertainment, polarizing figures, controversy, sex, etc. etc. Basically, TMZ material. That's why ESPN/NFL Network and all these sports channels will never go back to the sports nerd haven they were created as. It sucks, but this is why it is the way it is.

[Duck Fallas 209]

Yet more proof that there is, indeed, a God in heaven.

 

Although, as previously posted, the coverage has already decreased pretty significantly as of late. I was scare dto death that when Sanchez was benched a coupel of weeks ago, that the frickin' Tebow Mania would begin anew. Foprtuantely, it seems like Rex Ryan is tired of Time Tebow, too.

[Glanvilles Grits 142]

I mean, it's with reason. Tim Tebow was a GREAT college player. Perhaps some day he could turn into a solid pro. I think it's a little ridiculous to sit and talk about a backup quarterback the way WE do (Because we are all to blame for it) based on his college career and his "aura" that he brings to the field.

 

We don't sit and talk about guys like Matt Leinart, Vince Young - hell, David Carr and Tim Couch anyone?

 

It just doesn't happen. But for some reason we sit and listen to people on ESPN (and eachother) talk about Tim Tebow for 8 hours straight 3 times a week.