The Patriot Post® · ESPN Is Losing ... Bigly

Over the last two months, ESPN has lost an astounding 1.176 million subscribers. October and November have set records in losses for the sports network, which now has a total number of cable and satellite subscribers at 88.4 million — down from well over a 100 million just a few years ago. ESPN, the largest provider of sports coverage in the nation, will see at least a $100 million loss in revenue this year thanks to this hemorrhaging of subscribers.

There are several contributing factors, such as changing demographics and competition from other sports networks like Fox’s FS1. However, the largest contributing factor may be that the Entertainment Sports and Programming Network has changed into a leftist propaganda rag, unabashedly mixing sports broadcasting and commentary with the promotion of leftist social activism and politics. It’s the old leftist ploy of co-opting everything as a means of promoting and instilling their politically correct worldview into the populace, with the purpose of excluding other perspectives. It’s Orwellian.

But American sports fans don’t want to be lectured to on how “brave” Bruce Jenner was for declaring himself a woman, or listen to the glorification of Colin Kaepernick for disrespecting the national anthem. The history of sports in America is one of entertaining competition, not of “social justice” causes. There is no question that sports have had significant impact upon American culture, but conflating “social justice” with sports entertainment only turns people off. ESPN is learning the hard way that sports and politics just don’t mix.