ESPN Is Getting Into The Database Game

Friday, April 17, 2009

On the heels of a variety of widely successful database sites (i.e.- Wikipedia), ESPN has decided to create one of their own. For Sports obviously. ESPNDB.com will debut in the next few days, and according to MediaPost, will be launched with heavy NFL Draft content.

While ESPNDB's number of pages might someday be uncountable, initially it will focus simply on the coming NFL Draft. Still, even with that somewhat limited scope, there will be more than 500 pages, including profiles of 400 potential draftees.

While ESPNDB has two editorial staffers of its own, some of its content will come from ESPN's Stats & Information group. That unit is constantly generating a deluge of profiles, statistical packages and other data for multiple ESPN platforms. But much of its output ends up on the "cutting-room-floor," which could eventually be parked on ESPNDB.

After the draft, ESPNDB plans to build a similar reference hub for the NBA Finals in June. ESPNDB may be able to gain a leg up on Wikipedia and other reference sites with video it can offer culled from ESPN's vast library.

For the NFL Draft section, a profile of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford -- who is expected to be a top pick -- is likely to include some video of him in action, as well as an audio link.

There is no firm timetable for an official ESPNDB.com debut. The initial NFL Draft rollout will have an area where visitors can email comments to the editors.
While certainly an interesting idea, it might be extremely tough to make waves in the reference site game. Everyone is already trained to go to Wikipedia or Google, and if the information is the same on ESPNDB, then there doesn't seem to be much of a point to go there. I do like the outside the box thinking though.

ESPN Prepares To Launch Sports Information Site (MediaPost)

Posted by Awful Announcing at 12:57 PM

5 Comments:

I will avoid this out of spite.

GMoney said...
Apr 17, 2009, 1:21:00 PM  

I'm picturing pro-football-reference.com, only sexier.

Alan said...
Apr 17, 2009, 2:04:00 PM  

I'll stick with StatsPass

Unknown said...
Apr 17, 2009, 3:54:00 PM  

i just can't help but notice the unintended 'db' joke this creates... kind of like tea bags.

jess said...
Apr 17, 2009, 4:43:00 PM  

So they'll just be taking stuff from Elias and passing it off as their own?

BackBergtt said...
Apr 17, 2009, 6:24:00 PM  

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