[ColoradoTree]

I think ESPN can serve an incredibly valuable function by communicating the rationales for these closures and cessations of play to its audience, which may or may not be the same people compulsively watching the news to try and stay as up to speed as possible on the coronavirus. Joe Rogan did a really informative podcast interview with an epidemiologist the other day, and while I don't listen to his podcast, he has a very large audience, so important information is reaching people that might not otherwise be getting much of it through the evening news. ESPN has a massive reach, and one hopes they use it to communicate important information to people that could save lives, while still covering sports (and the current absence of them) in a way that reinforces that information.

That events aren't being held is a massive story. And it's a story they'll cover. Not sure how many eyeballs they'll get for it, but they'll cover it. 

Human interest stories about how sports communities are banding together to help their local cities and towns deal with the pandemic. Interviews with players and league officials about what they're doing and how they're going to get ready, etc. Stories about the Olympics and whether they'll be held (and if so, when). Stories about the economic impact to communities by sports not being played. No highlights shows, obviously, but it could mean ESPN looks more like Bob Ley in the next few weeks than Stephen A. Smith. And I'd sure as heck watch that.

[ColoradoTree]

I think ESPN can serve an incredibly valuable function by communicating the rationales for these closures and cessations of play to its audience, which may or may not be the same people compulsively watching the news to try and stay as up to speed as possible on the coronavirus. Joe Rogan did a really informative podcast interview with an epidemiologist the other day, and while I don't listen to his podcast, he has a very large audience, so important information is reaching people that might not otherwise be getting much of it through the evening news. ESPN has a massive reach, and one hopes they use it to communicate important information to people that could save lives, while still covering sports (and the current absence of them) in a way that reinforces that information.

That events aren't being held is a massive story. And it's a story they'll cover. Not sure how many eyeballs they'll get for it, but they'll cover it. 

Human interest stories about how sports communities are banding together to help their local cities and towns deal with the pandemic. Interviews with players and league officials about what they're doing and how they're going to get ready, etc. Stories about the Olympics and whether they'll be held (and if so, when). Stories about the economic impact to communities by sports not being played. No highlights shows, obviously, but it could mean ESPN looks more like Bob Ley in the next few weeks than Stephen A. Smith. And I'd sure as heck watch that.