Chris Fowler's Future With ESPN In Doubt?

[Quaichang]

You only have to look how ESPN completely punted on their AO coverage to see where the future is going. For those that aren't aware, they didn't even send their crew down to Australia instead calling the matches in the middle of night from the studio in Bristol, Connecticut. The amount of air time that AO was on ESPN2 was also significantly reduced. With the massive amounts of money they spend on NFL and college football rights coupled with their financials challenges, they are going to have to cut somewhere. In their view, Fowler is probably replaceable on both college football and tennis. I also wouldn't be surprised to see ESPN not renew their AO coverage the next time that contract comes up either so it will probably end up on Tennis Channel like the FO already has.

It would be great if they gave up AO coverage to Tennis Channel.

 

[CHillTennis]

As someone who's done VO and on-camera work, it's a lot harder than it looks. Even being adequate is very difficult.

Fully agreed. Now imagine being on camera for hours on end and having to get things right on the first take.

Contrary to what some people might think...Chris Fowler definitely is very good at what he does.

 

[Subway Tennis]

the problem with ESPN+ especially as regards the AO is the replay of the overnight matches if you're watching the next morning....the video is time stamped so at a certain point in the match you're likely to know who won before the match is over...major flaw, and one that didn't exist when you'd DVR it on ESPN/2 overnight

There’s nothing worse than that. You’re watching a match at the end of a set and thinking someone will be able to win that set and take the match to a decider, and then you realise there are 5 minutes left of the broadcast

 

[RaulRamirez]

There’s nothing worse than that. You’re watching a match at the end of a set and thinking someone will be able to win that set and take the match to a decider, and then you realise there are 5 minutes left of the broadcast

Or, they cut away to ____ coming out of the tunnel....or to a full shot of studio roundtable discussion, forgetting that they were even showing you that match. Their on-air talent is not bad, but their decisions of what/who to show is horrendous.

(I think Fowler is pretty good, but not irreplaceable.)

 

[optic yellow]

God I hope so. Fowler is a HACK, and has been since he started inexplicably announcing tennis in 2003 (He sucks at college football too, btw. Nowhere near as wonderful as Brent Musberger or the legendary Keith Jackson). Fowler talks THROUGH the points, blabbers endlessly about what a player “is thinking”, and says unnecessary *******-ish criticisms of every player not named Novak Djokovic (and has done so for well over a decade). One of the first bonehead calls I saw him make was after Fed lost in the 2003 French Open “another brick constructed to a monument of unfilled talent” *eyeroll*

That's a great call lmao

 

[yogalete]

God I hope so. Fowler is a HACK, and has been since he started inexplicably announcing tennis in 2003 (He sucks at college football too, btw. Nowhere near as wonderful as Brent Musberger or the legendary Keith Jackson). Fowler talks THROUGH the points, blabbers endlessly about what a player “is thinking”, and says unnecessary *******-ish criticisms of every player not named Novak Djokovic (and has done so for well over a decade). One of the first bonehead calls I saw him make was after Fed lost in the 2003 French Open “another brick constructed to a monument of unfilled talent” *eyeroll*

1000%! Just the blathering! And the "I'm in the club" vibe turns me off so much. Give me Uncle Cliffy and Fiery Fred anytime.

 

[tennis24x7]

You only have to look how ESPN completely punted on their AO coverage to see where the future is going. For those that aren't aware, they didn't even send their crew down to Australia instead calling the matches in the middle of night from the studio in Bristol, Connecticut. The amount of air time that AO was on ESPN2 was also significantly reduced. With the massive amounts of money they spend on NFL and college football rights coupled with their financials challenges, they are going to have to cut somewhere. In their view, Fowler is probably replaceable on both college football and tennis. I also wouldn't be surprised to see ESPN not renew their AO coverage the next time that contract comes up either so it will probably end up on Tennis Channel like the FO already has.

I would welcome the change and while they are at it, get rid of Patrick McEnroe too. There is nothing he brings to the table when the real deal John is there. Need some fresh faces for the younger fans.

 

[Mr.Lob]

God I hope so. Fowler is a HACK, and has been since he started inexplicably announcing tennis in 2003 (He sucks at college football too, btw. Nowhere near as wonderful as Brent Musberger or the legendary Keith Jackson). Fowler talks THROUGH the points, blabbers endlessly about what a player “is thinking”, and says unnecessary *******-ish criticisms of every player not named Novak Djokovic (and has done so for well over a decade). One of the first bonehead calls I saw him make was after Fed lost in the 2003 French Open “another brick constructed to a monument of unfilled talent” *eyeroll*

Brent Mushbooger sucks. Agree with everything else.

 

[MissileBackHand99]

Brent Mushbooger sucks. Agree with everything else.

I just spit my drink out

 

[Lozo1016]

I saw a commercial that Fowler narrated for ESPN on something called 'the Pickleball Slam' on April 2nd, so he might be expanding his announcing repertoire to include Pickleball matches.