Not a lawyer, but it seems to me that ESPN's use of its partnership with the SEC to influence and manipulate financial outcomes is in direct conflict with US anti trust laws (Sherman, Clayton, FTC). ESPN heavily influences the market through media manipulation, then profits from the market created. Its like if CBS owned Proctor and Gamble and gave favorable advertising coverage and ad rates to P&G while dissing or ignoring Colgate or Unilever.
Legal minds - help me on this - when ESPN changes their top ten coverage to include the school of the client that is their cash cow, doesn't that speak of diminishing competition and unfair trade practices? When ESPN influences the pre season rankings and pushes their media influence to hype clients that will ultimately result in big dollars for their seasonal TV ratings and bowl ratings - isn't that an unfair trade practice?
Legal minds - help me on this - when ESPN changes their top ten coverage to include the school of the client that is their cash cow, doesn't that speak of diminishing competition and unfair trade practices? When ESPN influences the pre season rankings and pushes their media influence to hype clients that will ultimately result in big dollars for their seasonal TV ratings and bowl ratings - isn't that an unfair trade practice?
