ESPN has gotten away from what they used to do well, which was sports, and instead tried to become the Fox News/CNN/MSNBC, etc of sports. They want controversy, hot takes, racism, societal issues, and so on.
They forget, most people dont watch sports as an extension to the daily crap we have to sort out. We watch sports as an escape FROM the day to day garbage. ESPN is losing viewers in my opinion because they are continually treking us right back into it. ESPN has become 24/7 Political Sports.
ESPN is getting desperate though. Anyone notice how they've now extended their coverage to WWE wrestling? Thats in an effort to grab that audience, because the regular audience is leaving in droves.