ESPN Mobile Reaches The End Of The Road

fishdan writes "Sportsdot is reporting on the fact that people are apparently not interested in watching baseball (or any other sport) on a cell phone screen. ESPN Mobile is (ahem) pulling the plug after less than one year of service. Current subscribers will get content till the end of the year, and their handset purchase refunded. You have to wonder what other mobile content is going to have to be rethought." "Ahead of its time" might be one take on this as well. It'll be interesting to see when the time is right.

Comments

Not ahead of its time

[ackthpt]

You have to wonder what other mobile content is going to have to be rethought." "Ahead of its time" might be one take on this as well.

Honestly, when I first saw the option to watch a sporting event on a cellphone I had two thoughts:

• 1. Batter Life, my phone keeps shutting off the display after about 15 seconds of me not hitting a key. How much time on my battery would I sacrifice to watch hours of baseball? Maybe highlights, but not 3-4 bloody hours.
• 2. What's happening? I can kinda make out the players, but I can't see the ball. Sports don't do much on close-up, but wide views, where detail would be lost on a miniscule display

In the end, the idea had to be tried, but until people start opting for bigger phones, which is the opposite of the current trend, it just ain't gonna fly. Radio, with decent announcers is still your best mobile bet, get an AM radio.

The time will be right when...

[The Wing Lover]

...Americans start taking the train everywhere instead of driving. Mobile phone video content does just fine in Japan.