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Grantland.com (1 Viewer)

thecatch said:
A lot of the site's contributors are fine in their blogging roles but aren't major talents. Zach Lowe is the only guy I will follow to a new site (I'd probably feel the same about Keri if I had the same active interest in baseball as I do the NBA). I get the sense that Lowe is enjoying his increased access to the league through ESPN although I'm sure he could go write for any sports outlet he wanted.
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I do not know many people who like Keri. Bit arrogant, and often throws random crap against the wall and acts like it comes from a source or is some incredible insight. Things like his international draft column when he makes assertions about how and what the league is doing that are flat out incorrect.

He is, IMO, a really good interviewer. He gets good pod guests and generally elicits good stuff from those guests.

Lindbergh is the guy it would really suck to lose. He's far more comparable to Lowe as far as sports analysis talent. Lindbergh's probably my favorite baseball writer.

 
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Instinctive said:
thecatch said:
A lot of the site's contributors are fine in their blogging roles but aren't major talents. Zach Lowe is the only guy I will follow to a new site (I'd probably feel the same about Keri if I had the same active interest in baseball as I do the NBA). I get the sense that Lowe is enjoying his increased access to the league through ESPN although I'm sure he could go write for any sports outlet he wanted.
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I do not know many people who like Keri. Bit arrogant, and often throws random crap against the wall and acts like it comes from a source. Things like his international draft column when he makes assertion about how and what the league is doing that are flat out incorrect.

He is, IMO, a really good interviewer. He gets good pod guests and generally elicits good stuff from those guests.

Lindbergh is the guy it would really suck to lose. He's far more comparable to Lowe as far as sports analysis talent. Lindbergh's probably my favorite baseball writer.
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I like Keri's "My team sucks" feature or whatever it's called.

Lindbergh still does the daily Baseball Prospectus podcast, so I don't know how tied he is to the Mothership.

 
Tick said:
Capella said:
Anybody go to 538? I completely forgot that site existed.
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I follow them on twitter. I probably follow links to articles a couple of times per week.

Their podcast isn't very good, unfortunately.
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yeah, I was psyched about that podcast, but it just fell totally flat for me.

I was also psyched for the website, but I also totally lost track of it. I just looked at it again and am still not compelled, even though I love the idea of it. I think that it is just too much and too much analysis of random minutiae to process every day. I do occasionally wonder about some of the things that they write about, but I'll have to remember to go the site and search for them any time that I have a random thought about something and whether it's a real phenomenon.

I think that some of the articles also tend to be inconclusive, which is fine and the right thing to do if nothing is significant and perhaps still an interesting intellectual exercise nonetheless, but ultimately unsatisfying to be reading on a regular basis.

 
Have noticed a lot of the Grantland podcasts that have taken the airspace left by Simmons are very unorganized. Just thrown together.

Like Morris' Emmy podcast. They didn't even mention Empire. I don't watch the show but I know it was a big story.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
Tick said:
Capella said:
Anybody go to 538? I completely forgot that site existed.
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I follow them on twitter. I probably follow links to articles a couple of times per week.

Their podcast isn't very good, unfortunately.
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I was also psyched for the website, but I also totally lost track of it. I just looked at it again and am still not compelled, even though I love the idea of it. I think that it is just too much and too much analysis of random minutiae to process every day. I do occasionally wonder about some of the things that they write about, but I'll have to remember to go the site and search for them any time that I have a random thought about something and whether it's a real phenomenon.
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I don't use Twitter for a ton of things, but that's the best use for me - I follow a few media outlets and authors that have interesting articles (Grantland, 538, Vox, Drew Magary, Spencer Hall, Bill Simmons, Around the NFL, Chase Stuart) - whenever I have a few minutes, I'll check Twitter and see if any of the articles they've posted look interesting. If so, I'll add it to the Pocket app, then when I get some real time, I go through and read the articles.

 
HBO announced Wednesday that it would be the exclusive television home for Mr. Simmons and that he would get a talk show that will debut in 2016. His contract with HBO starts in October.
Additionally, Mr. Simmons will have a production deal with HBO and will do video podcasts, similar to what he did at
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/espn/index.html?inline=nyt-orgESPN
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/espn/index.html?inline=nyt-org. At the sports network, he helped create ESPN’s “30 for 30” series of sports documentaries.
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Bill Simmons To Host Weekly HBO Show Starting In 2016
 
My fellow Americans, I'm glad that our long national nightmare is over. Please return to your homes and resume normal activities.

 
RUSF18 said:
Full article:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bill-simmons-lands-mega-deal-808227
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HBO is poised to be a good fit for Simmons, whose colorful — and at times controversial — commentary will be welcomed at the premium cable network, which doesn’t depend on advertiser revenue or lucrative deals with leagues like the NFL. What’s more, HBO launched its stand-alone service, HBO Now, earlier this spring, and is seeking more timely, younger-skewing content, like Simmons', that is likely cut through in an on-demand universe.
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Makes total sense for HBO trying to move forward as its own entity, not as beholden to cable companies.

 
Seems like a good fit. HBO is a major media company without a cozy relationship with the leagues or a total reliance on advertising revenue which should give Simmons some freedom while minimizing risk of going it alone.

I always felt like Real Sports was more mature TV version of Grantland.

 
Not to be gauche but do we know how much he's getting?

I also think hey, let's give him a shot advising on the boxing stuff. I am all for a Golovkin-Clubber Lang matchup. :shrug:

 
I was really glad to hear this. I was starting to think the whole thing was some kind of crazy mirage. Thinking the NFL could just shut the door like the Ministry of Truth.

Agree about the podcast. I hope Cousin Sal's ABC deal will let him do the Guess the Lines 'cast.

 
I'm a little surprised. His grantland basketball hour did laughably bad ratings. Almost epically bad for ESPN. And that's the platform HBO wants him for?

Obviously he will be discussing more than the NBA but it's already been proven he isn't a TV draw.

 
Capella said:
I'm a little surprised. His grantland basketball hour did laughably bad ratings. Almost epically bad for ESPN. And that's the platform HBO wants him for?

Obviously he will be discussing more than the NBA but it's already been proven he isn't a TV draw.
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I guess it depends on how many people HBO needs for it to be successful. Grantland's viewers were between 400,000 and 700,000 per show.

John Oliver's season 2 premiere got 720,000 viewers.

I would guess that HBO is banking somewhere closer to 750,000 viewers, which might be possible in a more free-form show, in addition to the web presence and documentary stuff.

 
Capella said:
I'm a little surprised. His grantland basketball hour did laughably bad ratings. Almost epically bad for ESPN. And that's the platform HBO wants him for?

Obviously he will be discussing more than the NBA but it's already been proven he isn't a TV draw.
Click to expand...
HBO doesn't care about ratings, it cares about subscriptions. Simmons has a pretty passionate fan base, not hard to imagine a decent number of people who might be on the fence being swayed by the addition of a weekly talk show from their favorite sports media personality and whatever else he does with them.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
Capella said:
I'm a little surprised. His grantland basketball hour did laughably bad ratings. Almost epically bad for ESPN. And that's the platform HBO wants him for?

Obviously he will be discussing more than the NBA but it's already been proven he isn't a TV draw.
Click to expand...
I guess it depends on how many people HBO needs for it to be successful. Grantland's viewers were between 400,000 and 700,000 per show.

John Oliver's season 2 premiere got 720,000 viewers.

I would guess that HBO is banking somewhere closer to 750,000 viewers, which might be possible in a more free-form show, in addition to the web presence and documentary stuff.
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Oliver to Simmons is not apples to apples. 500k for an ESPN primetime show is piss awful. I think replays of college hoops games at 2 am get that.

 
All of us commenting -- and our adulation and worry over which network Bill Simmons goes to -- means he's dead as a cultural figure.

These things happen organically, in my experience, and a true countercultural voice, regardless of the industry or even non-profit realm within which they operate, always bubbles to the surface because of excellence, and if it concerns itself with media and press, dies sadly. It's not a slam on the person, it's the process and the dialectic that kills their original voice.

 
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TobiasFunke said:
Capella said:
I'm a little surprised. His grantland basketball hour did laughably bad ratings. Almost epically bad for ESPN. And that's the platform HBO wants him for?

Obviously he will be discussing more than the NBA but it's already been proven he isn't a TV draw.
Click to expand...
HBO doesn't care about ratings, it cares about subscriptions. Simmons has a pretty passionate fan base, not hard to imagine a decent number of people who might be on the fence being swayed by the addition of a weekly talk show from their favorite sports media personality and whatever else he does with them.
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And it's not just about new subscriptions but about keeping subscriptions, either as part of a cable bundle or with their standalone service.

Anyway, I think a heavily produced, analytic-heavy show (for ESPN; I know Lowe and Goldsberry - is that the name I'm thinking of? - were heavily involved in a lot of those segments) that only aired around 10 times and was scheduled in random spots on the calendar isn't going to compare to what it seems like he's going for here.

 
Tick said:
We're all going to pretend rockaction didn't say anything, right?
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I don't know what the motive behind this is, or if it's sympathetic, but I do get the sneaking feeling that it attempts to reflect that people aren't in Cheers hollering out "Norm!" when I step in the place. :)

That's cool, though. The point stands. Simmons is dead as a countercultural figure; hopefully he uses his weight to produce and create more cool content from others who will use his largesse and industry connections to do so.

 
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Nah, I don't have an opinion of you overall, just didn't think anyone would touch that post. It reads a little too much like a riddle.

 
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.

 
Tick said:
Nah, I don't have an opinion of you overall, just didn't think anyone would touch that post. It reads a little too much like a riddle.
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Nice way to put it. Thanks, man. It's a little bit of an abstract point that might not even be true. :shrugs:

Encyclopedia Brown said:
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.
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Rob Neyer was absolutely the man at ESPN in the late nineties and was somebody I didn't follow into the ether. I feel bad that I didn't, but my love for baseball sort of waned around the time he left.

 
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Encyclopedia Brown said:
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.
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Rich Eisen?

 
Encyclopedia Brown said:
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.
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Craig James killed five hookers at SMU

 
rockaction said:
Tick said:
We're all going to pretend rockaction didn't say anything, right?
Click to expand...
I don't know what the motive behind this is, or if it's sympathetic, but I do get the sneaking feeling that it attempts to reflect that people aren't in Cheers hollering out "Norm!" when I step in the place. :)

That's cool, though. The point stands. Simmons is dead as a countercultural figure; hopefully he uses his weight to produce and create more cool content from others who will use his largesse and industry connections to do so.
Click to expand...
I just never viewed him as a counterculture figure to begin with. That characterization seems more aggressive. He was more of an innovator - combining sports and popular culture in ways people hadn't done before.

If Simmons can just write something entertaining fairly regularly and basically do 30 for 30 with HBO's backing, I think he'll continue to be successful.

 
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Instinctive said:
rockaction said:
Tick said:
We're all going to pretend rockaction didn't say anything, right?
Click to expand...
I don't know what the motive behind this is, or if it's sympathetic, but I do get the sneaking feeling that it attempts to reflect that people aren't in Cheers hollering out "Norm!" when I step in the place. :)

That's cool, though. The point stands. Simmons is dead as a countercultural figure; hopefully he uses his weight to produce and create more cool content from others who will use his largesse and industry connections to do so.
Click to expand...
I just never viewed him as a counterculture figure to begin with. That characterization seems more aggressive. He was more of an innovaotr - combining sports and popular culture in ways people hadn't done before.

If Simmons can just write something entertaining fairly regularly and basically do 30 for 30 with HBO's backing, I think he'll continue to be successful.
Click to expand...
That's a pretty good point. While I think there are bits of truth in what I'm saying, I like your assessment better.

I still think, even if we classify him as an innovator, he's dead as a cultural voice in a way. Everybody wants to be, is trying to be, or hates Bill Simmons. That means that the historical context within which he operated is now dead just by his very existence and popularity. Like I said, no slam on him; he (and others like him that weren't as successful or ballsy) changed a lot of things.

 
wildbill said:
Is anyone who doesn't alreadyhave HBO going to subscribe now that they have Simmons?
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I would doubt it but is that any different than asking is anyone is going to subscribe to HBO because they have John Oliver or Bill Maher? However, combine the three and perhaps you entice people to subscribe. While both Oliver and Maher are already successes on HBO (each brings in 4M+ viewers weekly) the fact the Simmons will be doing video podcasts and other original content that will play well to their HBO NOW service makes this potentially a really good move for the network.

I think the format of his show is key because Simmons is not a natural TV personality. However, he can be a good interviewer and the announcement mentioned featured stories. If the featured stories are simliar as 30 for 30 shorts then his show could be compellng.

 
rockaction said:
Instinctive said:
rockaction said:
Tick said:
We're all going to pretend rockaction didn't say anything, right?
Click to expand...
I don't know what the motive behind this is, or if it's sympathetic, but I do get the sneaking feeling that it attempts to reflect that people aren't in Cheers hollering out "Norm!" when I step in the place. :)

That's cool, though. The point stands. Simmons is dead as a countercultural figure; hopefully he uses his weight to produce and create more cool content from others who will use his largesse and industry connections to do so.
Click to expand...
I just never viewed him as a counterculture figure to begin with. That characterization seems more aggressive. He was more of an innovaotr - combining sports and popular culture in ways people hadn't done before.

If Simmons can just write something entertaining fairly regularly and basically do 30 for 30 with HBO's backing, I think he'll continue to be successful.
Click to expand...
That's a pretty good point. While I think there are bits of truth in what I'm saying, I like your assessment better.

I still think, even if we classify him as an innovator, he's dead as a cultural voice in a way. Everybody wants to be, is trying to be, or hates Bill Simmons. That means that the historical context within which he operated is now dead just by his very existence and popularity. Like I said, no slam on him; he (and others like him that weren't as successful or ballsy) changed a lot of things.
Click to expand...
That's where I think Grantland was the perfect next phase of his career. As his own writing got a little stale he provided a place for new voices to experiment and grow.

 
Encyclopedia Brown said:
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.
Click to expand...
Rich Eisen?

 
Encyclopedia Brown said:
Who has left ESPN and gotten bigger? Not a lot of names. Craig Kilborn comes to mind. Olbermann had his moments for a little while before he imploded. Michael Irvin is front and center on the prime NFL Network shows....and that's about all.

Conversely, guys like Rob Neyer and Les Pasquarelli faded off into Bolivia.
Click to expand...
It's a short list. Two names that come to mind are Robin Roberts and Erin Andrews, but the list of faders is a lot longer.
 
wildbill said:
Is anyone who doesn't alreadyhave HBO going to subscribe now that they have Simmons?
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I won't subscribe for his TV show but if all his content (pods mainly) will be behind the subscription wall I'll have to consider it.

I didn't see one obvious name in the post ESPN discussion... Dan Patrick

 
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