ESPN's making it hard to watch World Cup play

[Kire]

ESPN's making it hard to watch World Cup play
June 9, 2006

Let's hope you enjoyed the opening kickoff of the 2006 World Cup.

Because it might be the last moment the ESPN networks allow you to see.

The rest of the Cup appears destined to be obscured by the most obtrusive, indecorous score line in the history of sports television. (OK, so score lines haven't been with us that long. It's still true).

There is no need for the line to be stretched clear across the top of the screen, with the ESPN2 logo on one end and a sponsor's ad on the other. Why? Well, for one, the ESPN2 logo is visible at the bottom right of the screen. So we've got logo redundancy. For another -- I love soccer as much as anyone this side of Pele, but I'm willing to admit the score doesn't change that much. We don't need the numbers screaming in our face for 90 minutes.

The ESPN networks have been televising soccer for years, always with the score and clock tucked safely up in the left hand side of the screen. Perhaps its placement there did not allow sponsors' ads to be prominent enough. But there would have been better solutions than this.

More: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=99000

[peacebuzzard]

1. I was surprised to view the matches today on ESPN while in transit

at an airport. Last World Cup 2002, I do not recall very good coverage except the final quarters. And even then, it was rather sparse.