ESPN and the future of sports coverage

Summary

ESPN's SportsCenter has evolved to meet the demands of modern sports consumption, embracing digital platforms and social media to deliver real-time content. With a new 10,000 square foot studio and a commitment to 4K and 8K capabilities, ESPN ensures its coverage is as immediate as online sources. The network's mission to be omnipresent in the sports world includes adapting to cord-cutting trends and focusing on live programming, which remains a key differentiator. ESPN's strategy involves leveraging its资源优势 to stay ahead in a rapidly changing media landscape, aiming to serve sports fans across all platforms.

Takeaways

• 📺 ESPN has committed to providing comprehensive sports news programming since its inception.
• 🏟️ SportsCenter, ESPN's flagship show, underwent a significant upgrade with a new 10,000 square foot studio designed for 18 hours of live programming daily.
• 🌐 ESPN is adapting to the digital age by ensuring its content is available across various platforms, including social media and mobile devices.
• 📱 The company is embracing new technologies such as 4K and 8K capabilities to enhance the viewing experience for its audience.
• 🎥 ESPN's new studio features state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate dynamic and interactive content delivery.
• 🏈 The network aims to provide real-time coverage and analysis of sports events, keeping pace with the speed of the internet.
• 📲 ESPN recognizes the shift towards cord-cutting and is strategizing to maintain its relevance in the changing media landscape.
• 📈 The company has seen a significant increase in digital viewership, going from 3 million to 70 million video views a month on over-the-top devices.
• 🔄 ESPN is focused on being flexible and adaptive to changes in technology and consumer preferences to stay ahead in the media industry.
• 🌟 The network's mission is to be omnipresent in the sports fan's journey, providing content anytime, anywhere, and on any platform.

Q & A

What is the main focus of ESPN's SportsCenter?

The main focus of ESPN's SportsCenter is to provide the most comprehensive sports news programming, keeping up with the speed of the internet and delivering content in real-time.

How has ESPN evolved to adapt to the changing media landscape?

ESPN has evolved by becoming more than just a TV network, ensuring its presence on various platforms, including social media and mobile devices, to cater to the instant nature of news consumption.

What significant upgrade did SportsCenter receive this year?

SportsCenter received a significant upgrade with a new 10,000 square foot studio in DC, designed to be live for 18 hours a day and to help the show move at the speed of the internet.

What technology advancements has ESPN embraced to enhance its content delivery?

ESPN has embraced virtual technology, high-definition capabilities (4K ready and 8K capable), and a space-age collection of screens, cameras, and cables to enhance its content delivery.

How does ESPN plan to maintain its relevance in the era of cord-cutting?

ESPN plans to maintain its relevance by adapting to new platforms, focusing on live programming, and ensuring its content is available on various devices and platforms.

What is the role of the new studio in ESPN's content strategy?

The new studio plays a crucial role in ESPN's content strategy by allowing for innovative presentations, such as virtuals technology and catwalks, to create a dynamic and engaging viewing experience.

How does ESPN handle unexpected events in sports, such as Odell Beckham Jr.'s one-handed catch?

ESPN handles unexpected events by mobilizing its resources quickly to provide immediate coverage, analysis, and social media engagement to keep up with the fast-paced nature of digital media.

What is the core content that ESPN aims to deliver to its audience?

The core content ESPN aims to deliver includes highlights, reactions, analysis, and discussions to provide a comprehensive understanding of sports events and news.

How does ESPN ensure it is 'everywhere sports fans are'?

ESPN ensures it is 'everywhere sports fans are' by being present on various platforms, including television, social media, mobile apps, and over-the-top devices, to cater to different consumption habits.

What challenges does ESPN face in the digital age?

ESPN faces challenges such as the need to adapt to new technologies, compete with emerging platforms, and maintain a fast response time to stay relevant in the rapidly changing digital landscape.

What is ESPN's strategy for the future in terms of content delivery?

ESPN's strategy for the future involves building a network that is not just on TV or the web but is everywhere, ensuring its content is available to serve sports fans anytime, anywhere, and on any platform.

Outlines

00:00

📺 Evolution of ESPN's SportsCenter

The paragraph discusses the transformation of ESPN's SportsCenter in response to the changing landscape of sports broadcasting. It highlights the commitment made a year ago to provide comprehensive sports news programming. The paragraph emphasizes the need for ESPN to adapt to the digital age where news and highlights are shared on platforms like Twitter and Vine. The upgrade to a new, high-tech studio capable of 4K and 8K, and the move towards a digital-first approach are highlighted. The importance of being present on all platforms and at all times is stressed, with a focus on delivering content at the speed of the internet.

05:02

📱 ESPN's Adaptation to Cord-Cutting and Digital Viewing

This paragraph explores the challenges and strategies of ESPN in the face of cord-cutting and the rise of digital platforms. It discusses how ESPN is adapting to the changing preferences of viewers who are moving away from traditional cable subscriptions towards streaming services and social media. The paragraph also touches on the importance of live programming and the need for ESPN to be flexible and adaptive to new technologies and platforms. The focus is on creating a network that is accessible on all platforms to serve sports fans anytime and anywhere.

Keywords

💡ESPN

ESPN is a prominent sports television network that provides comprehensive sports programming. It is central to the video's theme as the script discusses how ESPN has evolved to keep up with the changing landscape of sports broadcasting. The script mentions ESPN's commitment to delivering sports news and analysis, as well as its transition to digital platforms to remain relevant.

💡SportsCenter

SportsCenter is a flagship program on ESPN that offers sports news updates, analysis, and highlights. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as the most important show at ESPN, which has undergone a significant upgrade to keep pace with the internet's speed, emphasizing the show's role in ESPN's strategy to adapt to new media.

💡Digital Transformation

Digital transformation refers to the process of adapting to or affecting digital technologies in a given context. The video discusses ESPN's digital transformation, particularly in how it processes video content and broadcasts it across various platforms, ensuring that it remains accessible to sports fans in the digital age.

💡4K and 8K

4K and 8K refer to ultra-high-definition resolutions in video technology, with 4K being 3840 x 2160 pixels and 8K being 7680 x 4320 pixels. The video mentions that ESPN's new studio is '4K ready and 8K capable,' indicating the network's commitment to high-quality broadcasting and future-proofing its technology.

💡Cord Cutting

Cord cutting is the practice of canceling or not subscribing to cable or satellite television services in favor of over-the-top (OTT) content or other alternatives. The video addresses the trend of cord cutting and its impact on traditional broadcasters like ESPN, which must adapt its strategies to maintain viewership in a changing market.

💡Live Programming

Live programming refers to content that is broadcasted in real-time, such as live sports events. The video emphasizes the importance of live programming to ESPN's identity and its efforts to ensure that sports fans can access live sports content through various platforms, maintaining the network's competitive edge.

💡Mobile Space

The mobile space refers to the digital environment where content is consumed on mobile devices. The video discusses ESPN's strategy to be present in the mobile space, recognizing the increasing use of smartphones and tablets for accessing sports content and the need to adapt to this trend.

💡Social Space

The social space pertains to the online platforms where social interactions occur, such as Twitter and Facebook. The video mentions the importance of being active in the social space for ESPN, as it allows the network to engage with fans, provide real-time updates, and respond to trending topics in sports.

💡Over-the-Top (OTT) Devices

Over-the-top devices are streaming devices that allow users to access content over the internet without a traditional cable or satellite subscription. The video highlights ESPN's focus on OTT devices as a way to reach audiences who are moving away from traditional TV viewing and towards digital platforms.

💡Infrastructure

In the context of the video, infrastructure refers to the underlying systems, technology, and facilities that support ESPN's operations. The discussion about ESPN's new studio and its capabilities illustrates the network's investment in infrastructure to enhance its production capabilities and adapt to technological advancements.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust or modify in response to changing conditions. The video underscores the importance of adaptability for ESPN as it navigates the rapidly evolving media landscape, ensuring that it can continue to deliver sports content effectively across various platforms and formats.

Highlights

ESPN's commitment to comprehensive sports news programming.

The evolution of ESPN from a small town broadcaster to a global sports media giant.

The necessity for ESPN to adapt to the digital age where news breaks on social media platforms.

The technological advancements at ESPN, including a new 10,000 square foot studio and 4K/8K capabilities.

SportsCenter's role as ESPN's flagship show and its recent upgrade to keep pace with the internet.

The use of virtual technology and innovative studio design to enhance the SportsCenter experience.

The challenge of maintaining viewer engagement in a world of instant social media updates.

ESPN's strategy to be present on all platforms and at all times where sports fans are.

The importance of live programming and the challenge of cord-cutting in the television industry.

Adapting to the changing media landscape with the rise of over-the-top devices and digital consumption.

The future of ESPN involves building a network that is not just on TV or the web but everywhere.

The need for ESPN to be flexible and adaptive to the ever-changing digital space.

The concept of infrastructure at ESPN being open to future technological advancements.

ESPN's mission to serve sports fans anytime, anywhere, and on any platform.

Transcripts

welcome everyone to the ESPN

SportsCenter we are all sports all the

time and that's the way it's going to be

continuing Sunday's New York New Jersey

meeting up big time they were robbed out

of course please take that off the rest

they were here a long time it was a year

ago this week that we took the air with

the pledge very simply that we would

bring you the most comprehensive sports

news programming that you would find on

television

[Music]

it's time for Mike and Mike on ESPN

Radio and espn2 as we approach

Thanksgiving things starting to come

into focus back and better than ever

Mike and Mike presented by Progressive

Insurance our guests if you watch sports

you watch ESPN in nearly four decades

since it first went on the air the

company in the small town of Bristol

Connecticut has become the first and

last word in games news and analysis but

now when news breaks on Twitter and

highlights show up on vine long before

your TV ESPN has to become much more

than a TV it has to be everywhere and it

has to be there now if you look at how

video had been processed over the last

50 years there was a single wire that

was used to transport something from

point A to point B now that it's really

the ones and zeroes and at the data set

we can use it we can address it it can

be sent along a network this building is

4k ready an 8k capable we're now in the

1080p range not everybody can get that

signal yet because the cable companies

can't broadcast that but we are

delivering that Sports Center has always

been the most important show at ESPN and

this year it got a huge upgrade a new

10,000 square foot studio in DC to the

newest and highest tech building on

ESPN's massive campus it's a huge

space-age collection of screens cameras

and cables designed to be live 18 hours

a day and to help SportsCenter move at

the speed of the internet that studio

allows us to do things I think with

virtuals technology with the catwalk

walking through you have six screens

that can go into three that can go into

one Kevin is the king of the catwalk I

just want you

there's no one that walks the gallic

like I embrace change in technology and

so I think I think that that studio

allows I think Hannah and I to kind of

welcome the country everyday to say hey

these are the toys that we have let's go

all through it together

we're gonna try this new thing and let's

experience it together I mean everything

we do is to try to create that mix of

efficiency infrastructure at work flow

right what does the content need to do

with it how can we help them and that's

been our goal you keep people tuned in

by giving a good story when they want to

find out something that's going on in

sports they usually tune the ESPN

because they know that we are going to

be going out finding all that

information out and being able to

present it to them in a way that they

can understand and that helps them

understand what what is going on whether

it be with NFL NBA whichever the sport

maybe that's what we do it's what we're

expected to do and that means that you

know whatever platform they're using

whatever time of day it is however

they're connecting with their friends we

need to be there because that's holding

up our end of the relationship that

relationship has changed

ESPN's mission has always been to be

everywhere sports fans are now that

means fantasy teams and Twitter and

being there when we want to watch the

game on our phones and it means being

ready for anything the advantage we have

at ESPN is that we're in order sports so

for the most part many things we have to

cover are on schedules we can get people

in the places where they can report that

stuff we can think about the cadence of

the day and how that should roll out in

the mobile space the social space and on

air the hard part and the most fun is

when Odell Beckham jr. does something

you've never seen before

and that's when it's like all right

where is everybody and what is this like

and how does this show up in the social

space if you are slow and want to make

it beautiful you can't live in the

Twitter space because some guy just held

his phone up to his TV and put it up on

Twitter and then here we come

eight minutes after the play happen with

the tada look at this beautiful opening

and we've got music and natural sound

and you're like I already saw it dude

guys

he receive Odell Beckham jr. taste I

think the core still stays the same it's

highlights its reaction its our analysis

talking I think now we can just kind of

add some some layers to the story that

we couldn't get before the challenge for

almost everybody else in the interest

how do I create it what do i do how do I

compete how do I cover this story about

the Red Sox getting these two guys for

us we don't even worry about that

we've got people we're gonna plug them

in place we've got experienced people

know to tell the story then the question

becomes okay now it's told what do we do

with that content cable TV at least the

way it exists now is dying services like

sling TV are unbundling the channels but

people are also just canceling their

expensive subscriptions and are finding

other ways to see what they want to see

these P n says it's okay with that but

it still has to figure out how to adapt

[Music]

everybody's doing cord cutting people

are watching Netflix etc so what can we

do to still give the people the the

viewing audience the ability to see live

programming that's what separates ESPN

from all the other networks is all the

live programming you don't really want

to watch a game late because you already

know who one kind of takes the fun out

of the game so how can we do that better

the platform's keep changing you know

whether it's Apple TV or Roku or you're

trying to make it prepared for a

snapchat or Instagram in the last year

we have seen just a we did about 3

million video views a month on

over-the-top devices and Twitter and a

year later that numbers are combined

about 70 million digital is the perfect

example of like I have three kids and I

don't know what's going to come out of

their mouth next you know that's the

digital space it just rolls right if you

turn it upside down and you say change

is the normal you know not you know

change is disruptive but we know that

things are constantly going to change

then you can cope a little bit better we

don't know what's out there we don't

know what's going to take hold it's 3d

going to come back who knows what what

is going to be out there so the

infrastructure here the concept was how

do we make it so it's more flexible

adaptive and open to what's going to be

presented to us neck

that's the thing about the future you

can make plans and invest millions of

dollars in a brand-new facility to help

data flow more places more quickly but

you never know exactly what's coming so

ESPN is learning what every media

company in this century has to how to

build a network that isn't just on TV or

on the web but everywhere wherever

they're consuming our product we want to

be able to have what we can available to

them to serve sports fans anytime

anywhere under any platform there are

our future and we keep that going for

them

you

[Music]