Zach Lowe out at ESPN

[dhsilv2]

meh. lowe will catch on someplace else and still be able to share his thoughts and probably podcast. who cares. espn's coverage of the nba is just consolidating itself into hooper shouting matches making it easier to find the good stuff elsewhere.

As a basketball fan, I think we all should care. The worse converge ESPN gives us the less future NBA fans we have.

i think their current coverage and their coverage trend caters to the broadest category of sports fans.

Yes, but imo it's doing so at their own long term determent. Instead of building the fan base and growing the appreciation of the game. They're doing the opposite.

[HotelVitale]

This sucks but probably makes business sense.

ESPN thinks having basketball broadcasts tailored around absurd player comparisons and gambling will do better than basketball broadcasts that feature serious team and player analysis. They are likely correct but it sucks.

This is probably more true than people want to believe. I think these guys like woj and zach are great but it's one thing to get paid at ESPN and another to go out in the market and try to organically run your own advertising/subscription supported NBA media models. If they can get to 50% of their salary to go independent I'm sure they would have done it already.

It's true, and there's nothing to get mad about either. Just like music, the biggest and most popular acts at any given time will be the lowest common denominator and easy/quick to digest, and the biggest producers are also aware their bread and butter is the demographic that wants to consume something easy and not that deep.

On that second point, Lowe was the guy on espn for people like us who really watch and talk about the game, there are lots of us but not that that many. There are more people who just want to hear some argument as highlights play in the background, plus espn knows they have those people and have to keep them. Most of our types know many different writers, pods, etc and can go find our fix elsewhere, people who watch a lot of espn tend to watch espn. (Like people who still listen to top-40 radio instead of playing what they want on spotify etc.)

I'm not upset at all about it, since I would never watch espn even with Lowe because any show would still be 40-75% nonsense sports-yelling. And I think there's a good chance Lowe gets to be Lowe more at his next step.

I just hope he leans more into his old role--guy who watches the game a lot and churns out interesting/clever observations--rather than the kind of nice-guy host who rehashes some decent pts that he turned into on espn and his pod. Not sure someone will pay him $1m+ to be a quit insightful writer though.

[Rafael122]

I don’t think you can enforce a non-compete clause if you fire someone.

I think what ESPN's done in the past is offered a big fat check for the talent they let go to not do anything for a year likely with the hope that they'll never be able to regain stature after such time out of the spotlight.

Were I Lowe, I wouldn't take that deal.

I don’t know, if someone paid me a big fat check to not work for a year and spend time with my family, that would be pretty tempting.

Right, if he's making $1 million+ and I can do a workaround and go on Bill's pod for a year to keep my name out there, I'd take the severance package.

My guess is NBC will scoop him up for basketball coverage, they will need the talent.

[Snotbubbles]

The ringer or Substack?

My guess is he has a no-compete clause but McShay works around that and goes on Russillo's pod every week. Wouldn't be shocked if Bill devotes one pod a week with Lowe during the NBA season.

FTC banned non-competes effective Sept. 4, 2024.

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/noncompete-rule#:~:text=Policy%2Dmaking%20authority%20means%20final,affiliate%20of%20a%20common%20enterprise.

[dolphinatik]

ESPN has to much of a monopoly on sports coverage. Youtube if they were serious could put together the content and coverage to surpass ESPN. CBS and yahoo and CNN tired but never fully committed. I loved past years draft coverage from CBS especially in football and fantasy coverage from yahoo. ESPN just feels like the Jerry springer of sports coverage with not enough competition.

[Doctor MJ]

I think what ESPN's done in the past is offered a big fat check for the talent they let go to not do anything for a year likely with the hope that they'll never be able to regain stature after such time out of the spotlight.

Were I Lowe, I wouldn't take that deal.

I don’t know, if someone paid me a big fat check to not work for a year and spend time with my family, that would be pretty tempting.

Right, if he's making $1 million+ and I can do a workaround and go on Bill's pod for a year to keep my name out there, I'd take the severance package.

My guess is NBC will scoop him up for basketball coverage, they will need the talent.

Fair point about the million dollar salary.

Re: workaround Bill's pod. To be honest, if ESPN makes him sign a non-compete clause that still allows him to surface on Bill's podcast regularly, they're crazy. That's probably the #1 place I'd expect them to block him from given their previous working relationship and Simmon's 9 figure net worth.

[AleksandarN]

After Max Kellerman was kicked off of First Take I stopped going to ESPN for my basketball content. For me, The Ringer and sometimes The Starters would fill the void for me as far as basketball is concerned.

But my very unpopular opinion is that, even tho I'm sad Zach lost his job, I never really tuned into him, he was a little too milquetoast for my liking.

The Starters? At least we still have them as they turned into the no Dunks podcast ast

[Invictus88]

The ringer or Substack?

My guess is he has a no-compete clause but McShay works around that and goes on Russillo's pod every week. Wouldn't be shocked if Bill devotes one pod a week with Lowe during the NBA season.

I TLDR'd the rest of this thread so apologies if it's already been stated.

If you are fired / let go from a company then I don't even think it's legal to enforce no-compete clauses for the prior company. It's not like he voluntarily left for greener pastures. I can sort of see the angle of not wanting to have company secrets revealed etc... but in the case of Lowe what secrets does ESPN really have?

And is him leaving and taking his act elsewhere going to have any impact on SAS and Perk shouting nonsense at the TV every day? One of these is journalism and the other one is 'entertainment'.

[chilluminati]

No more Lowe Post Podcast? I literally have no reason to stay subbed to ESPN on any platform anymore.

[Rafael122]

The ringer or Substack?

My guess is he has a no-compete clause but McShay works around that and goes on Russillo's pod every week. Wouldn't be shocked if Bill devotes one pod a week with Lowe during the NBA season.

I TLDR'd the rest of this thread so apologies if it's already been stated.

If you are fired / let go from a company then I don't even think it's legal to enforce no-compete clauses for the prior company. It's not like he voluntarily left for greener pastures. I can sort of see the angle of not wanting to have company secrets revealed etc... but in the case of Lowe what secrets does ESPN really have?

And is him leaving and taking his act elsewhere going to have any impact on SAS and Perk shouting nonsense at the TV every day? One of these is journalism and the other one is 'entertainment'.

ESPN did this with McShay. He was fired last year, and it's not a coincidence that all of a sudden his name is being thrown around as a potential hire for the Ringer a year later. I think he even said it himself he wasn't allowed to work anywhere. It may not be a no compete, but it was probably part of his severance package where it's like "we'll pay you your full salary plus healthcare for 1 year but you can't sign with anyone." How many people would turn that down, especially at McShay's level where he's probably making $500K+.

[Invictus88]

My guess is he has a no-compete clause but McShay works around that and goes on Russillo's pod every week. Wouldn't be shocked if Bill devotes one pod a week with Lowe during the NBA season.

I TLDR'd the rest of this thread so apologies if it's already been stated.

If you are fired / let go from a company then I don't even think it's legal to enforce no-compete clauses for the prior company. It's not like he voluntarily left for greener pastures. I can sort of see the angle of not wanting to have company secrets revealed etc... but in the case of Lowe what secrets does ESPN really have?

And is him leaving and taking his act elsewhere going to have any impact on SAS and Perk shouting nonsense at the TV every day? One of these is journalism and the other one is 'entertainment'.

ESPN did this with McShay. He was fired last year, and it's not a coincidence that all of a sudden his name is being thrown around as a potential hire for the Ringer a year later. I think he even said it himself he wasn't allowed to work anywhere. It may not be a no compete, but it was probably part of his severance package where it's like "we'll pay you your full salary plus healthcare for 1 year but you can't sign with anyone." How many people would turn that down, especially at McShay's level where he's probably making $500K+.

That's fair. It makes more sense in that context as Lowe's a family man. But the danger there of not doing anything is falling out of the loop and losing relevancy over time. Maybe that's not real though?

[Ryoga Hibiki]

This is CRAZY news. I'm shocked. For non-click bait, Zach Lowe is basically the most popular basketball journalist.

If he stays in the basketball journalism/analysis space, this could be exciting. A version of his podcast where he's no longer obligated to interview the same boring ESPN employees anymore (McNenamin is who I'm thinking of specifically). Overall, Lowe's content changed over time to become more suitable for ESPN, and the quality of his analysis was lessened by the requirement to meet ESPN pundits halfway, and talk about the Lakers no matter what.

Not sure who can pay him what ESPN was paying him though, so I'm sorry for him losing that bag. He can work basically wherever he wants, but I hope he goes somewhere where he can bring elevated content.

I agree with you on McMenamin. He's neither entertaining nor insightful, and I never heard him make an interesting point on basketball. He's exceptionally mediocre.

He just feels like a random guy that has been assigned to be around the Lakers. He has some information about the Lakers because it's his job, and his job provides him with access to the Lakers. Lol. He seems to only have a basic comprehension of the sport, and almost sounds stressed whenever anyone it talking in depth about it because any depth is out of his depth. He also doesn't seem to know ANYTHING about non-Laker players/teams. I get his job is the Lakers, but you think just by accident you'd absorb some knowledge about the sport of the league by being around this long.

Read on Twitter

[noreaster23]

Sad day. ESPN values sensational commentary over insightful reporting. I look forward to listening to Zach Lowe wherever he lands next.

[ItsDanger]

With the enhanced accessibility once someone is established, just go independent. These big platforms cater to their sponsors too much. I'd estimate about 80%+ of sports talk/analysis these days on the major media sources are average to terrible anyways. There is opportunity to take their market share IF you cater to the real sports fan

[rzzzzz]

Looking forward to his next appearance on the Rights to Ricky Sanchez/

[Free Rider]

Sad day. ESPN values sensational commentary over insightful reporting. I look forward to listening to Zach Lowe wherever he lands next.

As much as I’d like to lay the blame squarely on ESPN’s shoulders I think the sad reality is that most viewers value sensational, superficial content over insightful, nuanced and in-depth reporting and ESPN is responding to that market. Zach Lowe doesn’t add much value if you’re just a casual viewer clicking on to ESPN for hot takes. In fact the average ESPN viewer probably doesn’t even watch their programs live and instead goes to whatever clickbait video they can find on YouTube. The kind of reporting Zach provides just isn’t useful in today’s climate where people are more interested in sound bites than thoughtful analysis. As much as I hate to admit it from a pure business perspective this probably makes given the changes in how people consume their entertainment. If I’m someone like Brian Windhorst I might be looking for a backup plan right now because I’ll be surprised if he’s still there in a year.

[ocelot17]

Most casual fans don’t know or don’t care about Zach Lowe.

ESPN is in the entertainment business, just like every other tv network. That’s why Stephen A, Pat Mcafee, Shannon Sharpe make the big bucks.

There’s a reason why all those analytics nerds are on Twitter or YouTube but not on tv. They may be knowledgeable about the sport but they’re boring as ****.

[bisme37]

I busted on NBA Today yesterday but want to say I do think Chiney Ogwumike is quite good. Both in terms of likability and her analysis/commentary. She has been the best person on that show for a while now, with or without Lowe.

[dhsilv2]

Most casual fans don’t know or don’t care about Zach Lowe.

ESPN is in the entertainment business, just like every other tv network. That’s why Stephen A, Pat Mcafee, Shannon Sharpe make the big bucks.

There’s a reason why all those analytics nerds are on Twitter or YouTube but not on tv. They may be knowledgeable about the sport but they’re boring as ****.

Bill Simmons has proven 3 different times that podcasts make money. And Lowe type personalities are perfect for those formats. I get it, ESPN's TV talent is designed for people who were dropped on their heads as kids. But there's a reason Bill was able to get a quarter billion dollar pay day on the Ringer and was even allowed to keep running it and collecting future pay checks. So the idea that this stuff isn't a billion dollar industry is just false. And then...what's analytics nerds have to do with Zach? He's not an analytics guy at all.

Zach is basically 99% an "eye test" guy...but unlike most, he actually watched enough basketball to have decent eyes.

[dhsilv2]

Sad day. ESPN values sensational commentary over insightful reporting. I look forward to listening to Zach Lowe wherever he lands next.

As much as I’d like to lay the blame squarely on ESPN’s shoulders I think the sad reality is that most viewers value sensational, superficial content over insightful, nuanced and in-depth reporting and ESPN is responding to that market. Zach Lowe doesn’t add much value if you’re just a casual viewer clicking on to ESPN for hot takes. In fact the average ESPN viewer probably doesn’t even watch their programs live and instead goes to whatever clickbait video they can find on YouTube. The kind of reporting Zach provides just isn’t useful in today’s climate where people are more interested in sound bites than thoughtful analysis. As much as I hate to admit it from a pure business perspective this probably makes given the changes in how people consume their entertainment. If I’m someone like Brian Windhorst I might be looking for a backup plan right now because I’ll be surprised if he’s still there in a year.

I made this comment to another poster, but Bill Simmons just a few years ago got 250 million bucks to sell The Ringer and they have kept him on to run it. So he's making even more money. So this idea that ESPN can't generate money with what Zach does is just false. ESPN is frankly being lazy and worse...they're doing it at the detriment to the games themselves...something they're paying billions for the right to air and then insult with their bad takes.