The Fab Five Analysis

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While 2011 ESPN Films Presents documentary The Fab Five (initially part of Volume I of the “30 for 30” series but instead becoming the first release of their offshoot project), is not officially a “30 for 30”, its production and release functioned in much of the same way. Similar to 2009 “30 for 30” The U which aired after ESPN’s Heisman presentation (and became their most viewed documentary) and 2010’s Pony Exce$$ (which took The U’s spot) that premiered on the last day of the college football regular season, The Fab Five was presented two days before the start of March Madness and became the channel’s most watched documentary. Although Bill Simmons and Connor Schell “steadfastly assert that 30 for 30 is a historical and creative endeavor that is unmotivated by ratings or revenues”, it’s clear that The Fab Five and ESPN documentaries that preceded it were “very deliberately scheduled to capitalize on and enhance ESPN’s other programming”, and even utilized the “flow” of other channels for their own gain (as CBS and Turner Sports hold the TV rights for March Madness). …show more content…

The Fab Five was heavily promoted by ESPN through a selection of ads, promos and sneak-peaks as well as the inclusion of clips in ESPN shows (such as SportsCenter) in the weeks before its premiere. By showing The Fab Five after the end of their Selection Sunday special Bracketology, ESPN capitalized on the present audience while bringing in new viewers enticed by the advertisements and/or

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