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Exclusive: ESPN host and Improbable Media CEO Jay Williams has signed on to serve as an executive producer on A Bridge Between, an upcoming sports drama directed by Jeff Celentano (The Hill).

Based on a true story, A Bridge Between centers around Anthony Hodges, a young basketball player recovering from a devastating car accident that leaves him physically injured and mentally shaken. As Anthony battles self-doubt and the long road of rehabilitation, a chance encounter at a Ymca on Christmas Eve brings him face-to-face with Bobby Verdun, a former basketball coach turned mentor who carries emotional and physical scars of his own. Their unlikely bond becomes the foundation for Anthony’s return to the court – and a life defined not by tragedy, but by purpose.

Williams, whose own basketball career was cut short by a life-changing accident, said in a statement that he sees the film as a deeply personal and transformative project.

This week is probably not among the “Top 10” in ESPN history. On Monday, the final SportsCenter in Los Angeles signed off, and on Friday, long-running afternoon debate show Around the Horn will see host Tony Reali crumple his stat sheet, the last page in his daily research packet that lists the career win total of the day’s panelists (and is later either recycled or signed and sent to a fan), for one final paper toss. We’re rooting for Reali to hit the camera lens one last time.

With no more SportsCenter in L.A., anchor Stan Verrett’s ESPN contract has not been renewed and he is leaving the company after this summer following a 25-year tenure, a source with knowledge tells The Hollywood Reporter. Linda Cohn’s future work with ESPN is Tbd, though she remains under contract. Cohn joined both the company and the show’s anchor desk in 1992. Since then,...

A sound technician with ESPN helps produce a telecast of a football game.

Executives at ESPN have revealed the price point for the sports brand’s forthcoming streaming service that will offer its live cable networks through the Internet: $30 per month.

The service, launching later this year through the ESPN app for phones, tablets and smart TVs, will offer ESPN’s complete multiplex cable package — ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPNews, SEC Network, Acc Network and ESPN Deportes — along with access to streaming services ESPN Plus, ESPN 3, SEC Network Plus and Acc Nx, the company revealed.

When it debuts, it will be the first time that ESPN is offered beyond a traditional pay TV package or outside a “skinny” cable bundle launched by a pay TV distributor.

“We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place,” Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN, said in a statement.

Disney’s ESPN and Major League Baseball are breaking up after nearly 40 years together, a sign of how even the most durable content relationships have come under scrutiny in the streaming era, with sports rights increasing exponentially and entertainment conglomerates left to figure out how to pay the bill.

“We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN’s coverage super-serves fans,” ESPN said in a statement Thursday evening. “In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry-leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital and social platforms. As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.”

ESPN and MLB were in the midst of a seven-year deal that started in 2022. But the two sides...

Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN. (Courtesy photo)

Sports television juggernaut ESPN had a lot to be proud of in 2024, and a major milestone is still ahead for 2025, the network’s chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a note to employees on Monday.

The network improved upon its position as the worldwide leader in sports by launching a dedicated ESPN Plus content tile within the Walt Disney Company’s flagship streaming product, Disney Plus, and welcomed new talent like Nick Saban, Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick and Shams Charania to the company during the year, Pitaro noted.

Pitaro also highlighted the super job that Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike did in covering women’s college basketball for ESPN, and noted that ESPN intends to build upon its momentum in covering the sport at large by bringing TNT’s “Inside the NBA” to the network through a licensing deal with Warner Bros Discovery,...

A sound technician with ESPN helps produce a telecast of a football game.

ESPN has promoted Mike McQuade and David Roberts to oversee initiatives like news, sports, entertainment and studio productions at the network, with the appointments coming as part of a broader reorganization of its internal structure.

That reorganization will see ESPN also cutting down on some positions and rank in an effort to make the company “more strategic, collaborative and nimble, as we continue to excel in every area and function,” according to a memo from ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus.

“We remain committed to employee development, and the restructure will result in new positions or promotions for people who are expanding their responsibilities or taking on new challenges,” Magnus said.

MyQuade will be in charge of production associated with certain sports, while Roberts will oversee programs like “First Take,” “SportsCenter” and “the Pat McAfee Show,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

ESPN unveiled a new leadership team Monday as part of a restructuring of the network’s content division.

The new structure, which is designed to “improve collaboration, centralize functions, create better alignment and redeploy resources to areas of growth,” has taken input from nearly 75 company leaders at all levels, as well as organizational experts, since May.

Mike McQuade, a 37-year veteran of the network, was promoted to executive vice president of sports production, where he will be tasked with overseeing the network’s sports-specific production and studio shows. McQuade will relocate to ESPN HQ in Bristol, Connecticut.

David Roberts will transition to overseeing the sports, news and entertainment team, which will include non-sport specific studio shows like “SportsCenter,” “First Take,” “Get Up,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” “Ath” and “Pti.”

Kaitee Daley will lead a newly formed digital, social and streaming content team as the company streamlines the three teams and...

ESPN has unveiled a sweeping reorg of its programming exec ranks, including the promotion of Mike McQuade to the newly created post of EVP, Sports Production.

Over his nearly four decades at ESPN since joining the company in 1987 in the mailroom, McQuade has overseen the production of live events and studio shows across multiple sports.

President of Content Burke Magnus announced the reorg details in a lengthy memo to employees (read it below). The revamp helps to address the vacancy created when SportsCenter architect Norby Williamson left the Disney-owned network last spring after a nearly 40-year run. At the end of his tenure, Williamson was in the crosshairs of highly paid host Pat McAfee, who called out the exec by name on his show, charging him with “actively trying to sabatoge us” by leaking internal information.

ESPN, now a separate division of Disney with its financials revealed quarterly to Wall Street,...

ESPN is making big changes to its content organization, with president of content Burke Magnus outlining a sweeping new organization structure that will elevate some top executives and see the company part ways with others.

In a memo to ESPN staff Monday, Magnus wrote that the changes will make the company “more strategic, collaborative and nimble, as we continue to excel in every area and function. We remain committed to employee development, and the restructure will result in new positions or promotions for people who are expanding their responsibilities or taking on new challenges.”

At the top of the new structure will be Mike McQuade, a 37-year ESPN veteran who has been named executive vp sports production, overseeing production and studio shows dedicated to specific sports, while David Roberts will be executive vp and executive editor of sports news and entertainment, which will include oversight of ESPN’s news operation,...

ESPN said it would spread responsibility for many of its best-known studio programs under two different programming executives, while overhauling the structure of its overall content division. The moves include opening a new role for an executive to oversee production on the Super Bowl, which the Disney-backed sports-media giant will get to broadcast in 2027 under the terms of its most recent deal with the NFL.

In the past, oversight of these programs has been scattered among different executives, but “one key message heard loud and clear” during recent internal talks “was the recommendation that studio, production, and editorial functions could be better aligned for effectiveness and creativity,” said Burke Magnus, president of content, in a memo issued Monday. The moves involve a small number of layoffs, Burke indicated, without offering a number of employees affected.

Mike McQuade, a 37-year veteran of ESPN, was named executive vice president of sports production,...

Mike Greenberg has been named host of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.

Greenberg currently hosts ESPN’s morning show, Get Up, and the Greeny radio show. He previously hosted NBA Countdown, SportsCenter and the Mike & Mike radio show with Mike Golic.

He takes over the host role from Sam Ponder, who was reportedly fired last week, alongside football analyst Robert Griffin III. The decision to part ways with the two was described as being part of a cost-cutting move.

Greenberg will join returning analysts Super Bowl Champions Tedy Bruschi and Rex Ryan, Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smit on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.

ESPN’s senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter will return, as will Jeff Darlington, Dan Graziano, Kimberley A. Martin, Sal Paolantonio, Lindsey Thiry and sports betting analyst Erin Dolan.

Greenberg will be the fourth ever host of the program. He...

K-pop stars NewJeans played a pair of sold-out shows at Japan’s Tokyo Dome this week, and on Thursday, the group welcomed Rina Sawayama onstage for a surprise appearance to perform one of that singer’s biggest hits.

During each gig, the members of NewJeans each deliver a short solo set, and during Hyein’s portion, she opted to sing Sawayama’s 2020 single “Bad Friend,” during which the Japan-born Sawayama herself came out to assist on her own track, Stereogum reports:

The Tokyo shows follow NewJeans’ latest single, “Supernatural,” which...

WNBA games and a NCAA women’s basketball tournament aren’t the only tools Disney has in its arsenal to attract advertisers hoping to expand support of women’s sports.

Starting July 10, the entertainment giant will launch “In The Arena: Serena Williams,” a new eight-part miniseries that chronicles the tennis legend’s long career, including perspective from the subject herself as well as that from key figures in her life. The program is backed by Morgan Stanley, which serves as a presenting sponsor of the series, and Tj Maxx and Heineken, which have come on board as associate sponsors.

With its sponsorship, Morgan Stanley sees a chance to throw a bigger spotlight on women’s sports overall, says Alice Milligan, the company’s chief marketing officer. The category only gets a small investment from advertisers, she says, yet is expected to become a more than $1 billion industry, according to a recent report from Deloitte.

Sugar, spice, and everything nice color the vibrant music video for “Right Now,” the latest release from powerhouse girl group NewJeans. The record arrives as the precursor to their forthcoming single and mini album Supernatural, which finds the five-piece performing in Japanese.

Directed by Youngeum Lee, the Takashi Murakami-collaborated video follows NewJeans as their animated counterparts mix up ingredients to create the perfect concoction to cure Hanni’s broken heart. At the start of the visual, the singer makes a brave first move and invites her crush over to watch a movie,...

NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West died on Wednesday morning at the age of 86.

The Los Angeles Clippers, for whom West had been working as a consultant, announced his passing, saying, “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully this morning at the age of 86. His wife, Karen, was by his side.”

More from TVLineMichael Mosley, British TV Presenter, Dead at 67 - Had Been Missing for DaysWilliam Russell, Original Doctor Who Companion, Dead at 99Mandisa: Cause of Death for Grammy-Winning American Idol Alum Revealed

West played college ball for the West...

Ciara Princess Wilson, widely recognized as Ciara, is a multifaceted American artist celebrated for her contributions to music, dance, acting, and business.

The Height Mystery of Ciara

Ciara’s Unique Shoe Size

Ciara’s Height in Relation to Russell Wilson

Ciara vs. Rihanna’s Height

Ciara’s Net Worth and Career

Ciara: Facts, Rumors, and Everything in Between

Russell Wilson’s Net Worth

Ciara Stuns in Pink Roberto Cavalli Dress at Cfda Fashion Awards 2016

The Height Mystery of Ciara

While she’s been candid about her stature in various interviews, there’s been some inconsistency in her height claims, ranging from 5’7″ to 5’9.5″.

Standing at 5ft 7½ (171.5 cm), Ciara showcased her style at the 27th annual Ace Awards in New York City on May 3, 2023, donning attire from her brand Lita, and received the ‘sustainability’ award for her fashion venture co-founded with husband Russell Wilson and businesswoman Christine Day (Credit: M10s / TheNews2 / Cover Images)

In a 2015 statement,...

This week, the music scene witnessed a fresh wave as “Bubble Gum” by the girl group NewJeans soared to No. 1 on YouTube in Korea and likely captured many hearts along the way. Rising to fame overnight with this catchy tune, NewJeans has proven they’re a force to be reckoned with. Here’s wishing them continued success as they skyrocket to stardom.

About NewJeans:

NewJeans, a five-member multinational girl group from South Korea under the Ador label, a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation, was discovered and produced by Min Hee-jin, a former Sm Entertainment visual director now with Hybe. The group made a stunning debut, clinching their first No. 1 spot on “M Countdown” just three weeks after their debut on August 18, 2022. They recently performed at the closing ceremony of a jamboree in August 2023, showcasing their growing popularity.

Group Name Insights:

The name “NewJeans” carries a dual meaning; it signifies jeans as...

Norby Williamson, the ESPN veteran who has managed everything from NFL coverage to “SportsCenter,” is leaving the Disney sports-media giant abruptly just weeks after being called out on camera in a surprise and unprecedented outburst by daytime host Pat McAfee.

The McAfee contretemps is not at the root of Williamson’s departure, according to a person familiar with the matter, but rather disagreements between the executive and the longer-term strategy being devised by Burke Magnus, who was handed oversight of content and news production in March of last year.

“Almost 40 years ago in 1985, I was so very fortunate to be offered an opportunity at ESPN,: Williamson said in a statement that was issued in a memo to staffers Friday. “Due to the exceptional hard work, creativity and commitment of the people of ESPN, and to a much lesser extent my contributions, I’d like to think we’ve left...

Just Like Heaven, the indie sleaze music festival from Coachella promoters Goldenvoice, has revealed its 2024 lineup. The Postal Service (performing Get Up) and Death Cab For Cutie (performing Transatlanticism) will headline the one-day festival, which takes place on Saturday, May 18th at Brookside at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Other notable acts include Phoenix, The War on Drugs, Miike Snow, Passion Pit, Alvvays, Gossip, Tegan and Sara, Broken Social Scene, Two Door Cinema Club, Phantogram, Sleigh Bells, Metric, Warpaint, Be Your Own Pet, Washed Out, The Go! Team and more.

Tickets to Just Like Heaven 2024, including Ga and VIP passes, go on sale Friday, January 26th at 11:00 a.m. Pt via the festival’s website.

Editor’s Note: Sign up for our weekly live music email digest.

Just Like Heaven Reveals 2024 Lineup with The Postal Service, Death Cab, and Phoenix

Scoop Harrison...

ESPN has been giving one of its newest show hosts a lot of rope despite a years-long policy of keeping talent on a very short leash.

Pat McAfee has generated reams of unwanted publicity for the Disney-backed sports-media giant in recent days, allowing frequent guest Aaron Rodgers to spread misinformation about vaccinations; insulting Norby Williamson, an influential ESPN executive who manages many studio shows and tries to keep a tight rein on them, and accusing him of working to sabotage his show in talks to media outlets; and giving Rodgers room to call out Jimmy Kimmel, the ABC late-night host who is one of the most high-profile employees in the Disney empire.

Interestingly, few of the controversies that have surfaced on McAfee’s show have anything to do with ESPN’s raison d’etre: games and sports. Such a program is “unsustainable,” says Joel Lulla, a former attorney for ABC Sports...

Ateez debuted on top of the Billboard 200 albums chart with “The World Ep.Fin: Will.” It’s the fifth album mostly in the Korean language to top the chart in 2023 alone, but it’s the first for this octet. Read all about this week’s chart here at Billboard.com.

“The World” achieved 152,000 equivalent album units based on the combination of its traditional album sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance, but like most K-pop efforts, this collection achieved its units mostly through traditional sales of collectible CDs and vinyls. It follows fellow K-pop chart-toppers this year “Rock-Star” and “5-Star” by Stray Kids, “2nd EP Get Up” by NewJeans and “The Name Chapter: Temptation” by Tomorrow X Together.

SEEBillboard charts: Number-one albums of 2023

Carry-overs round out this week’s top five. Taylor Swift‘s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” is back down to number-two with 101,000 units after rising back to the top spot last week.

Leading up to the Grammy nominations on Nov. 10, Rolling Stone is breaking down 16 different categories. For each, we’re predicting the nominees, as well as who will (and who should) win on Grammy night.

After a couple of years of emerging artists feeling the brunt of how the pandemic negatively affected the industry, 2023 has created a wonderful environment for young, buzzy acts to get their due. It also felt like the first year since the dawn of TikTok that labels and promoters have found effective ways to help mold viral...

Amazon Prime Video's The Other Zoey features mellow songs that enhance the viewing experience and reflect the protagonist's journey of love and romance. The movie draws inspiration from early rom-com movies but offers a contemporary take on familiar ideas, following the story of a college girl who creates a compatibility app. The soundtrack includes songs like "Get Up," "Product of Capitalism," and "What I Like About You," which are featured in key moments of the film. The original soundtracks can be found on various streaming platforms.

In its portrayal of a young girl's exploration of romance and love, Amazon Prime Video's The Other Zoey features several mellow songs that effectively enhance one's viewing experience. Although director Sara Zandieh's The Other Zoey seemingly draws inspiration from the tropes and story beats of several rom-com movies of the early aughts, it etches its name in the genre by giving audiences a contemporary look at familiar ideas.

NewJeans delivered a winner for this year’s League of Legends World Championship anthem, making them the first K-pop group in the game’s history to provide a song for the event.

“Gods” also marks the 10th anniversary of anthems for the game’s world championship. The new track arrived on Wednesday along with a video featuring Korean pro player Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu. According to a press release, the visual follows his story “from his discovery of League of Legends in high school, to his run at Worlds 2022 alongside his...

The CW is tapping Super Bowl Champion and former NFL safety Ryan Clark as the host of its weekly studio series “Inside the NFL,” which will premiere Sept. 5.

Clark’s career as a safety spanned 13 seasons and included a Super Bowl Xliii title and two AFC Championships. He played a majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2006-13), two years with the New York Giants (2002-03) and two stints with the Washington Redskins (2004-05 and 2014).

He currently serves as an analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” and regularly appears on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” “First Take,” “Get Up” and “SportsCenter.” In January 2022, Clark launched “The Pivot Podcast” with Crowder and Fred Taylor.

He will be joined by a panel of analysts comprised of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson and two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end and...

A new Van Halen box set, The Collection II, has been announced and will arrive on October 6th via Rhino.

Following the 2015 set, The Collection, which housed the band’s first six albums with David Lee Roth, The Collection II will cull the four Van Halen albums featuring singer Sammy Hagar in addition to several studio rarities and a B-side.

Affectionately known as the “Van Hagar” years, Eddie Van Halen and company released four successful LPs while fronted by the Red Rocker during the ’80s and ’90s: 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), and Balance (1995).

The Collection II will compile these records together for the first time on vinyl ($124.98) and CD ($49.98). A fifth disc, titled Studio Rarities 1989-2004, is especially of note for hardcore Van Halen enthusiasts. Among these eight tracks is “Crossing Over,” the B-Side to Balance’s “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” (the band’s only non-album B-side...

American rapper Travis Scott’s album ‘Utopia’ has broken records and is now trending No.1 on Billboard 200, with the record selling over 496,000 equivalent album units by August 3 alone. The singer was also joined on stage by Kanye West in Italy, to the surprise and delight of over 60,000 fans.

According to Billboard, this event marked the global live debut of the record-breaking album, and Scott found the perfect stage in Rome’s Circus Maximus as it was able to display the gravity of his achievement.

‘Utopia’ was joined at the Top 10 of Billboard 200 with Post Malone’s new album ‘Austin’, which scored his fifth consecutive and total top five-charting set after the record debuts with 113,000 equivalent album units earned.

This was followed by Morgan Wallen’s ‘One Thing at a Time’ which went at No. 3 with total sales going over 96,000 equivalent album units. This marked the very first time that the...

Rob Ninkovich’s ESPN contract won’t be renewed, continuing cutbacks of ESPN’s television and radio teams.

Front Office Sports reported the news Friday. Ninkovich joined ESPN in 2019.

A former New England Patriot and two-time Super Bowl champion, Ninkovich was on-air personality on programs including “NFL Live,” “Get Up,” and “SportsCenter.”

Front Office Sports reported his contract will expire this summer.

ESPN cut its national morning radio show with Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman earlier this month. It also said farewell to SportsCenter” anchor Neil Everett, who had been with ESPN for 23 years. NHL analyst Chris Chelios was also axed.

ESPN‘s Mike Greenberg, who hosts the shows Get Up and NBA Countdown, is slowly recovering after undergoing a heart procedure on Monday, March 20. His wife, writer Stacy Greenberg, provided a health update for fans on Thursday (March 23), tweeting, “For those asking: Greeny had a cardiac ablation on Monday. Recovery is slow, he has to do nothing and believe me….he’s not great at that!” “We both really, really appreciate all the nice messages,” she added. For those asking: Greeny had a cardiac ablation on Monday. Recovery is slow, he has to do nothing and believe me….he’s not great at that! We both really, really appreciate all the nice messages. — StacyGSGreenberg (@StacyGSG) March 23, 2023 According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiac ablation is a procedure to treat an irregular heartbeat typically performed by running catheters through veins and arteries but occasionally done during surgery. Earlier in the week, Stacy...

North West and mom Kim Kardashian can’t stop sharing their moves on TikTok.

The dancing duo performed another number in a new short video on their joint TikTok account. They danced their hearts out to a sped-up version of Ciara’s 2006 hit “Get Up”.

Read More: Pete Davidson Appears To Have Removed Kim Kardashian Tattoos

The two hopped back and forth in relaxed clothes as they shot the video at home. Kardashian, 42, kept things simple with black leggings and a matching sports bra, while North, 9, hopped around in a baggy Aaliyah T-shirt and McDonald’s shorts.

@kimandnorth

The things North makes me do

♬ original sound – speed._songsz

The two adorably started the video holding hands before jumping into the routine. They hopped side to side as they waved peace signs over their eyes while North concluded the video by making a silly expression and jumping out of frame, causing Kim to smile.

Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson have teamed up once again — this time to throw cyber criminals against walls.

The two stars appear in a new cybersecurity awareness PSA from Amazon as a part of the company’s protect and connect program, which aims to teach Internet users how to protect themselves from phishing and other cybersecurity threats.

The PSA features Jordan and Thompson saving unsuspecting internet users from sketchy internet schemes. The PSA comes as a follow up on Amazon’s commitments at the White House Cybersecurity Summit in 2021.

“Being part of this PSA was an opportunity to work with Tessa again, one of my mentors — Paul Hunter, and to support the Amazon family to get this message out that cyber security and your privacy is really important,” Jordan said. “Nobody wants their information stolen. As much as you can protect your information, and your family and friends, you should do that.

If you’re a fan of college football, “SEC Nation” was made for you. You’ll be glad to know the show broadcasts on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Et on the SEC Network. The show also airs on streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, and Fubo TV.

Interested in learning more about the details of the show? We’ve got you covered. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this college football pregame show.

What Does “SEC Nation” Talk About?

This two-hour pregame show is all about college football. Its celebrity analysts break down the games through live reports and pregame analysis. You also get to learn details about hometown football personalities throughout the season.

The show features the Southeastern Conference (SEC) football program, which includes the following members:

SEC Western Division Alabama (Bama Crimson Tide & Auburn...

Ciara may be on the cover of a magazine, but it's being around family that makes her feel good about herself. The "Get Up" singer—who graces one of the covers of the 2022 Issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit—reflected on what fuels her fire when it comes to being self-assured. While on the red carpet of the magazine's launch event, Ciara shared that it's being with her husband Russell Wilson and her children: Future Zahir Wilburn, 8—who she shares with ex Future—Win Harrison Wilson, 21 months and Sienna Princess Wilson, 5, that makes all the difference. "I feel the most confident when I'm in my element at home with my family," Ciara exclusively told E!...

ESPN said it would place sports host Max Kellerman in a new mid-afternoon program after taking him off the popular hot-talk show “First Take” last month, unveiling a daytime schedule it hopes will keep viewers interested for a longer period of time.

Kellerman’s new program, “This Just In,” will debut September 14 at 2 p.m., and offer news, opinion and analysis of trending sports headlines as well as looking ahead at potential sports news from the evening ahead. Kellerman is slated to be joined by several of ESPN’s sports insiders and analysts each day.

“With the addition of ‘This Just In,’ we’ve added yet another opportunity for live reaction in a key timeslot,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN’s executive vice president and executive editor, production, in a statement. “Max is always able to successfully connect and resonate with fans in meaningful ways across platforms and it’s great...

Elle Duncan faces a tricky task each time she shows up on ESPN in the early evening.

The hosts of the network’s morning editions of “SportsCenter” come armed with highlights from the games that took placed the night before. But when Duncan appears to co-anchor the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter” broadcast with Kevin Negandhi, fans want to see something new. Alas, the night’s games have yet to start.

“The challenge of the 6 p.m. show is making sure we are doing an appropriate amount of reflecting and also looking ahead,” Duncan says in an interview. “We are always working to show video without showing stuff you’ve already seen.” The 6 p.m. broadcast “is one of the more unique ones,” she says, because “the morning shows react to last night and the night shows react to the stuff that was already on.”

Duncan will have many new chances to...

Khalid has joined rising singer-songwriter Watts for a new take on the latter’s 2018 song, “Feels.”

“Feels” is a tender ballad filled with atmospheric synths and warm guitar tones that provides the perfect backdrop for Watts’ and Khalid’s voices. The pair trade off verses, but come together at the end to harmonize the hook, “But can’t fight this feeling/And I don’t want to change/Well I can’t fight this feeling/It’s driving me insane.”

In a statement, Khalid said he was immediately drawn to...

The company that usually talks to advertisers about properties like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Get Up!” and Goofy spent some time last week chatting with them about technologies that will probably be never mentioned on any of those programs.

And yet, for Madison Avenue, the tech lingo is fast becoming more important than the entertainment.

As more consumers get their movies, dramas, comedies and even live sports and news from video delivered by broadband, big media companies are rushing to follow them — and help advertisers do the same. Walt Disney Co. has unveiled a suite of new products that lets sponsors buy across TV and digital with more ease and also place their commercials with greater precision.

“This year is the year of the streaming wars,” says Lisa Valentino, executive vice president of client solutions and addressable enablement for Disney Ad Sales, in an interview. “We expect the volume against our streaming...

Foreigner and Van Halen released their debut albums within a year of each other and both bands dominated the singles charts for years to come. So when Van Halen enlisted Foreigner guitarist and kindred spirit Mick Jones to produce 5150, their first record with Sammy Hagar singing, they knew they could trust him. He helped them refashion their sound into something a little more mature, and the album became a Number One hit, thanks to singles like “Dreams,” “Best of Both Worlds,” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.” Here, Jones...

Of all the sports ESPN has shown over the years, professional wrestling matches from WWE haven’t really been on the list. That will change this weekend.

For three Sundays, the Disney-owned sports-media giant will air classic WrestleMania events on its flagship cable network and stream them on its mobile app. The initiative commences this Sunday at 7 p.m. eastern, when ESPN airs WrestleMania 30 from April, 2014. The colorful headlocks, figure-four leglocks and sleeper holds mark the latest example of ESPN working to fill its schedule with unorthodox content in the wake of the nation’s coronavirus crisis, which has put a stranglehold on all kinds of communal gatherings, including sports events.

“This unique opportunity is a byproduct of the terrific working relationship we’ve enjoyed with WWE over the years and the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming, ESPN, in a prepared statement.

As sports fans turn their focus from football to basketball in the wake of Super Bowl Liv, so does ESPN’s Maria Taylor, who has tipped off her first season as host of “NBA Countdown.”

The “College GameDay” and “ABC Saturday Night Football” reporter recently transitioned from the gridiron to the court, and will now be a regular teammate to analysts Jalen Rose and Jay Williams on ESPN’s flagship NBA show for the rest of the season. Moving forward, “NBA Countdown” will also have a “newsier” slant with the addition of reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, according to ESPN.

Taylor fills the host seat that was previously occupied by “SportsCenter” host Sage Steele and most recently, Michelle Beadle. She has already earned high praise from former ESPN analyst Bill Simmons on how she handled the first show following Kobe Bryant’s sudden death. Taylor “did a superb job navigating an emotional,...

Executives at ESPN had high hopes in the Spring of 2018 when they launched a new morning program called “Get Up!” Within weeks, they were wondering whether they ought to put the show down.

The Disney-owned sports network saw the new program as a way to give viewers something other than another hour of its near-ubiquitous “SportsCenter,” and as a bid to offer colorful analysis and opinion in an era when sports facts and stats can be called up on a smart phone at a moment’s notice. The network even took up space in a waterfront studio in New York’s South Street Seaport; mounted cameras outside to get shots of the rolling surf; and set up little studio nooks where hosts and guests could hold one-on-one conversations. And then ESPN dispatched three top prospects – popular radio host Mike Greenberg; outspoken and unflappable Michelle Beadle; and former Indiana Pacer Jalen Rose...

When it comes to awards season, the luncheons take the cake. AFI Awards lunch, usually around the first Friday in January, is always a warm affair where everyone in the room is a winner, and today’s annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon had the same good-feeling vibe as it always does. Each year’s class of nominees gets to catch up with one another, take a class photo and get their official nomination certificate before heading off to the rest of their day, or more interviews with press. The fact is, the campaign still goes on and ballots don’t even go to voters until Thursday.

“Am I supposed to be talking to you?”The Two Popes Best Actor nominee Jonathan Pryce asked as he exited the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland after the lunch and tried to follow the instructions of a publicist who has set up interviews...

Jay Williams is cementing his place in the starting lineup of ESPN/ABC's NBA coverage.

The sportscaster has inked a multiyear extension with ESPN/ABC and will continue to serve as a contributing analyst on NBA Countdown, The Jump and also the morning show Get Up. He also will continue to host ESPN+'s Kevin Durant-produced series The Boardroom while developing his own original television projects.

Williams has been with ESPN since 2003, following a motorcycle accident that ended his playing career after his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. His 2016 memoir Life Is Not an Accident: A Memoir of Reinvention became a New York ...

Hey, "So You Think You Can Dance" fans. Tonight, September 16, 2019, the season finale did indeed air and a new champion was crowned! All the judges: Laurieann Gibson, Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe were, of course, on hand. The final four contestants: Gino Cosculluela, Bailey Munoz, Sophie Pittman and Mariah Russell joined the other six contestants that were eliminated to do a top 10 group number that was choreographed by Mandy Moore. Next, it was revealed that the judges and Top 4 got to choose their favorite dances of this season. After that, Laurieann picked her favorite dance, which was choreographed by Luther Brown. It featured Mariah and Bailey dancing hip hop to Lizzo by Missy Elliot. Next,Nigel picked his favorite dance. It was a jazz routine by choreographer Ray Leeper to the song, “You Can Keep Your Hat On” by Joe Cocker. It featured dancers Ezra and Madison.

R.E.M. will mark the 25th anniversary of their 1994 LP Monster with a deluxe six-disc reissue that boasts unreleased demos, a 1995 concert recording and a “2019 remix” of the original album.

Due out November 1st and available to pre-order now, the Monster reissue boasts 15 unheard demo recordings as well as producer Scott Litt’s new remix of the album, which scales back the guitar sound to focus on Michael Stipe’s vocals; hear the “2019 remix” version of “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” below:

“The original 1994 version was dense in guitars...

Drum goddess Janet Weiss announced she’s leaving Sleater-Kinney on Monday — surprising news for fans, given that the band is on the verge of releasing their excellent new album and tickets have already gone on sale for their upcoming tour. “After intense deliberation and heavy sadness, I have decided to leave Sleater-Kinney,” Weiss wrote in her statement. “The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on.”

Related: 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time

It’s a sad moment because for some of us,...

Kyrie Irving is the most miserable superstar athlete Ever ... so says Charles Barkley, who Can't Believe how big of a baby the Celtics PG has been this season. Kyrie's been super moody the last few weeks as Boston's season has slowly crumbled away from the NBA Championship dreams it had in the preseason. In fact, while he was walking into Td Garden last week and photogs were snappin' pics of him, he said loudly, "I...

Cc Sabathia is already planning for retirement from baseball before he’s hung up his cleats.

The New York Yankees pitcher and Cy Young Award-winner will join ESPN as a contributor, the network announced on Tuesday. He will serve in a variety of roles beginning this season.

Having played for the Yankees since 2009, Sabathia announced last month that he is going retire from baseball at the end of the 2019 season.

Also Read: Jason Witten Leaves ESPN's 'Monday Night Football,' Will Return to Dallas Cowboys - Yes, as a Player

“As I begin to look toward the future, I’m excited to have this opportunity with ESPN,” Sabathia said in a statement Tuesday. “With that said, my singular focus is on winning another World Series championship for Yankees fans and the city of New York.”

“We’re excited to work with Cc, especially as part of this unique arrangement during...

ESPN has set a radical new game plan for “Get Up!” its ambitious attempt at a morning sports-talk show that has so far failed to gain the network a broader audience in the time slot.

The Walt Disney-owned network said co-host Michelle Beadle, one of its most colorful and distinctive personalities, would leave the program as of August 29, and move to Los Angeles to focus more intently on her other duties at ESPN as the host of its popular “NBA Countdown.” The basketball program had originated from ESPN’s Los Angeles production facilities before moving to New York to accommodate Beadle’s new morning duties as well as those of “Get Up” co-host Jalen Rose. The former NBA star is expected to continue working on “Get Up” when “he has no ‘NBA Countdown’ responsibilities in Los Angeles,” the network said.

ESPN will also cut “Get Up” to two hours from three,...

Former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is getting back in the game — just as he officially retires from the NFL.

The Super Bowl Champion announced both the end of his old career and the start of a new one as an NFL analyst at ESPN, in a video on “Uninterrupted” Tuesday.

The seven-year NFL vet and 2012 Pro Bowl selection will appear on “NFL Live,” “Get Up!,” “SportsCenter,” ESPN Radio and other ESPN platforms year-round. Cruz will make his ESPN debut Wednesday during the 9 a.m. Et hour on both “Get Up!” and “SportsCenter.”

Also Read: How Alex Gibney's ESPN Docuseries 'Enhanced' Tackles Moral Dilemmas of Modern Technology

“As I officially close one chapter of my life and begin another, I could not be more thrilled to join another championship team at ESPN,” said Cruz in a statement. “I’m excited to get started and share my insight...