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Media Goes Around The Horn To Critique ESPN's New Show

An "arrogance has convinced ESPN it can air a steady stream of talk shows that insult viewers accustomed to quality sports programming," according to Robert Weintraub of SLATE. Weintraub, who once worked for ESPN and is an occasional employee of the net, writes: "Like another cable giant, MTV, ESPN seems to have forgotten its original mandate. Remember when you could tune in to ESPN and actually have a good chance of seeing sports?" Weintraub, on ESPN's original programming: "It's one thing to try something new [but] it's another to give every single (male) sports columnist in the country a televised forum. On the same subjects. At maximum decibel level. This ugly trend reaches its nadir with Monday's heavily promoted offering, ... `Around The Horn.'" The show is "pointless noise pollution, the ThunderStix of sports programming" (SLATE.com, 11/5).

MORE "AROUND THE HORN" REVIEWS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Jim Sarni calls the show "terrible. Host Max Kellerman is loud and annoying, and the concept of scoring [the] columnists ... makes no sense. ESPN should have stopped after `Pardon The Interruption'" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 11/8). In L.A., Larry Stewart writes Kellerman is "hyperactive" and the four columnists "mainly just try to outshout each other. Maybe it's just a bad idea, but the show is not off to a good start. It quickly wears you out" (L.A. TIMES, 11/8). In S.F., Steve Kroner: "It appears to be one of those shows that tries to be funny and informative, and fails on both counts" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/8). In Houston, David Barron: "I've gained 30 minutes each weekday with the revelation ... that I never again need to watch ESPN's screeching, pointless `Around The Horn.' For superior screaming, wait 30 minutes and tune into ["PTI"]. The show recently celebrated its first anniversary, and audiences are up 90 percent from a year ago" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/8). But in Boston, Bill Griffith writes of "Around The Horn"'s concept: "Does it work? So far so good. They've been in each other's faces, and instead of falling on their faces, they've been able to save some face." Kellerman "seems born to his role as a quintessential child of the TV age, totally comfortable at a console of joysticks in front of four large TV screens" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/8). "Around The Horn" averaged a 0.38 Nielsen cable rating after three shows. In the male 18-34 demo, the show earned a 0.66. By comparison, "Unscripted," through its first three shows, earned a 0.33 and a 0.41 in the male 18-34 demo. Both shows aired in the same time slot (THE DAILY).

Have you seen "Around The Horn?" If so, grade the show in THE DAILY POLL.

OTHER ESPN CRITIQUES: In San Diego, Jay Posner writes the debut of ESPN's "NBA Fast Break Tuesday" "was more like `NBA Walk-it-Up Tuesday.' Two of the `live' look-ins actually were several minutes old, and instead of showing the exciting conclusion of the Kings-Magic game live, ESPN chose to air it several minutes later." However, Posner adds that the "general concept is good," which is "more than can be said for `Around The Horn'" (UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/8). In N.Y., Andrew Marchand writes "NBA Fast Break Tuesday" is ESPN's "best idea." Marchand: "The two-hour show looks in live at games from around the NBA. It could become a must-watch for fans of out-of-town teams and for viewers who realize the last two minutes are the only time worth watching." Marchand also writes NBA studio analyst Tim Hardaway "must get better. Initially, he has Eric Dickerson written all over him" (N.Y. POST, 11/8). Sarni: "What did ESPN see in ... Hardaway? The former Heat player has had a dreadful debut as a studio analyst" (SUN-SENTINEL, 11/8).

FANTASY SPORTS: Meanwhile, in DC, Scott Berg examines the growth of fantasy sports. Fantasy Sports Trade Association President Greg Ambrosius said, "ESPN realized very early how important these games were to the average fan, and they were way ahead of the curve in providing highlight shows like `[NFL] Prime Time' and `Baseball Tonight' that catered to fantasy sports" (WASH. POST, 11/8).

NHL: In DC, Eric Fisher notes NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "expressed satisfaction with the NHL's treatment from ESPN, even amid [ESPN's] high-profile debut of NBA coverage and a 30-percent drop in national broadcast exposure for hockey this season." Bettman: "ESPN has done everything they've promised to do. I'm fine with ESPN. The drop in games is a good thing. We're now in the same universe as baseball and basketball [in national TV exposure]" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/8).

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