The New ESPN.com (1 Viewer)

[Short Corner]

I agree there are plenty of people who will ##### just because it's ESPN. I can say I'm not one of them at least. Most of the things you cited above they made worse.

Scores: Before if I drilled down to a sport I only saw scores for the sport. Now they take up room showing me scores I don't care about.

Headlines: Before they were always there prominently at the top. Now they disappear unless I make my browser ridiculously wide.

Links to major sports: No better or worse than it was before.

Ability to drill down: No better or worse than it was before via mouse-over. Since the headlines disappear it's far worse. And the old system they had that gave about 5 different major areas you could click on that would bring up that video plus multiple related stories, was far more useful to me as a drill down than anything in there now.

The non-mobile site would have been much better if they'd just added infinite scroll below the old above-the-fold section. Adding the twitter feed in at the top isn't helping me as a user, it's just ESPN trying to leverage their site to up their social media presence.

I'm sure a web developer is in tune with meeting their customer's desires and I'm sure that's a desire of ESPN. But it doesn't make the site better for me, their customer.

Scores: The drop down works just fine for me, not sure what you are referring to. Just clicked the NBA and everything else disappeared and was replaced by the full NBA slate.

Headlines: I may be misremembering but I thought they had always been below the video box.

 

[Short Corner]

It might be a great design for younger users, it might be a great design (somehow) for better monetization (subscriptions or something), it might keep ESPN looking hip like the other cool sites, maybe it lays the groundwork for future functionality...

But for simple usability by Joe Consumer, it's a Fail.

Sounds to me like Joe Consumer needs to put a cork on the end of his fork when he eats. JFC it's not that complicated folks.

 

[GregR]

I agree there are plenty of people who will ##### just because it's ESPN. I can say I'm not one of them at least. Most of the things you cited above they made worse.

Scores: Before if I drilled down to a sport I only saw scores for the sport. Now they take up room showing me scores I don't care about.

Headlines: Before they were always there prominently at the top. Now they disappear unless I make my browser ridiculously wide.

Links to major sports: No better or worse than it was before.

Ability to drill down: No better or worse than it was before via mouse-over. Since the headlines disappear it's far worse. And the old system they had that gave about 5 different major areas you could click on that would bring up that video plus multiple related stories, was far more useful to me as a drill down than anything in there now.

The non-mobile site would have been much better if they'd just added infinite scroll below the old above-the-fold section. Adding the twitter feed in at the top isn't helping me as a user, it's just ESPN trying to leverage their site to up their social media presence.

I'm sure a web developer is in tune with meeting their customer's desires and I'm sure that's a desire of ESPN. But it doesn't make the site better for me, their customer.

Scores: The drop down works just fine for me, not sure what you are referring to. Just clicked the NBA and everything else disappeared and was replaced by the full NBA slate.

Headlines: I may be misremembering but I thought they had always been below the video box.

The headlines used to be to the right. Now they are below the top story and are the first thing they make disappear. Before, below the video were 3 or so other major headings that changed just the headline to that and would have links to about 4 related stories in there.

The scores... I am on the NFL page. I don't want NBA scores, MLB scores, or women's tennis. I want NFL scores and if there aren't any I don't want a scoreboard taking up space, like it was before.

 

[dparker713]

It might be a great design for younger users, it might be a great design (somehow) for better monetization (subscriptions or something), it might keep ESPN looking hip like the other cool sites, maybe it lays the groundwork for future functionality...

But for simple usability by Joe Consumer, it's a Fail.

Sounds to me like Joe Consumer needs to put a cork on the end of his fork when he eats. JFC it's not that complicated folks.

Huh? WTF is your point here? That the consumers just don't understand what's best for them? It may not be complicated, but the interface is worse than their prior interface.

 

[Das Boot]

It might be a great design for younger users, it might be a great design (somehow) for better monetization (subscriptions or something), it might keep ESPN looking hip like the other cool sites, maybe it lays the groundwork for future functionality...

But for simple usability by Joe Consumer, it's a Fail.

Sounds to me like Joe Consumer needs to put a cork on the end of his fork when he eats. JFC it's not that complicated folks.

Nobody said it was complicated - most of the complaints are about the reduced readability and usability of the site.

I don't complain just because a website changed, they're always changing - many times for the better, sometimes for the worse.

I do complain when the changes make a website less intuitive, less functional, and/or less enjoyable to read or use.

Just because the complaints will die down in time doesn't mean it was a good usability change for the consumer; it just means that they have little voice in whatever design ESPN wants to roll out, and eventually consumers have no choice but to learn to live with it.

CNN's change a few months ago was another horrible one.

Yay for design superseding basic functionality.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I am viewing on an ipad.

A couple of days ago I set up all my preferences/favorites etc and was off and running.

Today it looks like I got logged out. But I can't find a link to log back in. Where is the login when viewing the home page on an ipad?

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Did they get rid of all the city pages, or are they somewhere hidden?

It was a guilty pleasure to read the comments section of the downtrodden NY teams, especially the Knicks and Jets.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Did they get rid of all the city pages, or are they somewhere hidden?

It was a guilty pleasure to read the comments section of the downtrodden NY teams, especially the Knicks and Jets.

When viewing on the ipad, there is a square block of 9 dots in the upper right hand corner. Touch that block to see the city specific content.

 

[Short Corner]

I agree there are plenty of people who will ##### just because it's ESPN. I can say I'm not one of them at least. Most of the things you cited above they made worse.

Scores: Before if I drilled down to a sport I only saw scores for the sport. Now they take up room showing me scores I don't care about.

Headlines: Before they were always there prominently at the top. Now they disappear unless I make my browser ridiculously wide.

Links to major sports: No better or worse than it was before.

Ability to drill down: No better or worse than it was before via mouse-over. Since the headlines disappear it's far worse. And the old system they had that gave about 5 different major areas you could click on that would bring up that video plus multiple related stories, was far more useful to me as a drill down than anything in there now.

The non-mobile site would have been much better if they'd just added infinite scroll below the old above-the-fold section. Adding the twitter feed in at the top isn't helping me as a user, it's just ESPN trying to leverage their site to up their social media presence.

I'm sure a web developer is in tune with meeting their customer's desires and I'm sure that's a desire of ESPN. But it doesn't make the site better for me, their customer.

Scores: The drop down works just fine for me, not sure what you are referring to. Just clicked the NBA and everything else disappeared and was replaced by the full NBA slate.

Headlines: I may be misremembering but I thought they had always been below the video box.

The headlines used to be to the right. Now they are below the top story and are the first thing they make disappear. Before, below the video were 3 or so other major headings that changed just the headline to that and would have links to about 4 related stories in there.

The scores... I am on the NFL page. I don't want NBA scores, MLB scores, or women's tennis. I want NFL scores and if there aren't any I don't want a scoreboard taking up space, like it was before.

Before they would have multiple vague links that related to the video headline. Losing those is a good thing.

On the NBA page I have nothing but NBA scores.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Not a fan and looking to switch. Really liked the previous layout. What site do folks recommend? Something simple, without a ####-ton of video and twitter garbage.

 

[comfortably numb]

following the scoreboard on espn.com 1-0 Tigers Avilla is up and i see on the right hand sie of the screen a tweet from Detroit Tigers.

"GONE! Avilla hits his 1st HR of the season and the Tigers are up 3-0"

It's been 4 minutes and the ESPN scoreboard still shows 1-0 Tigers

 

[Nugget]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

 

[MattFancy]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

 

[East Coast Bias]

I like it.

 

[MattFancy]

ESPN must really not like the NHL. Weird how when you click on the NHL standings and stats, it's still under the old format.

 

[Insein]

hows their search function?

Do hey have one? Seriously I can't find the search bar anywhere.

 

[Insein]

ESPN must really not like the NHL. Weird how when you click on the NHL standings and stats, it's still under the old format.

They've had it in for the NHL since their TV deal ended. The two analysts they have basically report from a garage on what they saw with no video footage.

 

[tjnc09]

I like when the tweets they have on the side show a more up to date score than their box scores.

 

[MattFancy]

ESPN must really not like the NHL. Weird how when you click on the NHL standings and stats, it's still under the old format.

They've had it in for the NHL since their TV deal ended. The two analysts they have basically report from a garage on what they saw with no video footage.

Oh come on! They had a segment dedicated to Barry Melrose going suit shopping with Stan Verett. Every NHL analysts dream right there.

 

[Jack White]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

 

[MattFancy]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

I liked the 1st down line because it made it easier for us to see how close a team was to a 1st down. With the K-Zone, it's in the way and it really offers nothing. Just about everyone knows the strikezone is from the letters to the knees. However, everyone also knows that now how it's always called. Why put the K Zone up there when the strikezone changes so much from umpire to umpire?

 

[Slapdash]

They really want this site to be unusable don't they? Another annoying thing is videos that auto-play from other tabs on my phone browser. No bueno during work meetings.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Sucks

 

[Jack White]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

I liked the 1st down line because it made it easier for us to see how close a team was to a 1st down. With the K-Zone, it's in the way and it really offers nothing. Just about everyone knows the strikezone is from the letters to the knees. However, everyone also knows that now how it's always called. Why put the K Zone up there when the strikezone changes so much from umpire to umpire?

I didn't like the first down line because it seemed like a dumbing down. In other words, as a fan who paid attention, I always knew the line to gain without having it painted on the field.

But at least it's relatively unobtrusive; a line on a field covered in lines.

The K-Zone, on the other hand, is an unnatural element right in the middle of the screen. Casual fans are not watching baseball in April. I can't imagine that hardcore baseball fans like this.

 

[comfortably numb]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

I liked the 1st down line because it made it easier for us to see how close a team was to a 1st down. With the K-Zone, it's in the way and it really offers nothing. Just about everyone knows the strikezone is from the letters to the knees. However, everyone also knows that now how it's always called. Why put the K Zone up there when the strikezone changes so much from umpire to umpire?

I didn't like the first down line because it seemed like a dumbing down. In other words, as a fan who paid attention, I always knew the line to gain without having it painted on the field.

But at least it's relatively unobtrusive; a line on a field covered in lines.

The K-Zone, on the other hand, is an unnatural element right in the middle of the screen. Casual fans are not watching baseball in April. I can't imagine that hardcore baseball fans like this.

The 1st down line is one of the greatest inventions in NFLtv viewing

 

[Jack White]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

I liked the 1st down line because it made it easier for us to see how close a team was to a 1st down. With the K-Zone, it's in the way and it really offers nothing. Just about everyone knows the strikezone is from the letters to the knees. However, everyone also knows that now how it's always called. Why put the K Zone up there when the strikezone changes so much from umpire to umpire?

I didn't like the first down line because it seemed like a dumbing down. In other words, as a fan who paid attention, I always knew the line to gain without having it painted on the field.

But at least it's relatively unobtrusive; a line on a field covered in lines.

The K-Zone, on the other hand, is an unnatural element right in the middle of the screen. Casual fans are not watching baseball in April. I can't imagine that hardcore baseball fans like this.

The 1st down line is one of the greatest inventions in NFLtv viewing

Yeah, I know.

You know what else would be cool? If there were cameras on all the goal lines and end lines.

 

[dparker713]

Between this and the strike zone silhouette on TV, ESPN is becoming unbearable.

To me, the K-Zone is pointless. Who cares if it looks like a strike/ball? The only call that matters is the home plate umpire's. Whether it's in the strike zone or not is irrelevant. And the fact that most people watching a baseball game have a pretty good idea of where the strike zone is anyway.

I don't watch much baseball any more, but I caught a couple innings Sunday.

If they don't get rid of the permanent K Zone, I won't watch it again. Terrible.

Of course, I felt that way when the first down line started, too.

I liked the 1st down line because it made it easier for us to see how close a team was to a 1st down. With the K-Zone, it's in the way and it really offers nothing. Just about everyone knows the strikezone is from the letters to the knees. However, everyone also knows that now how it's always called. Why put the K Zone up there when the strikezone changes so much from umpire to umpire?

I didn't like the first down line because it seemed like a dumbing down. In other words, as a fan who paid attention, I always knew the line to gain without having it painted on the field.

But at least it's relatively unobtrusive; a line on a field covered in lines.

The K-Zone, on the other hand, is an unnatural element right in the middle of the screen. Casual fans are not watching baseball in April. I can't imagine that hardcore baseball fans like this.

The 1st down line is one of the greatest inventions in NFLtv viewing

Yeah, I know.

You know what else would be cool? If there were cameras on all the goal lines and end lines.

Too expensive.

 

[GregR]

If you click on the button top right with the 9 squares in a cube there is a Send Feedback option where you can rate different changes and type in your comments.

Go to work boys!

 

[GregR]

In the menu for your account there is a Video Settings link. The window it brings up is lacking in labels but it has an Auto Start and a slider which I assume left is turning off Videos playing automagically.

 

[FairWarning]

I recommend The Sports Network - http://www.sportsnetwork.com/home.asp

 

[Jack White]

It's just a bit jarring to see these cheesy sponsored headlines after every story: "10 Celebrities Who Are Said To Smell Awful"

 

[Mario Kart]

Wow, that webpage is pretty awful. What feedback did they get to make their page like that?

I guess it is more customizable but it is awful. Good thing I visit it about once a year.

 

[GregR]

It's just a bit jarring to see these cheesy sponsored headlines after every story: "10 Celebrities Who Are Said To Smell Awful"

Use a browser with an Ad blocker. I don't see any ads at all with Firefox and Adblock plus.

 

[Insein]

No seriously, is there a search bar anymore? Otherwise I have zero reason to use the site.

 

[GregR]

No seriously, is there a search bar anymore? Otherwise I have zero reason to use the site.

It's the magnifying glass icon top right. Click on it.

 

[Jack White]

It's just a bit jarring to see these cheesy sponsored headlines after every story: "10 Celebrities Who Are Said To Smell Awful"

Use a browser with an Ad blocker. I don't see any ads at all with Firefox and Adblock plus.

I'm a capitalist. I don't block ads. I understand free media comes with ads, otherwise it wouldn't be free.

 

[Das Boot]

It's just a bit jarring to see these cheesy sponsored headlines after every story: "10 Celebrities Who Are Said To Smell Awful"

Use a browser with an Ad blocker. I don't see any ads at all with Firefox and Adblock plus.

I'm a capitalist. I don't block ads. I understand free media comes with ads, otherwise it wouldn't be free.

Unless you also click on the ads, I'm not sure it matters whether they are blocked or not.

But I agree with your sentiment of realizing ads help pay for the content.

 

[No. 16]

Eh. Hardly every use ESPN.com anymore.

Use theScore app for game tracking/scores. If I want sport articles/analysis I head to Grantland, Reddit, and here.

 

[KiddLattimer]

Eh. Hardly every use ESPN.com anymore.

Use theScore app for game tracking/scores. If I want sport articles/analysis I head to Grantland, Reddit, and here.

I do the same, such a great app

 

[Daywalker]

Hard to even find quarter nba scores on espn. A joke.

 

[Jack White]

Eh. Hardly every use ESPN.com anymore.

Use theScore app for game tracking/scores. If I want sport articles/analysis I head to Grantland, Reddit, and here.

Will be interesting to see if the redesign costs ESPN.com visitors.

In March, it had 80 million unique visitors, by far the most of any sports site.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The NFL draft link (on espn) was impossible to use this year IMO.

 

[Jack White]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

There are videos, but they do not auto-play.

 

[GregR]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

There are videos, but they do not auto-play.

They do if you have not found the option to turn auto play off.

 

[Jack White]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

There are videos, but they do not auto-play.

They do if you have not found the option to turn auto play off.

Perhaps I stand corrected, though I don't recall having to set any options.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

There are videos, but they do not auto-play.

They definitely auto-play for me. It happened ten seconds before I came in here to make that post.

I'm not going to screw around with settings. I'm just going to keep closing tabs.

 

[pollardsvision]

Hard to even find quarter nba scores on espn. A joke.

They are all one click from the front page.

 

[Jack White]

I don't really know what the new ESPN site is like (or what the old one was like).

Every time I click on a link to an article there, a video starts to auto-play, so I immediately close the window and move on with my life.

.There are videos, but they do not auto-play.

They definitely auto-play for me. It happened ten seconds before I came in here to make that post.

I'm not going to screw around with settings. I'm just going to keep closing tabs.

I don't blame you; I hate auto play videos, too.

 

[Daywalker]

Hard to even find quarter nba scores on espn. A joke.

They are all one click from the front page.

It's often goes to gamecast when you click on game. I'm guessing that's while the game is in progress.