Lost in the buildup to the Super Bowl were two interesting, and connected, sports-media stories that might shape how fans get sports news in the coming months.
Here's hoping the actions and words from the folks at ESPN produce the positive results they promise -- and even the positive results that were not present when they tried some of these same experiments in the past.
A Stephen A. Smith Sequel
First, ESPN announced it had welcomed back Stephen A. Smith as a radio host and online columnist on Feb. 2. Since that time, he's hosted nightly talk shows in Los Angeles and New York City on ESPN affiliates.
He's on air form 7 to 9 p.m. ET in New York City and then 6 to 8 p.m. PT in Los Angeles. He contributes to local sports coverage and NBA game nights in the two markets. He also contributes to NBA coverage on ESPN.com and will assist with ESPN's coverage of the NBA Finals.
The assignments fit for Smith, filling the niche where he has proven successful. He has great contacts and experience. He knows the NBA and he knows how to write. If ESPN allows keeps his assignments focused, he can succeed.
Beyond that, though, Smith's status is uncertain. He was unsuccessful with a widespread ESPN audience on radio or TV in his previous five-year stint working for the all-sports network and anything along those lines could be challenging during this return engagement.
He got abundant promotion and the result was two failed talk shows. He just does not resonate, and the reason is simple. What makes him so strong in some markets on radio also limits him overall.
Good radio guys need a schtick, but they also need to share their human side. With Smith it's too hard to tell the difference between the schtick, smarm and smart. It's hard to cozy up to him and feel comfortable, and he does not make it any easier.
Content, Chats and Change
One day after announcing the hiring of Smith, ESPN conducted the first of what it promised would be regular online chats with decision makers at the network.
In the wake the departure of ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer, the move to chats sounded sensible. There's an audience of ESPN (albeit an appropriately motivated and vocal minority) that wants more control and input on what happens with the all-sport network.
Honestly, with the investment ESPN consumers make, such input makes sense. In every possible way, from cable bills to subscriptions to ESPN the Magazine and more, they're invested because they pay for what they get.
At the time, Walsh said the network had started its search process for another ombudsman and he expected the spot to be filled by early March.
Walsh addressed a range of topics -- from ESPN's editorial decision-making process and how it hires on-air talent to the network's perceived East Coast bias. It was an interesting session, a good session, the kind of session that could make the huge network more responsive to its customers and more transparent.
No matter what it does, it remains a business at heart and will never please some people -- no matter how open it attempts to be with those users.
Still, here's hoping the chats, and the next ombudsman are a step in the right direction.
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