ESPN’s Big Bet on an F-Bomb-Throwing YouTube Star

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The Wall Street Journal

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4.2 • 5.8K Ratings

🗓️ 11 September 2023

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As ESPN tries to transition to streaming and attract younger viewers, the sports-media giant is venturing outside its comfort zone with its newest star: Pat McAfee. WSJ's Isabella Simonetti explains why the F-bomb-throwing former NFL punter is a big bet for the network. Further Reading: - ESPN Bets Big on Pat McAfee, an F-Bomb-Throwing YouTube Star Further Listening: - How Americans Watch Sports Is Changing - The Troubled Second Act of Disney CEO Bob Iger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	As the NFL season kicks off, millions of football fans are tuning in to ESPN, just like
0:11.7	they've done for years.
0:13.0	ESPN has been the dominant force in sports media for decades.
0:20.0	It has huge brand value and still great reach.
0:26.5	But like other cable networks and media companies in general, ESPN is facing a lot of business
0:34.1	challenges right now.
0:36.5	That's our colleague Isabella Semonetti.
0:38.6	And she says this season, ESPN is trying something different.
0:42.8	It's spicing up its content.
0:45.3	We've been waiting for this day that we can say that tonight, the NFL starts in life
0:51.8	is glorious, baby.
0:56.4	That's the voice of Pat McAfee, an F-bomb throwing.
1:00.6	It was like, yeah, this guy's our f***ing quarterback.
1:04.6	Bombastics, millions, and millions of dollars.
1:11.3	Former NFL player who hosts a popular sports show on YouTube.
1:17.7	And last Thursday, that show made its debut on ESPN.
1:22.7	Hello, beautiful people, welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome, on this magical
1:29.7	NFL kickoff Thursday.
1:31.7	September 7, 2023, this sports program starts, nah, football.
1:38.0	McAfee isn't your typical ESPN commentator.
1:41.8	And that's exactly what the network wanted him.
1:46.8	Welcome to the journal, our show about money, business, and power.
	...

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