Why does ESPN have such an east coast bias when it comes to baseball?

Question

I am tired of hearing about New York & Boston

Answer 1

The fact of the matter, and I'm sure you don't want to hear this, is that the Yankees and Red Sox make up 40% of the marketing revenue in baseball alone. I agree that it is an incredibly unhealthy balance, but that's the way it is. It's not east/west, it's what moves the dial and the Yankees and Red Sox have the most stars and are what people want to hear about. Trust me, I'm an Angels fan and I'm bummed that my team gets undersold every year, but those are the most popular teams and ESPN is a business out to please their consumers not an NPO. Just look at Yankees v. Red Sox ratings against the ratings of any other game (minus those that involve waiting for Bonds to hit the big home run which to be consistent they covered ad nauseum), on a national level it's no contest.

Oh, wait, this is Yahoo Answers, Yeah man, ESPN is like totally trying to push an agenda because ABC's CEO has Yankee Underoos!

Answer 2

If your talking about showing games on TV, it's because those two teams have the largest and most loyal fan base. Watch a Red Sox/Yankee game from Tampa or KC or Toronto, there are more Red Sox/Yankee fans in the stadium than the local team has. More fans = larger viewing audience = more ad revenue. Follow the money.

If your talking about Sports Center, I don't think either of those teams gets any more coverage of a game, unless something controversial happens. Also consider that the west coast games don't end until long after SC is in the can. The east coast games get the "A" coverage because they are complete before SC goes on the air.

I'm a Red Sox fan, I would prefer if ESPN didn't show their games. Joe Morgan SUX as a color commentator. The NESN crew of Remy/Orsilo are vastly superior to the ESPN announcers.


I disagree with TNA regarding the 10 consecutive hits the Cardinals got last night. SC did a nice piece on that today, the Red Sox got a short little piece on their loss in Anheim.

I watch SC every morning in the gym.

Answer 3

I do not know the real reason, but possibilities could include that their headquarters are in Connecticut, Peter Gammons once covered the Red Sox, and the fact New York, Philadelphia and Boston are three of the nation's largest seven media markets.

You may get some answers disagreeing with your opinion, but I do not. And I think it is even spreading. I had to complain to my local FOX affiliate (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) when they showed a Red Sox/Yankee game on Game of the Week before Cardinals/Astros (early in the season when all teams were in the race). Demographically, there are more Cardinal fans in eastern Iowa than any team except the Cubs and their only response was they wanted to mix things up (the Cards hadn't been on game of the week all year at that point).

Just venting a bit. But I do agree

Answer 4

Amen to that. Mainly it's because they're located in the New England area. I personally think west coast baseball is more entertaining, although it lacks the same level of eastern rivalries. Hopefully they'll get some more coverage out over there, because there's more teams in baseball than New York and Boston.

Answer 5

actually, i think their bias isn't limited to baseball--it comes across in other sports as well. but i would assume that it's because their offices are in bristol, connecticut.

as for hearing about NY and boston baseball, i'm guessing it's because the red sox and yankees are in a pretty exciting race, whereas a lot of the other teams aren't giving the commentators much that's exciting to talk about this season. they're also big-market teams that have fans (and bandwagon fans) all over the country. some of the smaller market teams don't get as much coverage because fewer people follow them. ESPN does their homework.

Answer 6

Yeah I hear you. I'm from St. Louis and I hear nothing when it's a tying record of 10 straight hits, compared if the Yankees have done the same thing. ESPN would hold a holiday if the Yankees did that. ESPN is making me sick sometimes just b/c its yankees/red sox 24/7! Blah, who cares. ESPN is from Bristol, CT so I guess they're paid to advertise those teams.

Answer 7

West Coast games don't end until well after midnight eastern time. So many people don't get a chance to watch them play as much. Anyone can watch east coast games when they start at 7, 6, 5 or 4 pm (depending where you live.)
.

Answer 8

Do you know why you keep hearing about NY and Boston. They are biased of the East and I'm not gonna deny that...But I'd have to say more o to the Yanks and Mets since they're based out of NY. Well you keep hearing about Boston because they're in first. And people keep saying this but in reality they don't say TOO much more about Boston and NY than other places.

Answer 9

ESPN is a joke that's why. They are so biased because it is to their fianancial benefit to hype up teams that they have contracts with like the Big East and Conference USA. Ever since this "Who's Now" thing I lost a lot of respect for ESPN. They do a good job with football though. And I like their "Make a Wish" stories, those make me cry.

Answer 10

THEY ARE IN NY!!!!

and they only talk about boston when they are talking about the Yankees. I hate it too, but I like the red sox, so I don't really like ESPN, although there was a time when there was NO talk about the Yankees for a few months, if I can remember correctly it was in late september, to early october 2004, but I can't seem to remember what could have possibly happened that would have made the Yankee Loving ESPN not talk about them. It's not like they faced the worst defeat in sports history or anything.