Former ESPN president John Skipper has a new gig; Booger McFarland is reportedly headed to Monday Night Football; ESPN has reached a deal with the UFC; ESPN is eliminating its public editor position.
Skipper Finds New Role
Former ESPN president John Skipper has been named executive chairman of the UK-based Perform Group, which runs Sporting News, the soccer website Goal, and DAZN — a sports streaming service available in Europe, Japan and Canada. The news was announced Tuesday. Skipper abruptly resigned from ESPN in December citing substance abuse issues; he later said he was being blackmailed by a cocaine dealer. [PR Newswire 5.8 via New York Times 5.8]
McFarland Reportedly Joining MNF
ESPN will add college football analyst Booger McFarland to its Monday Night Football broadcast team, The Athletic and New York Post reported earlier this week. An official announcement is reportedly coming soon. McFarland will serve as a sideline analyst, a position that has not previously existed on MNF. ESPN experimented with Louis Riddick in that role on the Pro Bowl.
McFarland will be one of three newcomers to Monday Night Football next season, joining Jason Witten and as-yet-unnannounced play-by-play voice Joe Tessitore. His sideline role will not affect Lisa Salters‘ position as the series’ sideline reporter. [The Athletic 5.6; NYP 5.7]
ESPN, UFC, Reach Deal
ESPN announced Monday that it has reached a multi-year agreement with the UFC to carry 15 live events per year exclusively on the new ESPN Plus over-the-top service. According to Sports Business Daily, ESPN is paying $150 million per year for the package of events, which were previously part of the UFC Fight Pass subscription service. UFC linear television rights are still up for bid.
Variety first reported last month that ESPN was pursuing a UFC package for its new streaming service, though as part of a joint bid with Fox Sports. [ESPN PR 5.7; Sports Business Daily 5.8]
ESPN Ending Public Editor (Ombudsman) Position
ESPN is discontinuing its public editor position after 13 years, the company announced via corporate blog Monday. In a statement, ESPN SVP Kevin Merida said the role had “outlived its usefulness” because ESPN now receives feedback through the “horde of watchdogs” on social media. Six different people or groups held the role. [ESPN Front Row 5.9]
