I was channel surfing a few minutes ago, when I saw that ESPN 2 was scheduled to show its regular Thursday night MLS match, tonight featuring the Colorado Rapids and the Houston Dynamo. I figured it wouldn't be a bad way to spend the evening.
Then again, ESPN has other ideas. When I clicked on ESPN 2, what I got was the pre-game show for Game One of the NBA Finals. The following was running on the crawl at the bottom of the screen:
You are watching the first few minutes of ABC's coverage of game 1 of the NBA Finals. For complete game coverage, tune to your local ABC station. Major League Soccer: Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo can be seen at the conclusion of NBA coverage.
If I wanted to watch the NBA Finals, I'd be there already. I wonder what MLS thinks of this arrangement. After all, what ESPN is saying is that they'd rather have you watch the NBA than MLS, and they'll even screw over MLS and its fans to do it.
Now, it would have been just as easy for ESPN to run a simple crawl that said the NBA Finals were on ABC, but hey, when you can undermine one of your television partners you shouldn't pass up the opportunity.
When folks say the NHL ought to be back on ESPN, remember this night. This is the sports television equivalent of battered wife syndrome.
By the way, in the future, all restaurants will be Taco Bell. You've been warned.
UPDATE: At 9:17 p.m. EDT ESPN 2 finally switched over to MLS coverage. I wonder how many folks switched over and won't return to watch the match.
Don't forget, ESPN did this once, they'll do it again.
I nearly shut the tv off in frustration, before I saw a comerical that said the game would be starting 15 minutes after the hour. God forbid, ESPN would be able to organize 15 minutes of pregame for the Thursday night matchup featuring the defending MLS champs. Just glad someone else out there was as frustrated as I!
Oh and I recently moved back from living in Brazil for 10 years. Tonights episode just reminded me that there really are only three reasons I am back here… Friends, Family, and Taco Bell.
Did they at least delay the start of the match?
About a month ago they held the start of a D.C. United-New England Revolution game at RFK for 15 minutes because an NCAA Men’s Volleyball National Semifinals game went long.
I for one would be happy if the NHL never went back to ESPN.
I am really split about the WWL. On the one hand, I think the NHL just needs to bite the bullet, sign a contract and hope Crosby, Ovechkin, and Getzlaf can bring in more viewers–we all know how that story goes. On the other hand, the NHL does the most of any pro league in terms of newer media, i.e. broadband internet coverage. I really hate ESPN for making it so that if it doesn’t happen on their family of networks, it just doesn’t happen.
ESPN showed the NBA game last night on FIFTEEN different platforms last night.
It still got them the lowest game 1 prime time rating ever.
I bet we don’t get the same kind of mocking when people gleefully make fun of the NHL ratings.
Read on one of the sports business blogs that the first 15 minutes of the NBA Finals was shown across 15 ESPN or ESPN affiliatated properties. ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN-HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN.com, ESPN Ocho, etc.
But what were you doing watching Colorado vs the Houston Earthquakes? I flipped to the MLS game a few times, but the U.S. National team played well for 30 minutes against Guatemala in the first Gold Cup game, and then hung on for a 1-0 win on the FSC.