ESPN became great because they covered all sports, and broadcast stuff no one else had before (rugby, soccer, Big East basketball, rodeo, etc).
Now ESPN only reports on the events they broadcast. Except it there's a big event (like Game 1 tonight), in which case they will beat it into the ground for hours on end.
It was a great concept, but mostly due to technology and the proliferation of other options, has outlived its usefulness.