BuffaloRush Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 One of the most interesting rivalries in Buffalo sports has nothing to do with any event on the football field or ice rink. It has more to do with the organizations covering Buffalo sports - namely The Buffalo News versus The Athletic. Matt Warren of Buffalo Rumblings details the entire situation in a must-read article that you can below: https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2018/6/22/17488972/what-really-happened-buffalo-news-sports-2018-tim-graham-jerry-sullivan-bucky-gleason-john-vogl What the article doesn't state is that since the launch of The Athletic Buffalo, the response has been so good that the editors decided to expand by adding additional writers including Joe Yerdon, Lindsay D'Archangelo (likely recommended by Tim Graham), and John Ramsey (aka Yards Per Pass) Basically, it seems to me that The Athletic executed the intended business model of the BN Blitz - they just flat out did it better by offering solid local reporting with familiar names such as Graham, Fairburn, and Vogl, as well as including bloggers like Kris Baker, Yards Per Pass, and Erik "I'll block you if you disagree with me" Turner. Plus coverage for the Bills and Sabres, additional coverage from other markets available through The Athletic, and potentially expanding into college sports. The question is, if you are the Buffalo News how do you respond against a brand new entity in the local market that has already likely eclipsed your subscriptions? Should the BN try to stand up and fight back or ditch the BN Blitz and take on a new strategy? Also, as a fan which side do you support? Will you subscribe to one service over the other? Both services? Or none at all? Full disclosure - I'm not an Athletic of BN Blitz subscriber and am largely against the idea of paying for premium news sites. I am thinking about signing up for the 7 day trial to see whether the Athletic is worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have no idea who’s side I’m on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I subscribed to the Athletic and love it. But one new article per day on the Buffalo pro teams does not make it a threat to the BN. I'm waiting for the rubber to hit the road once the Bills and Sabres training camps open and we see how much high end content they produce... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Interesting article looking at the Athletic and The Washington Post and how it correlates with the BN http://awfulannouncing.com/athletic/washington-post-reportedly-considering-online-subscriber-only-model-beating-the-athletic-to-the-d-c-punch.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 As long as I have SDS with Two Bills Drive , Yolo and 26CornerBlitz I'm good to go 9 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 1 hour ago, plenzmd1 said: Interesting article looking at the Athletic and The Washington Post and how it correlates with the BN http://awfulannouncing.com/athletic/washington-post-reportedly-considering-online-subscriber-only-model-beating-the-athletic-to-the-d-c-punch.html This is interesting and just like in Buffalo I can see a local media vs The Athletic rivalry brewing. The only problem is the proposed WaPo strategy above is that it’s contingent on newspapers being able to outdo the coverage that the Athletic provides. Perhaps, it’s by providing more local coverage? The other issue is the with a subscription to a The Athletic you not only get the local content, but also the article from other markets as well. WaPo could also offer local coverage. I really see newspapers in a tough spot here. It almost makes me think they should ditch digital and focus on their older audience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanfan Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 The Buffalo News is new about WNY and not just sports teams. I look at it online to keep up with everything in my home town, including sports. I'll stick with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince88 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Wait....there are sides? We have to choose? I will ask my wife, just a minute................................... she said she doesnt care, what do I want? Decisions, Decisions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokestradamus Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 7 hours ago, mead107 said: I have no idea who’s side I’m on Riley Ferguson's. Duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I'm already loving The Athletic. Matt Fairburn is writing (gasp) optimistic stories about the Bills -- heavens to Mergatroid! And the hockey coverage is top notch. I also subscribe to the TBN stuff so I'll read both. So happy I don't have to "avoid" any columns now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommonCents Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 16 minutes ago, eball said: I'm already loving The Athletic. Matt Fairburn is writing (gasp) optimistic stories about the Bills -- heavens to Mergatroid! And the hockey coverage is top notch. I also subscribe to the TBN stuff so I'll read both. So happy I don't have to "avoid" any columns now! Avoiding a column sounds so troublesome. How exactly did you manage it? Not clicking a link, turning the page of the paper with one eye closed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I read both 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbillsfan2206 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I don’t care about either. I get all my info from the fry cook at TGI Fridays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I subscribe to the Buffalo News on Sundays and holidays but I won't pay for subscription based news services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aceman_16 Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I subscribe and read both. I do enjoy the general sense of optimism of both (now) that doesn't come across as "homerish." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 1 hour ago, Commonsense said: Avoiding a column sounds so troublesome. How exactly did you manage it? Not clicking a link, turning the page of the paper with one eye closed? It was generally pretty easy to spot Sully's columns from the headline...and if I clicked one by mistake I closed it. What is this "turning the page" of which you speak? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I use The Athletic. The BZ Blitz was a great idea, ultimately the problem wasn't the idea itself, the problem was using tired content from tired writers. They should have taken the idea all the way and brought in new writers, there just wasnt anything to get excited about. I can tell you from using The Athletic over the last month that Fairburn is doing a great job. Graham's contributions on the other hand, about the same as before. I am sure he will write one or two really beautiful pieces but its few and far between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 2 hours ago, Commonsense said: Avoiding a column sounds so troublesome. How exactly did you manage it? Not clicking a link, turning the page of the paper with one eye closed? Yep. That's what I did. Same way I avoid the obituary and want ad sections... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenhigh Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 1 hour ago, The Jokeman said: I subscribe to the Buffalo News on Sundays and holidays but I won't pay for subscription based news services. Umm, I think you already did. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 9 minutes ago, Tenhigh said: Umm, I think you already did. Correction: I won't pay for online subscription based news services. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts