The ESPN Thread

[nickp 340]

1 hour ago, AaronQ said:

Couple of news today in the ESPN world:

 

ESPN and MLB reached a long-term extension for 7 years

And ESPN has reached a long-term agreement with Spain's La Liga for the next 8 seasons (through the 2028-29 season). The deal includes the broadcast rights in Canada on TSN and RDS. The new deal will kick starting in the 2021-22 season.
https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/05/espn-and-laliga-reach-historic-rights-agreement-bringing-top-rated-soccer-league-to-millions-more-fans-across-the-u-s/

ESPN has got to sign Ray Hudson for La Liga

[Yankees4life 563]

14 minutes ago, nickp said:

ESPN has got to sign Ray Hudson for La Liga

Oh...that would be MAGISTERIAL

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

14 hours ago, AaronQ said:

Couple of news today in the ESPN world:

 

ESPN and MLB reached a long-term extension for 7 years

And ESPN has reached a long-term agreement with Spain's La Liga for the next 8 seasons (through the 2028-29 season). The deal includes the broadcast rights in Canada on TSN and RDS. The new deal will kick starting in the 2021-22 season.
https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/05/espn-and-laliga-reach-historic-rights-agreement-bringing-top-rated-soccer-league-to-millions-more-fans-across-the-u-s/

 

Something of note, they're dropping their Monday and Wednesday night games.  I wonder if NBC, CBS, FOX or Turner might want to sweep in and pick up those games.

[JCB4TV 350]

12 hours ago, WCAUTVNBC10 said:

 

Something of note, they're dropping their Monday and Wednesday night games.  I wonder if NBC, CBS, FOX or Turner might want to sweep in and pick up those games.

I doubt it, I believe that Turner will get a Tuesday game with MLBN and FS1 possibly taking those games.

[AaronQ 282]

On 5/14/2021 at 11:22 AM, WCAUTVNBC10 said:

 

Something of note, they're dropping their Monday and Wednesday night games.  I wonder if NBC, CBS, FOX or Turner might want to sweep in and pick up those games.

I could see FOX or TBS doing it.

[Georgie56 3324]

ABC is getting its first regular season MLB game since 1989.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by Georgie56

[CircleSeven 1960]

So they're going to air this opposite the Closing Ceremony on NBC?....

[MorningNews 1490]

Maria Taylor is out at ESPN and heading for NBC where she could start as soon as this Friday on Olympics coverage. 
 

 

[Daybreak 289]

50 minutes ago, MorningNews said:

Maria Taylor is out at ESPN and heading for NBC where she could start as soon as this Friday on Olympics coverage. 
 

 

I knew she would end up leaving especially after all the controversy. I wish her the best of luck at NBC Sports! 

[CircleSeven 1960]

ESPN has filled one of Maria's former slots.

 

Holly Rowe has been appointed as new sideline reporter for Saturday Night Football.

 

[Georgie56 3324]

Rachel Nichols has been pulled from all NBA programming and The Jump has been cancelled.

Edited August 25, 2021 by Georgie56

[Georgie56 3324]

 

[Spring Rubber 715]

Between this and Al Michaels possibly leaving NBC, this could be the offseason where only CBS's top NFL broadcasting team remains intact. This would exceed even the 2002 offseason in the number of changes in the top broadcast teams.

[Georgie56 3324]

And guess who's following Aikman to ESPN.

 

 

[24994J 5621]

I know Buck to Disney has been gaining a little steam, but the all-but-confirmation of it is still a stunner. The amount of movement this offseason has been insane. Fun and interesting, but insane.

[Georgie56 3324]

11 minutes ago, 24994J said:

I know Buck to Disney has been gaining a little steam, but the all-but-confirmation of it is still a stunner. The amount of movement this offseason has been insane. Fun and interesting, but insane.

 

His wife, Michelle Beisner (also an ESPN employee), confirmed it on Instagram.

 

There's never been an NFL TV hot stove like this, I agree.

[TexasTVNews 1378]

2 hours ago, Georgie56 said:

And guess who's following Aikman to ESPN.

 

 

Play-by-play World Series and Super Bowls won't be the same on FOX without Joe Buck if he leaves for ESPN.

[Spring Rubber 715]

Wow, I'm shocked. I figured Buck would be a Fox lifer. Well, I guess this eliminates any concern about the MNF booth having/not having chemistry. They're inheriting a 20-year pairing of commentators.

 

I guess we'll see how Fox chooses to shift their current talent to make new #1 teams for both NFL and MLB now.

[Newsjunkie24 506]

I always thought Buck was going to be at FOX forever, but this is a pretty big hire for sure. Steve Levy can probably focus on hockey now.

 

I've heard Al Michaels may end up going to FOX, although it seems like many people want Gus Johnson as the lead NFL voice.

 

I wonder who will now be the lead MLB voice for FOX? 

[Viper550 292]

Premier Lacrosse League makes its ESPN debut today. They are special enough to get a partial reskin of the college basketball scoreboard rather than the more generic scoreboard the NLL college lacrosse (and previously, college basketball) used, though it looks like it's meant to go with the rest of the "white rectangles" package)

 

 

(though NLL games on ESPN+ use a slight variant of TSN's hockey graphics, probably because they're falling back on TSN as a bespoke broadcaster for games taking place in Canada, since they actually have more NLL broadcasting experience than ESPN itself)

Edited June 5, 2022 by Viper550

[Viper550 292]

Fellow Disney subsidiary Star Sports is the host broadcaster for Indian national team cricket; is it me or does it look like ESPN's NBA graphics rubbed off on it a bit?

[WCAUTVNBC10 413]

31 minutes ago, Viper550 said:

Fellow Disney subsidiary Star Sports is the host broadcaster for Indian national team cricket; is it me or does it look like ESPN's NBA graphics rubbed off on it a bit?

Looks like a superior version of them yes.

[atlnews2 592]

John Williams has written a new theme for ESPN’s coverage of the CFP national Championship. It will debut Monday night 

 

https://variety.com/2023/music/news/john-williams-writes-new-theme-for-espn-college-football-1235480841/

[MD TV 281]

New round of layoffs coming to ESPN. Bob Iger did say last month that layoffs were coming to Disney;

 

The article says that Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, and Joe Buck/Troy Aikman are on the short list of those who are safe.

[JTT 113]

ESPN has the major 4 sports leagues - NFL, NBA, MLB, & NHL, plus college sports.  Is this the first time that one network has all of the major sports in recent years?