The Grill Room Should ESPN Copy The New York Times?
16 snips
Sep 2, 2025 Andrew Rosen, a former Paramount executive and founder of PARQOR, joins the discussion to decode the digital strategies of ESPN and The New York Times. He critiques ESPN’s broad approach, arguing it sacrifices fan engagement for mass scale. Rosen advocates for a more personalized, consumer-focused model, similar to The Times and The Athletic. The conversation also delves into the growing impact of AI in media, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by traditional sports broadcasting in the digital age.
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From Unavoidable To Intentional Audiences
- ESPN must replace an unavoidable cable-era audience with intentional engagement in streaming.
- That shift makes sustaining expensive live rights economically risky without new monetization strategies.
Two Opposing Digital Philosophies
- The NYT chose to find pockets of inelastic demand and build specific apps and bundles rather than chase internet-scale audiences.
- ESPN remains framed around scale and passive viewing, reflecting different leadership mindsets and skill sets.
Use Bundles To Expand Fan Value
- Consider horizontal partnerships or acquisitions that plug into fan lifestyles rather than only sports rights.
- Use your audience data to bundle complementary products that increase engagement and monetization.
