Stop the auto-play video – for the love of all that is right about the web (rant)
September 25, 2008 in industry news
Image via WikipediaI really like a lot of things about sports web site espn.com. They have a fine stable of writers and reporters, some cool flash-based live in-game data interfaces, and the ability to stoke the SEC-Big 10-Pac 10 football controversy like no other. #
But for the love of all that is right and true about the web, STOP THE AUTO-PLAY VIDEO ON THE FRONT PAGE! #
There are few things more annoying than surfing to a web site and being bombarded with sights and sounds from a video that I didn’t expect. Quite possibly the only thing I can think of that approaches that level of annoyitivity (I made that word up) is those flash ads that obscure part of the copy until you close them. #
We all know how to use the “play” button, ESPN. If we want to listen to your anchors talking about the latest sports news for 2 minutes, WE CAN PUSH THE BUTTON. As it is, I am to the point where I don’t even want to check the scores from Sunday’s NFL games to avoid the annoyance. There’s always Yahoo! Sports instead. #
I seem to recall for a long time the auto-play was turned off. Maybe it was my browser. Whatever. It needs to stop. #
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Totally agree. MLB.com sites do the same thing. Irritating.
I work for ESPN.com and this is by far the biggest complaint we get, so its something everyone is aware of. Earlier this year they did add a way to turn off auto-play. You just need to click the customize link under the video player and in those setting uncheck the autoplay box. You have to be signed in for it to work but its something. There are also other changes in the works that will change the nature of the video player in general.
Thank you. I couldn't have said it any better myself.
I abandoned ESPN due to this long ago.
For the Love of God, Stop The AutoPlay!
AMEN! I can't stand ESPN's auto play. I'm about at the point of just giving up on the site. I've been going to Yahoo! a lot too to avoid it.
[...] their new web site and – wonder of wonders – I load the page and there is no auto-play video (see my previous rant). Thank you ESPN. I can now visit your web site [...]
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They use skype web cam but sometimes it is too slow. I think they should stream through the wide coverage area of satellite tv for pc and I think it would come out better.