According to Deadspin, ESPN is doing to ESPN2 what it did to ABC Sports. An internal ESPN memo cited by Deadspin says that “[ESPN] will be losing all on-air visual references to ESPN2 (except for the logo on the bottom line). We will rebrand the network as ESPN.”
In other words, sporting events, no matter if they air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC, will have the ESPN logo. While purely cosmetic, and not likely to affect ratings, this is certainly not a bad move. Any time a network can expand exposure for its brand, it can only be a good thing. If this holds true, every single live sports property ESPN/ABC has the rights to will use the ESPN logo. There are those who say that television has no real effect on the popularity of an event, but the removal of that ‘2’ from the logo will certainly give more legitimacy to ESPN2 telecasts of Wimbledon and the NASCAR Busch Series.
This move is slated to happen on Feburary 12, although the Deadspin article notes that Norby Williamson “warns against the February 12 deadline, saying George (Bodenheimer, presumably) has not “officially blessed the 12th,” but that it’s full speed ahead, regardless.”
