ESPN president says network will not air national anthem on 'Monday Night Football'

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BRISTOL, CONN. – ESPN will not show the national anthem during "Monday Night Football" broadcasts this year, the company's president said on Friday.

Jimmy Pitaro addressed the controvery at ESPN’s annual football media day.

Pitaro was asked by a reporter if he spoke to the NFL about the rule changes and the national anthem and if he would consider “turning the cameras on an athlete that’s kneeling for the anthem.”

"We generally have not broadcasted the anthem and I don't think there’s going to be any change this year. Our plan going into this year is to not broadcast the anthem,” Pitaro said.

“Again, there could be changes. It’s somewhat unpredictable what’s going to happen in the world but as of now our plan now is to not broadcast the anthem. We have communicated that back to the NFL. They have not asked but we proactively just as a courtesy and as good partners let them know what our plans are,” he continued.

The network also did not air the national anthem during last season’s "Monday Night Football" broadcasts.

Stephanie Druley, ESPN’s senior vice president of event and studio production, said the network showed the national anthem three times last year: following Hurricane Harvey’s devastation, the Las Vegas massacre and President Trump’s comments on the national anthem protests.

When asked what the most inaccurate perception of ESPN is, Pitaro said it was branding the network a “political organization.”

“That we’re a political organization because we are not. We are a sports media company. We are always going to cover the intersection between sports and politics,” he said.

He continued to explain that the network covered things that were “newsworthy.”

“We are the place of record for sports when something happens, when the Eagles are disinvited to the White House, we are going to cover that. When someone takes a knee and we think it’s newsworthy we’re going to cover it. But we have to be the place of record,” he explained.

ESPN’s president said he was not worried about losing a contract with the NFL, saying the media outlet and the league have a “strong relationship.”

“We want to be in business with the NFL and I believe they want to be in business with us. We’re optimistic about not just about the next four years but for the long-term partnership.”

The remarks come just months after the NFL adopted a policy that would fine teams and league personnel who do not “stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.” However, the policy was put on hold as the NFL and NFL Players’ Association negotiated the strategy.

The kneeling triggered fierce debates and criticism from Trump. The protests were started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the 2016-2017 NFL season in opposition to police brutality.



http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2018/...national-anthem-on-monday-night-football.html
 

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Well, they don't do show it on Sundays (at least day games). Once Fox or CBS comes on down here with their 1 o'clock games, boom, right away they are kicking off at 1pm.That is what I like about the games on Sunday, as soon as you turn it on at 1, the game is off and running. So this is a good move by ESPN. Why should they get involved in this issue?
 

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Well, they don't do show it on Sundays (at least day games). Once Fox or CBS comes on down here with their 1 o'clock games, boom, right away they are kicking off at 1pm.That is what I like about the games on Sunday, as soon as you turn it on at 1, the game is off and running. So this is a good move by ESPN. Why should they get involved in this issue?

Yes, I agree, do not show any athletes kneeling or the anthem on TV.......just the start of the game.
 

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Roger Goodell making close to 50 million per year.

No wonder why he gets booed.

Useless idiot
 

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this makes no sense, as even if we don't see it happening, we still know its happening,they are still scumbags
 
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HORRIBLE decision!!

Why not just have the cameras showing the singer singing the anthem and NOT the players who are NOT standing???

Bad move
 

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Terrible decision,just going to cause more people to get pissed off! They are trying to hide the problem instead of solving it
 
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How is it a terrible decision when they are continuing to do what they’ve been doing? They said they never show the anthem.

NBC showed it though SNF showed it last year I remember.

Sunday ticket shows it because you get to see everything. But I don’t think ESPN has ever done it. So how is that a bad move? Lol. Sooo you want them to show players kneeling now?
 

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How is it a terrible decision when they are continuing to do what they’ve been doing? They said they never show the anthem.

NBC showed it though SNF showed it last year I remember.

Sunday ticket shows it because you get to see everything. But I don’t think ESPN has ever done it. So how is that a bad move? Lol


It's a great move. No one watches it at home and you are simply stirring the pot. I watch football games to see football.
 
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It's a great move. No one watches it at home and you are simply stirring the pot. I watch football games to see football.


I agree. No issues from me.
 

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The only time public opinion counts is on election day...... Ask DJT :103631605
 

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they should show the Anthem

always bugged me that they would rather show some stupid commercial instead of the Anthem

just show the singer and the Flag that's all you need to show
 

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So fucking tired of hearing about it, stand up or be banned from the league.

espn is a shit show anyway with the new Monday night crew
 

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Let me rephrase - It really is such a non-issue, we have much bigger problems in this country than football players kneeling or not kneeling.
 

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I don't think this is a change in policy, although it's being reported as one.

But if I'm mistaken and this is a change in policy, then it only shows us how our media does anything to appease the left
 

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