In a bid to boost plummeting ratings, ESPN has turned to a familiar tactic—exploiting the celebrity allure of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The once-revered sports network, known for its coverage of athletic feats and sportsmanship, now finds itself grasping at straws to regain viewer interest.
The couple, known for their tumultuous relationship with the media, has become a pawn in ESPN's game of ratings roulette. Formerly drawing millions of viewers, recent SP Awards ceremonies have seen a stark decline in viewership, with 2022 ratings down a staggering 42% from their 2019 peak.
ESPN's decision to include Meghan and Harry in their lineup is seen as a desperate attempt to capitalize on their fame, despite the couple's minimal relevance to the sports world. Critics argue that ESPN's move reflects a broader trend in media—using celebrity drama to mask declining viewership and engagement.
As the SP Awards loom, speculation mounts over whether Meghan and Harry's appearance will be a ratings boon or merely a fleeting distraction. Whether viewers will buy into ESPN's latest gambit remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the allure of celebrity continues to drive media agendas, even at the expense of sports integrity.
