ESPN’s Australian Open coverage leaves tennis fans lost and poorer

[insideguy]

That was always the problem with cable, the part about being made to buy a bundle of channels. A few years back, govt brought in regulations asking cable providers to allow consumers to select the channels they wanted. But by then, I had already bid cable goodbye. There are other issues like losing the reception during rainy or cloudy weather whereas with fiber optic, the internet service is super stable and fast so streaming is better than ever.

Yea for me its not a a big deal. Now if you have cable and want these services I can see why you would complain. But cable is such a rip off. There are like 20 religious channels and 15 home shopping networks and all kinds of other nonsense on those packages. With Hulu live you get the main stations and thats it. Im sure there are similar packages but Hulu live was best for me. And they offer great package deals. With cable or Satellite when you canceled you always had to deal with them trying to talk you out of it. Hated those people. If you don't have cable and do streaming you can just subscribe to whatever you want whenever you want. To me its great.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

That's a terrible deal, making people buy a yearly subscription even if they only want to watch a specific tournament. They ought to follow WTA TV's model - you can take a monthly subscription and turn off the tap whenever you feel like.

Yup it’s horrible for the sport and horrible for fans. You can pay $15/month for TennisTV but this obv excludes WTA. The ESPN coverage is far from perfect but at only $7/month (cancel anytime) it’s a far better deal than the RG one.

 

[Kozzy]

I can't see what it has to do with wokeness or non-wokeness - it just looks to me like Tennis has been de-prioritized with ESPN. I remember they'd have it on ESPN or ESPN2 almost all night. Those were fun times.

 

[RaulRamirez]

What are the main sports that keep tennis off the main ESPN networks this time of year?

Is it the big national leagues like NFL, MLS, NBA and college sports, or is it also sports like golf? Just wondering what sort of chance there is for tennis to get back into ever being shown on the main ESPN platforms.

It depends on time of year, but right now, football (NFL playoffs) are on the weekend, but they mostly show college basketball, some pro hoops. Right now, I'm kind of at the mercy of the regular ESPN and ESPN 2 (don't have Plus). I woke up this morning around 7 am (US Eastern) hoping to catch the rest of Rafa's match and Karatsev's. It was already off the air for their Sports Center or other discussion shows.
Tennis Channel has taped matches, but when you already know the results...

 

[RaulRamirez]

I can't see what it has to do with wokeness or non-wokeness - it just looks to me like Tennis has been de-prioritized with ESPN. I remember they'd have it on ESPN or ESPN2 almost all night. Those were fun times.

Of course, it has nothing to do with "wokeness" (I'll bet none of these posters can even define it) or CRT or whatever other boogeymen they whip themselves into a frenzy about.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

I can't see what it has to do with wokeness or non-wokeness - it just looks to me like Tennis has been de-prioritized with ESPN. I remember they'd have it on ESPN or ESPN2 almost all night. Those were fun times.

Absolutely. Has zilch to do with wokeness or not. ESPN just made a business decision that tennis fans may not like. It's hard times for the sport...in America. Here, I am enjoying a brilliant stream for the AO. I can watch the matches on any of the main courts plus there are streams for the outside courts as well. I could have never got that with cable.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Not understanding this thread, but I don't have ESPN, just ESPN+, which I have because I have the Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle. Great coverage of these early rounds of the AO. Not sure what I'll do when the later rounds are only on ESPN, but I'm not planning to complain about it.

 

[Subway Tennis]

It depends on time of year, but right now, football (NFL playoffs) are on the weekend, but they mostly show college basketball, some pro hoops. Right now, I'm kind of at the mercy of the regular ESPN and ESPN 2 (don't have Plus). I woke up this morning around 7 am (US Eastern) hoping to catch the rest of Rafa's match and Karatsev's. It was already off the air for their Sports Center or other discussion shows.
Tennis Channel has taped matches, but when you already know the results...

Do you think you will use one of the extra $ streaming services like ESPN+ for tennis in the future?

I am somewhat concerned about the lack of tennis that gets in front of the casual viewers on the mainstream ESPN platforms but I'm the same as @insideguy that I get all my tennis either in-person or via dedicated streaming services now (not the same streaming platforms as you guys in US but basically the same principle).

It's so specialized now. It used to be tough to sometimes get some of the US Open and RG in Australia but now you literally get every court, but at a cost, and obviously you have to be interested in tennis already to seek it out.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

Not understanding this thread, but I don't have ESPN, just ESPN+, which I have because I have the Disney/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle. Great coverage of these early rounds of the AO. Not sure what I'll do when the later rounds are only on ESPN, but I'm not planning to complain about it.

From the outside, what I can make out is people who had a cable service and assumed that ESPN would provide good coverage of the AO on the main platform are disappointed. And they probably don't feel like paying the extra subscription for EPSN+ because they used to get AO as part of the cable subscription before and feel cheated. It happens. But like you, inside guy/subway tennis, I have already moved on to streaming so it's a non issue either way.

 

[RaulRamirez]

Do you think you will use one of the extra $ streaming services like ESPN+ for tennis in the future?

I am somewhat concerned about the lack of tennis that gets in front of the casual viewers on the mainstream ESPN platforms but I'm the same as @insideguy that I get all my tennis either in-person or via dedicated streaming services now (not the same streaming platforms as you guys in US but basically the same principle).

It's so specialized now. It used to be tough to sometimes get some of the US Open and RG in Australia but now you literally get every court, but at a cost, and obviously you have to be interested in tennis already to seek it out.

Probably - it used to be that I could get by with what was on cable without other premium streaming services, etc. And would be bleary eyed during the fortnight of the AO.
As much as I love tennis, though, it does compete with the family dollar, time, etc.
Were I a family of one, I probably would.

 

[Tshooter]

Yea Im not sure how this will all work out long term…

“In the long term we are all dead so enjoy the AO today.” —J.M. Keynes

 

[Subway Tennis]

Probably - it used to be that I could get by with what was on cable without other premium streaming services, etc. And would be bleary eyed during the fortnight of the AO.
As much as I love tennis, though, it does compete with the family dollar, time, etc.
Were I a family of one, I probably would.

Yeah you're spot-on. I have that problem with it, too. Having to make the extra spending to get the content. And also people (particularly kids) not getting into tennis to start with because the stars aren't visible on the big sport channels for them to stumble upon.

As much as I love the all-access options, something is lost with tennis going less mainstream for sure.

This is one of the reasons we are supposed to love Nick Kyrgios: because he gets mainstream attention to tennis. But how often is he there in the second week of a major?

 

[Crazy Finn]

What are the main sports that keep tennis off the main ESPN networks this time of year?

Is it the big national leagues like NFL, MLS, NBA and college sports, or is it also sports like golf? Just wondering what sort of chance there is for tennis to get back into ever being shown on the main ESPN platforms.

The NFL playoff, NBA, college stuff, plus if someone in the NFL farts, ESPN will talk about it for 3 hours.

ESPN also picked up the NHL, which is why I have access to it (I don't really care that much, but people I know do).

I can't see what it has to do with wokeness or non-wokeness - it just looks to me like Tennis has been de-prioritized with ESPN. I remember they'd have it on ESPN or ESPN2 almost all night. Those were fun times.

It's just some dumb agenda that people looking for excuses to be offended push because it came up as talking points on the new outlets they watch.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

Yeah you're spot-on. I have that problem with it, too. Having to make the extra spending to get the content. And also people (particularly kids) not getting into tennis to start with because the stars aren't visible on the big sport channels for them to stumble upon.

As much as I love the all-access options, something is lost with tennis going less mainstream for sure.

This is one of the reasons we are supposed to love Nick Kyrgios: because he gets mainstream attention to tennis. But how often is he there in the second week of a major?

But would it not work out cheaper to give up cable and switch completely to streaming?

 

[jarko111]

yeah even Patrick McEnroe said he went to watch the matches on Espn+ in his room and he said “We’re still working things out.”

I’ve noticed Espn2 is playing matches deeper into other programs I think last couple nights to make up for that.

What sucked for me was losing Tennis Channel. If you think ESPN+ is bad - you couldn’t handle TennisTv. That service leaves you with tears of rage. They have absolutely no customer support and the buggiest app. And they want 15 bucks.

TennisTv shows no WTA. I have no idea what’s going on with the WTA tour, anymore.

many of us cut the cord to save money. Heck, if you add up all the streaming you have to have to watch anything cool it’s like we’re paying more than we used to with cable. Plus we have to have an internet company that tries everything they can for you to take on their tv packages. It’s kind of forced insanity.

 

[Crazy Finn]

yeah even Patrick McEnroe said he went to watch the matches on Espn+ in his room and he said “We’re still working things out.”

I’ve noticed Espn2 is playing matches deeper into other programs I think last couple nights to make up for that.

What sucked for me was losing Tennis Channel. If you think ESPN+ is bad - you couldn’t handle TennisTv. That service leaves you with tears of rage. They have absolutely no customer support and the buggiest app. And they want 15 bucks.

TennisTv shows no WTA. I have no idea what’s going on with the WTA tour, anymore.

many of us cut the cord to save money. Heck, if you add up all the streaming you have to have to watch anything cool it’s like we’re paying more than we used to with cable. Plus we have to have an internet company that tries everything they can for you to take on their tv packages. It’s kind of forced insanity.

I've only seen an annual membership for Tennis Channel, at something like $100+. I've tried it before, but it .... well, wasn't worth that price.

 

[aman92]

Quite cheap and accessible here in India whether on television or online streaming

 

[EggSalad]

I have ESPN+ via my Verizon plan, so it’s not a big deal. I like being able to select any match to watch. However, ESPN hasn’t been offering every match, which I really don’t appreciate. And the UI could use some help too.

But their main live coverage is bad. It annoys me to no end when they put up two matches at the same time on split screen.

 

[RaulRamirez]

Yeah you're spot-on. I have that problem with it, too. Having to make the extra spending to get the content. And also people (particularly kids) not getting into tennis to start with because the stars aren't visible on the big sport channels for them to stumble upon.

As much as I love the all-access options, something is lost with tennis going less mainstream for sure.

This is one of the reasons we are supposed to love Nick Kyrgios: because he gets mainstream attention to tennis. But how often is he there in the second week of a major?

Good points.
Per Nick, you're right - he's box office, a few times a year.

 

[lizjo]

What matches are you waiting to watch? We will ruin them for you. Blah…Blah…Blah…Blah…..
J/K… I have no such patience. And people around me (all tennis fans) will mess me up anyway.

I fast-forward through most of the matches. I wanted to see Berrettini-Alcaraz so I watched some of that, and of Osaka, which I also forwarded through most of.
I really don't care about knowing the score in advance; I just like to watch good tennis.

 

[fedfan08]

I wonder if this is a cost savings effort from ESPN as well. I don't know who the announcers are on ESPN+ but they aren't the typical ESPN crew. So they have fewer announcers working. Reduced travel costs.

I used to love the AO because I could watch at nighttime as long as I could stay awake and then get up in the morning and catch the end of the night matches. Now it starts late and who knows where to find the night matches. The ESPN coverage used to be excellent but the product is really bad now. This AO* is a big let down all around.

It might be the same announcers they use for the extra channels on DIRECTV. Not sure if those announcers are actually working for ESPN.

 

[Crazy Finn]

Actually, I just go to watch live doubles thanks to ESPN+, so that nice.