Throughout its history , ESPN and its sister networks have been the targets of criticism [ 1 ] for programming choices, biased coverage, [ 2 ] conflict of interest , and controversies with individual broadcasters and analysts. Other criticism has focused on issues of race and ethnicity in ESPN's varying mediated forms, as well as carriage fees and issues regarding the exportation of ESPN content.
Some critics argue that ESPN's success is their ability to provide other enterprise and investigative sports news while competing with other hard sports-news-producing outlets such as Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports. Some scholars have challenged ESPN's journalistic integrity calling for an expanded standard of professionalism to prevent biased coverage and conflicts of interest.
ESPN currently charges the highest retransmission consent fee of any major cable television network in the United States. Cable and satellite television providers condemned ESPN's most recent contract extension with the NFL and have contemplated moving the network to a higher programming tier to mitigate cost increases.
These deals were made when new sports channels like NBCSN and Fox Sports 1 emerged, and so analysts believe that ESPN deliberately drove the prices up as a defensive measure to block these competitors from acquiring live rights.
Additionally, ESPN's television ratings declined significantly across the board and ESPN endured criticism from some quarters over the declining quality of its programming. ESPN has been accused of having a bias [ 35 ] towards certain sports teams [ 36 ] and a "love affair" with superstar players. One opinion was expressed by former major-leaguer Heath Bell :. It's all about the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets. We will not renegotiate settled contracts and will vigorously defend this legal action, the apparent sole purpose of which is to get a better deal.
