Mr T wrote:So dont give me this "The public decides shit"
Content is based on ad revenue, which is based on viewership/ratings.
Do a Google search on "sweeps period" if you don't believe me. There's this amazingly similar correlation between TV news going from stupid to just plain idiotic (special reports and "investigations," in addition to more live reports) during those periods. Coincidence? Please.
And guess what? The latest one was between July 5 and Aug. 1.
Sports programming is a bit different, because there are other entities involved (pro leagues and the NCAA, for starters), all of whom want their cut. The networks can't possibly show every college, NFL or MLB game on every week, so they work out an arrangement for regional coverage, based on ... guess what? Ratings. ESPN's regional coverage of CFB also has to do with contracts with the conferences, I believe. FoxSportsNet has a similar arrangement with the Big 12 and Pac 10. That's why we get to listen to Pam Oliver calling PSU or Purdue games every other week. Given all that, I'd say ESPN/ABC and FoxSportsNet do a fairly decent job making sure the key games are for as wide an audience as possible.
ESPN/ABC and Fox also have the flexibility to switch coverage to games going on simultaneously. They usually do, especially if the regional game is a complete blowout and there's an incredible game/huge upset in the making elsewhere. In that case, it will come down to the
local affiliate, whether to switch or not. Not sure about other parts of the country, but around here, if the local affiliate switches to an upset of FSU or Miami or USC by a 20+point underdog and OU is beating North Texas State by 50, the myopian tards will scream bloody murder to the local affilates for switching, for days on end.
As to lacross and other bullshit on ESPN2, if there are an extra million soccer moms and their girls watching the U.S. women's national team or lacross, it will translate into more ad revenue based on higher viewership ratings.
Usually though, ESPN2 has at least two CFB games on, if not 3, once the season starts.