New ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro says that the network has no plans to televise the national anthem during broadcasts of Monday Night Football.
Pitano says that the network has never broadcast the national anthem and had no plans to do so now. However, he did not say whether announcers and commentators would offer on-air opinions if there were protests by players during the anthem.
USA Today:
Pitaro, who was hired March 5 following the abrupt departure of John Skipper, told reporters at a media event on ESPN's campus in Bristol, Conn., that the network has not previously shown the national anthem during its Monday Night Football broadcasts and does not have plans to change — at least, not in the immediate future.
According to Axios, Pitaro also said that ESPN has informed the league of its plans "as (a) courtesy" given their partnership. Earlier, he had told reporters that he has spent much of his young tenure at ESPN working to strengthen the company's relationship with the NFL.
ESPN pays about $2 billion per year for the right to broadcast Monday Night Football , according to the Associated Press.
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16 comments:
I wouldn't have noticed, glad they told me.
TREASON.
I have stopped watching ESPN. Tired of here political rants when I tuned in to hear about sports!!! They will fall!!
I stopped watching the National FELON's League two years ago. Nothing but overpaid thugs.
ESPN and it's president last time I looked what importance are they? What that is stating is treason, you don't want our National Anthem then your not American you have no place in this country. Football can be a forgotten sport it can be a sport we CAN turn our backs on. They are overpaid, media sensations who only care about their bottom line not what's right while living in this country. You don't like it here then leave. Pickle Ball is the new sensation or haven't they heard? And Baseball was here before football. Their have been more players involved in all aspect of crime most noted for murders, prostitution and drugs. And ESPN can be the next forgotten empire ESPN what never heard of it, ever hear of yesterday's news?
Just fodder for the bird cage.
3:11, love your comment - so very true.
That pretty much establishes a yawn for TV audiences. But they better not do it for the play-offs.
Question is: the NFL prohibits 'any description of the game, etc.' so when it hits social media, are they in violation??
They know who butters their bread.
Deplorables!
NFL and ESPN are dead to me for over a year now.
It's a waste of time anyway. I have been to games and everyone takes their hats off and stands and pretty much mumbles the words they don't know and could never tell you who wrote it when and where. Just ask one of them what a Rampart is.
6:07 go pound dirt. You clearly aren't an American, go to the other side of the partial wall Mexico.
I don't know of any baseball games other than maybe the all-star game and playoffs that show the National Anthem. If ESPN does this, and also does not talk about it, not showing the national anthem is a good thing. No one sees the protests but the few in the stands. That will end the protesting. Let the news networks cover it. It's not a sports issue.
With that said, NASCAR shows the national anthem and a prayer before every race. Unfortunately, NASCAR has over regulated itself with rules and is so costly to run a team, it's down to it's base with fans now. All the Bandwagon fans from the 90's are long gone.
As a huge NASCAR fan, even I wonder if it will be around in 5 years, or if it is in what form.
I think that's sensible, because it denies the kneelers their forum and renders them irrelevant.
No more ESPN in my house.
What the man said was they have not previously covered the Star Spangled Banner before games.
If they have been consistent on this point, for whatever reason, before Colon Crapperknicker, then I have no issue with continuing this practice.
There are plenty of other reasons related to NFL's clown show kneeling decision, about face, and muddling to avoid NFL, ESPN and the rest of the networks.
" I SERVED THEREFORE I STAND"
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