ESPN has a new gambling show in the works that will involve Mike Greenberg. Plus: ESPN’s Monday Night Football team is reportedly a done deal, the NFL’s next set of media rights may be delayed, and more.
Greenberg involved in ESPN “Bettor Days” project
ESPN on September 3 will debut a new Mike Greenberg-hosted ESPN+ show titled “Bettor Days,” a narrative storytelling show focused on the backstory behind various sports bets. Greenberg will interview bettors about notable wagers, with the series skewing toward “upbeat, fun, and comedic tales.” In one promotional image, Greenberg is seen interviewing Steven Friedlander — the same man who last year lost out on hundreds of thousands in Kentucky Derby winnings due to a sportsbook payout cap.
“Bettor Days” is one of a handful of new shows and seasons set to debut on ESPN+ in the coming weeks, including a show called “Roll The Tape” that appears to be a spiritual successor to ESPN Classic’s “Cheap Seats” (and “Mystery Science Theater 3000”), wherein old ESPN events — including “celebrity arm wrestling, dog shows, street luge and paragliding, trapshooting, speed chess, hydroplanes and more” — are lampooned by a trio of commentators.
Numerous reports have new MNF team as done deal
Per multiple reports last week, ESPN has decided to go with Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese as its new Monday Night Football team. Author Jim Miller was first to report the news last Friday, followed by the Associated Press, The Athletic and the New York Post. ESPN’s lead college football team of Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, which had been in the mix for the MNF job if the college football season was postponed or canceled, could still call a game in Week 1, when ESPN is scheduled to air a doubleheader.
Levy, Riddick and Griese had been mentioned as contenders for the MNF spot for months. So too had Dan Orlovsky and Pat McAfee, who have apparently been passed over. [Miller/Twitter 7.31, The Athletic 8.3, NYP 7.31, AP 7.31]
Next round of NFL TV deals will be delayed
The next round of NFL media deals, which network executives initially expected would be reached in principle by Labor Day, will likely take longer than expected to complete, Sports Business Journal reported over the weekend. The league has not met with the networks since June as it has focused on launching its season.
Per SBJ, the delay does not imply any “hiccups” in negotiations. CBS, FOX and NBC are expected to push to keep their current deals, while ESPN is said to want an upgraded package that would include games on ABC. [SBJ 8.3]
Plus: XFL, Hubie, Statcast
An investment group that includes actor Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson announced Monday that it has reached agreement to purchase the XFL for $15 million, but the defunct league’s creditors have filed a motion to stop the sale in bankruptcy court. Per Sports Business Journal, the creditors believe the purchase price is well below what the league could recover from insiders and business partners. … ESPN is close to a contract extension with NBA analyst Hubie Brown, Outkick the Coverage reported this week. Brown, 87, is absent from ESPN’s NBA restart coverage as he is in an age group at high risk of COVID-19. … ESPN plans to provide alternative StatCast coverage of two Sunday Night Baseball games this month, Red Sox-Yankees August 16 and Braves-Phillies August 30. Jason Benetti, Eduardo Perez and Mike Petriello will call the alternate broadcast, which ESPN has previously offered only on playoff games and the Home Run Derby. [SBD 8.3, Outkick 8.2, ESPN PR 8.4]
