- In another example of ESPN letting the show get in the way of the game, the network announced that next week’s Monday Night Football game between the Ravens and Steelers will be used to promote the theme song from the next James Bond movie. The use of the song continues the “Monday Night Musicians” initiative, in which ESPN’s music department “works with record companies to highlight upcoming music releases of popular performing artists within Monday Night Football games.”
- After opening the college football season with 25 straight hours of related programming, ESPN is bringing the concept to college basketball. The 2008-09 college basketball season will tip off on Tuesday, November 18, with 23 straight hours of live games and studio shows, including nine games on ESPN in five different time zones. The game of the night will be Kentucky/North Carolina at 9 PM, which will be preceded by a special edition of College Gameday.
- When it comes to sports, the ESPN brand may be more influential than that of its corporate parent. In the latest step of a rebranding effort originally announced in May, the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World will be renamed the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The move is expected to increase the amount of visitors to the venue.
