ESPN's speaker icon is technology for technology's sake.
Dan Rubenstein
“That addition just seems like technology for the sake of technology.”
Context
Dan does not miss ESPN's BottomLine and prefers score updates that appear between plays or during transitions rather than competing with the game. The removal makes the broadcast a little cleaner, even if it is not a major viewing factor.
The intermittent icon showing which commentator is speaking does not solve a problem for him. Viewers who want other scores already have another device, and the game broadcast should remain the primary visual object.