Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

ESPN Mobile Reaches The End Of The Road

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the hardly-knew-ye dept.

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.

9 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. Not ahead of its time by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Not ahead of its time by joshetc · · Score: 4, Insightful

      On top of all that.. theres no point.

      Instead of making things so general they should push high speed broadband to cell phones. Let people stream WHATEVER they want via them. Youtube, google video, divx files, etc.

      THEN distributors can sell specialized content. Nobody is going to pay for a phone to watch football, then another to watch TV shows, then an ipod video to watch movies, etc, etc.

  2. The time will be right when... by The+Wing+Lover · · Score: 5, Interesting

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

    --

    - In Capitalist America, law violates YOU!

  3. Death due to Proprietary Lockin by bughouse26 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The trouble was potential subscribers had to: 1. Get a new phone 2. Switch providers to Sprint/Nextel & sign a 2-yr contract Not to mention the huge fees for content you can get on any web-enabled phone for free. Wang 2.0

  4. Step 2... question mark... by dpbsmith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Year 2000 dot-bomb formulae:
    --We're going to sell dog food... but... we're going to do it on the WEB!
    --We're going to sell kid's toys... but... we're going to do it on the WEB!
    --We're going to sell groceries... but... we're going to do it on the WEB!

    Nowadays:
    --We're going to broadcast sports... but... we're going to do it on CELL PHONES!
    --We're going to bombard you with advertising... but... we're going to do it on CELL PHONES! ... and, of course...

    --We're going to let you browse the Web (and buy dog food, kids' toys, and groceries)... but... we're going to do it on CELL PHONES!

    --

    "How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!

  5. Misleading summary by sehryan · · Score: 4, Informative

    The summary is a bit misleading. ESPN is shutting down thier branded cell phone service. The exclusive content that they provide to existing carriers is going to continue.

    --
    The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.
  6. I blame the moral decay in society by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    With less and less people going to church, the need for mobile video entertainment is dramatically shrinking.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Re:Screen and power problems are bogus. by Cloud+9 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Anywere there's a TV and a wall outlet, you have the game.

    Then why bother with the phone? You must be an engineer.

    --
    Karma: Dyn-o-mite!(mostly affected by Jimmy Walker reading your comments)
  8. Uh... by Inoshiro · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Viola, ESPN in your pocket. "

    I fail to see what classical musical instruments and ESPN in a pocket have to do with each other.

    --
    --
    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.