*They allow a cable network (ESPN) under the same corporate umbrella
(Disney) pretty much produce sports for them.
*After 36 years and seven Super Bowls, they easily let "Monday Night
Football" go to the afordmentioned cable network. Without "MNF", ABC
no longer has a ready made promotional outlet for their other
programming. CBS learned that particular lessen the hard way when
they didn't have the NFL from 1994-1997. A by product of "MNF"
leaving ABC is the departure of one of the best announcers ever in Al
Michaels.
*Instead of going after Bowl Championship Series once again (after FOX
had apparently, given up in the bidding process), they once again,
rather have their sister network do their dirty work.
*They failed to go after Major League Baseball (which seemed logical
considering that ESPN had already been broadcasting MLB for quite some
time now) when the rights were up for renewal in 2006. This could've
helped supplant the loss of "MNF" on the schedule and prevented one
half of the League Championship Series to air on cable (TBS).
*Their NBA coverage has been perhaps, the most mismanaged,
underwhelming, inconsistant major, pro sports TV package since CBS'
Major League Baseball coverage in the early '90s.
*They've gotten rid of a long time staple (since the early 1960s) in
the form of "Wide World of Sports", first by changing its anthology
format (conveniently, after Disney bought ABC), and then getting rid
of it completely once the "ESPN on ABC" concept was put into place.
Not only that, but they also took the Pro Bowlers Tour (another long
time staple of ABC Sports) off the air around the same period that
Disney came into the picture.
*After some 50 years on ABC, the British Open will soon move to you've
guessed it, ESPN.
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