Looks do matter, especially when you are playing catch-up. As a sports fan I check up on ESPN.com at least several times a day, but I have become increasingly upset about some of its content choices recently. As Zach Barangan wrote, more content is locked to Insider subscribers. I have tried to venture over to Sports Illustrated Web site (part of CNN), but every time I look at it, I can’t help but think it is second-rate.
ESPN offers video content, more headlines and easier navigation. Not to mention, that they have much more content. Even other sites, such as Fox Sports Web site (part of MSN) look second-rate. And for those who are obviously not even close to being the number one source for sports, you would expect they would at least try to aesthetically please their viewers.
With this advantage, and not to mention the ability to cross-promote through their own magazine, books, television stations, radio networks, and restaurants, it has become ingrained in many peoples minds that ESPN is the news source for sports. And even though they do have a great looking site, their content is becoming increasingly Insider based. Now if other sports news services would just take this opening they have to offer as much content as possible and get their looks together, I would be much more inclined to use them.
Andrew Nusca @ Sun, 03/19/2006 - 7:48pm
I disagree with your opinion on SI's layout - I find that much of ESPN's sport-specific site homepages are cluttered with too much information. Conversely, SI's needs a little complexity. Then again, we're both biased. But I agree with you on one point - with all the new restrictions on both sites, I'll be lucky if I can get power rankings without heading over to the nearest pub.