These coverage statistics are truly shameful, especially from ESPN, which loves to devote its commentary to the sexist and racist injustices of others:
Women’s sports have never been more popular — everywhere except on television, that is. Both the quality and quantity of women’s sports coverage is far eclipsed by that of men’s sports and in some respects has actually worsened over time, according to the latest iteration of a 25-year longitudinal study of gender in televised sports news and highlights shows. SportsCenter, ESPN’s flagship program, dedicated just 2 percent of its airtime to women’s sports in 2014, according to the report — a figure that has remained flat since 1999.
The only answer is for ESPN to devote 50 percent of its coverage and commentary to women’s sports. Anything less would be sexist and absolutely unacceptable. It’s 2017! How can ESPN possibly justify such massive inequality in its coverage?
Ratings are irrelevant. What is important is for ESPN to live up to its own, loudly-trumpeted social justice ideals. And until it does, its representatives should shut the hell up about any perceived social justice failures by the various sports leagues.