2014 Nathan’s finals to be tape-delayed on ESPN2
update June 6 The new poll asks what change you would like to see to have the Nathan’s finals covered live.
The July 4 TV Schedule for the ESPN networks is now available and lists the broadcast of the Nathan’s finals at 2pm eastern on ESPN 2. This means the men’s contest will be tape delayed (as in 2012) since the event starting time is noon eastern.
At that time ESPN will be showing the men’s Wimbledon semifinals and ESPN2 will be showing the first quarterfinal of the 2014 World Cup. (If that competition goes to overtime / penalty kicks, it will cut into the Nathan’s program). A rebroadcast is scheduled for July 6 at 1pm eastern.
ESPNU will be showing a rerun of the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, so the Nathan’s finals could be shown live on that channel. The ESPN3.com schedule does not list the women’s contest; hopefully that will be added.
The July 4 schedule on NathansFamous.com appears to confirm that the telecast will be tape-delayed.
update The early World Cup quarterfinal on July 4 will have a team from group E or F vs. G or H. Germany vs. France appears to be the most likely matchup. The USA could play at that time in the extremely unlikely event they win Group G.
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anonymous said
June 3, 2014 @ 11:20 am
This is what happens when you continue to enforce restrictive contracts. If they let Kobe do his thing a few yrs ago without agitating the guy he would still be competing against Chestnut at Nathans. ESPN figures another snoozefest with Chestnut out eating Stonie by 20 or more hot dogs so where is the big showdown or ratings? Where does that leave the womans event? Maybe someone with a good HD camera can film it for YT because thats about the extent of that one. How bout ESPN 4 ? LOL
anonymous said
June 3, 2014 @ 1:45 pm
I hear that shmelkin is pleading with some of the big names in the sport to do hot dog runs on youtube so he can get some pointers including Miki Sudo. Most are ignoring him because his latest rant went something like this ‘ I want to get to 20 dogs and buns and i need your help now now now . I dont wanna wait i dont wanna wait i dont wanna i dont wanna i dont wanna
A-Bomb said (Registered May 7, 2009)
June 3, 2014 @ 4:47 pm
On ESPN.com they have not updated their Nathan’s page since the 2012 contest…
http://espn.go.com/sports/topics/_/page/nathan-hot-dog-eating-contest
Anonymous said
June 3, 2014 @ 5:02 pm
That shows how important they see it.
anonymous said
June 3, 2014 @ 8:54 pm
As long as sheas get their quarter of mil cut thats all that matters
Anonymous said
June 4, 2014 @ 8:57 pm
Open Letter to ESPN
June 4, 2014 (from Facebook)
Dear ESPN,
I have been watching the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships for as long as I can recall. For a years it was the only thing I watched on your network (sorry I was bookish). The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship are once again being delayed on TV for Wimbledon’s Semi-Finals.
Here are my complaints/suggestions:
1) IT’S AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY: AMERICA won the war, not England. While I must admit I do hold a soft spot in my heart for the British: Beatles, Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and Shakespeare. The 4th of July is indeed the celebration of all things American and what is more American than the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships? These Men & Women work hard to qualify for the honor on being on Competitive Eating’s Grandest Stage of them all; only to be taped delayed for the Wimbledon semi-finals? I don’t remember seeing a single qualifying event for Nathan’s Famous on TV. It feels to me you are delaying a Super Bowlesque event to watch some people practice tennis.
2) SHOW US THE WOMEN! : For 3 years now Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships have been divided into two fields: Men’s & Women’s. I have not seen a single Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Women’s Championship on TV, only highlights. You have 60 minutes of tv time, both contests are 10 minutes and if my math is right that leaves 40 minutes, and you’ve show the same “Sports Medicine” spot for year, which is informative and entertaining, but you are not showing the real drama. The world of Competitive Eating is being taken over by women: WHICH IS A DAMN GOOD THING! These woman have earned their own title, and I believe they earn the same airtime! Tell the Williams sisters you are only going to show highlights of their matches….I dare ya!
3.) STAGE IS TOO SMALL? : Maybe the problem is you aren’t seeing the opportunity I see, and it’s as simple as ABC. When was the last time the ABC network had the Super Bowl? World Series? Stanley Cup Finals? Google, it’s been a minute if ever. The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships are Competitive Eating Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, World Series, and Wimbledon all wrapped into one. It’s why a lot of Competitive Eaters started eating competitively. ABC, is a national network with more viewers, which means you can make a bigger show of it. Throw in a Half Time Show between the Men’s & Women’s contests to bring more viewers. This would put all of the other networks who are showing concerts and fireworks to shame.
Competitive Eating is indeed a sport and it deserves just as much respect as all other sports.
Thank you,
Tracy Goode
Anonymous said
June 5, 2014 @ 1:45 am
These woman?
anonymous said
June 5, 2014 @ 1:59 am
Chances are that letter will reach nobody or remain spam file for years . I would not waste my time addressing concerns to corporations. The best you can hope for is your standard automated response thanking you for your feedback with little if any guarantee you will get a response
Ignatius Rake said (Registered August 6, 2012)
June 5, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
We have run Tracy’s letter on the R&H here: http://www.therakeandherald.tv/competitive-eating/an-open-letter-to-espn.html
We have also now asked ESPN for a response. If we get one, we will run it asap.
Thanks Ignatius said
June 5, 2014 @ 12:47 pm
Not sure if you guys hear this enough, but I know a bunch of us appreciate you guys.
Ignatius Rake said (Registered August 6, 2012)
June 5, 2014 @ 3:01 pm
Thank you very much indeed. We aim to please!
anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 9:01 am
Open letters my ass. Trust me you will be waiting years to get a response. I know how they operate. ESPN is bigtime. Very big. Maybe if you contacted ESPN during the infant stage in 1979 you might have received a prompt response via telephone because their market was relatively small and growing . In regard to womans contest . I fail to see the logic in not allowing Sudo to compete because of the 911 controversy. Except for the huge prize money, the contest itself will grab zero media attention. I doubt anyone will know nor will they care if she wins because her name will fall into virtual obscurity . Might as well hold the event in someone basement with a webcam for thats about as much exposure as it will get.
Negative Nelly in sector 2 said
June 6, 2014 @ 10:25 am
Negative Nelly in Sector 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTy8rZqimQ0
Geez 9:01am (and 1:59am maybe): there’s a thin line between being a realist and a defeatist. I don’t doubt you understand how media works, but what’s the harm in getting behind this grassroots effort? A little investment of Tracy’s time and an awareness push, and he might get traction and a critical mass. If the interest is there, ESPN will adapt to capture the audience. Of course, there are plenty of other interests involved in the equation, namely advertisers that have bought spots against specific programming…but we certainly don’t know the details of the buys.
Anyway, take for example another grassroots effort involving Nathan’s – Remember a couple of years ago when the women’s purse was announced and it was significantly less than the men’s? Within a week, Nathan’s heard the calls for equal pay, and the prize money was rightly corrected.
Have some faith, man, it doesn’t hurt.
Locust said
June 6, 2014 @ 11:14 am
901 is right on the money! Her being in the event would make it the best and most exciting women’s competition ever. The Coney Island crowd would get to see two great contests instead of just one and there would probably be relatively minimal coverage from ESPN who is focused mainly on Joey and his quest for a new record.
Ignatius Rake said (Registered August 6, 2012)
June 6, 2014 @ 12:04 pm
Thank you, 9:01. I am not expecting a response. That is not the point. If you run an article of such a nature it is standard journalistic practice, at least in the UK, to give, in this case ESPN, the opportunity to respond whether they choose to do so or not. It goes by the name of fair and balanced reporting.
Anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 12:34 pm
If Seiken qualifies the contest should be broadcast live.
anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
I agree with 1234. I can vision Paul Page being all over it
anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 12:46 pm
Letters or emails accomplish nothing its like writing to Obama in one ear out the other unless its some sort of terrorist threat which is the only time email gets first priority Lobbyists get tossed into the low priority or no priority list . Its just not important to them . If some people got out there with picket signs near the ESPN headquarters , then you might get some action or worst scenario the public media etc would ate least be made aware of it. I agree with Neg Nelly and Rake and give you an E for effort but i am being a realist
Anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 12:52 pm
The World Series of Poker has a better chance of being brodcast live.
anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 12:52 pm
Speaking of Seiken check out the video of Nathans 2009 contest in Coney. Seiken is a judge near the stage looking as fat as hell and shaking hands with Joey at the 1:28 mark. In order to see it in pure HD you need to go fullscreen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVYLchhw_gM
Anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 1:19 pm
That must have been for the cameras because it’s well known that Joey doesn’t care much for BB.
Anonymous said
June 6, 2014 @ 1:28 pm
With that tight referee shirt, he looks like a pregnant zebra.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
June 6, 2014 @ 1:42 pm
Regarding the poll, I voted for moving the coverage to either FOX Sports or NBC Sports (easier said than done, of course).
I mean, what the Hell is Poker … POKER! … doing on ESPN? Sure, classifying CE as a sport is probably a bit of a stretch, but it is closer to that genre than is Poker, which is a flippin’ game!
#Confused!
#DealMeOut!
#DeucesAndESPNsImaginationsAreWild!
#ConeyIslandHoldEm?
#NotStayingForTheRiver!