ESPN

[PonyPride]

Anyone know why the network is pushing cricket so much lately? It's all over the website, and has been a fixture lately on SportsCenter. I'm not complaining — it looks like an interesting sport.

I have to assume the network is preparing to start broadcasting cricket matches (games?), but that's just a guess.

Just curious. Anyone know?

[whitwiki]

Because it's the most watched sport in the world

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Better than UFC highlights.

I was wondering the same thing about cricket though. I imagine they are test driving it to gauge interest before purchasing rights. I would think cricket could be a potential big revenue generator in overnight hours.

[CalallenStang]

Anyone know why the network is pushing cricket so much lately? It's all over the website, and has been a fixture lately on SportsCenter. I'm not complaining — it looks like an interesting sport.

I have to assume the network is preparing to start broadcasting cricket matches (games?), but that's just a guess.

Just curious. Anyone know?

Because the Cricket World Cup is going on and ESPN3 has the matches

[blackoutpony]

There always in need of more programming. Same reason they've been pushing a lot of the EPL to ESPN the last few years.

[CalallenStang]

There always in need of more programming. Same reason they've been pushing a lot of the EPL to ESPN the last few years.

EPL has been on NBC for 2 years now

[indianmustang]

as callenstang mentioned ESPN world cup is going on.ESPN bought america rights
http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/content ... 07588.html
group match between india vs pakistan estimated to be watched by 1 billion
http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/was-india ... n-history/

It was found money for ESPN, and it's paid off. Last spring, ESPN broadcast the final of the T20 World Cup on ESPN2 on a Sunday morning. It drew 2.4 million viewers — similar to what a premium-cable drama like Boardwalk Empire draws for big shows. ESPN executives had to be screaming like fast bowlers appealing for leg-before when those numbers came in.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville ... id=4941715

[CalallenStang]

as callenstang mentioned ESPN world cup is going on.ESPN bought america rights
http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/content ... 07588.html
group match between india vs pakistan estimated to be watched by 1 billion
http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/was-india ... n-history/

It was found money for ESPN, and it's paid off. Last spring, ESPN broadcast the final of the T20 World Cup on ESPN2 on a Sunday morning. It drew 2.4 million viewers — similar to what a premium-cable drama like Boardwalk Empire draws for big shows. ESPN executives had to be screaming like fast bowlers appealing for leg-before when those numbers came in.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville ... id=4941715

I watched that T20 final. Had no clue what was going on but it was interesting. Tough loss for India

[indianmustang]

if i cared ,it would be,but now its SMU

[CalallenStang]

if i cared ,it would be,but now its SMU

That loss was, at least if I gathered enough knowledge of what was going on, an SMU-type loss

[Comet]

if i cared ,it would be,but now its SMU

That loss was, at least if I gathered enough knowledge of what was going on, an SMU-type loss

Also known as a loss every single one of my sports team naturally suffers...

[Planter's Punch]

Looks like ESPN is making a smart move to sidestep cable companies for revenue:

http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/30/media/e ... world-cup/

$99.99 package to watch all 49 games. I am not a cricket fan, but if I was outside the US and a media company offered the same deal for March Madness, I would probably jump on it. ESPN also probably has an interest in developing revenue streams outside of the main sports every media company is willing to pay increasingly astronomical rights to broadcast.

[Digetydog]

Anyone know why the network is pushing cricket so much lately? It's all over the website, and has been a fixture lately on SportsCenter. I'm not complaining — it looks like an interesting sport.

I have to assume the network is preparing to start broadcasting cricket matches (games?), but that's just a guess.

Just curious. Anyone know?

I wish that they would bring back Australian Rules Football and Sumo.

[CalallenStang]

I've seen Aussie football on the Fox Sports networks. Tremendously entertaining. I have no idea what the rules are and perhaps that makes it even more entertaining

[indianmustang]

possible day off india on thursday due to semifinal
http://www.oneindia.com/india/india-aus ... 95306.html
http://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket-w ... 30319.aspx