ESPN had its annual upfront presentation for advertisers in New York and unveiled a few new original programs for the second half of 2007 and beyond:
This Is SportsCenter 300 (Tuesdays in September) “A series of original specials will celebrate the 300th commercial in the award-winning ‘This is SportsCenter’ promo campaign. Now in its 14th year, the humorous and memorable spots have grown to embody the spirit of SportsCenter and the ESPN brand at large. The programs will look back to the early days of the campaign; showcase the most memorable spots; and hear from top sports stars about their experience shooting a ‘This is SportsCenter’ spot. The final show will include the premiere of the 300th commercial.” A network having a show about the commercials for another show on the network seems very MTV, though the SportsCenter ads have been consistently funny while SC itself becomes increasingly harder to watch.
ESPN Reports (working title, debuts Oct. 16) ESPN describes this as: “a recurring primetime news magazine shot in high definition and dedicated to cutting-edge sports journalism. A team of award-winning ESPN correspondents will serve as the reporters — Tom Farrey, Rachel Nichols, Lisa Salters, Jeremy Schaap and Michael Smith. ESPN The Magazine‘s Bill Simmons and ESPN.com contributor Chuck Klosterman will also be featured with the goal of bringing the pages of The Magazine to life with a well-paced, unique blend of behind-the-scenes footage complementing ESPN’s high standards of investigative journalism, storytelling and production.” Hey, it’s almost as if you don’t even have to buy The Mag anymore!
The SportsCenter Minute (ABC, September) An hourly sports update during ESPN on ABC programming. There’s still just something that bugs me about typing the words “ESPN on ABC.”
The Moto X World Championships (April 2008) “A new annual event from the ESPN X Games team, will feature the best Moto X riders in the world competing for title of Moto X World Champion in a variety of disciplines including Freestyle, Super Moto, Best Trick and Step Up.” Is there a 12-year-old who can explain all of that to me?
As Yet Untitled ESPNEWS Fantasy Sports Show (Sunday mornings beginning in August) “The show will extend ESPN’s on-going increased focus on this popular activity, via segments on Sunday NFL Countdown, Baseball Tonight and ESPNEWS, and a Sunday-morning show ESPN Radio.” Blah blah blah. Cut to the chase: In what round should should I take Devin Hester?
[Update: Michael Hiestand at USA Today has an outstanding piece on ESPN’s upfront. Sorry we gave away the answers.]
Wait, so Rachel Nichols is basically reporting on what’s written in ESPN The Magazine? So essentially, if I had this program on while falling asleep on the couch … it would be like Rachel Nichols is reading me a bedtime story. Right?
Ok, I guess I can go along with that programming choice. Kudos ESPN.
Here are a couple suggestions for ESPN
1. Lose the new boarder for SportsCenter. It looks lame, and it’s really distracting while watching the show.
2. Make PTI an hour
3. Lose Rome Is Burning. Nobody likes it…nobody.
4. Please don’t put Bill Simmons on the air. He is TERRIBLE when he talks on TV. Anyone ever catch him on the Daily Show? Awful.
5. Give the Sklar Brothers their own show called Apartment 2F. Oh wait…
The Unruly Fan
SportsFaction.com
How about George Mitchell’s MLB steroid dossiers?
That would be a fun show too. Sporting fraud, drugs and corked bats sell.
btw: George Mitchell is the Disney Holdings Chairman (ESPN & ABC boss) and MLB steroid cover up artist. Can you say conflict of interest?