The new era of the NHL on ESPN is scheduled to begin where the last one ended — Tampa Bay. Plus: the ESPN-Maria Taylor divorce is official, ESPN has announced a slew of extensions, MLB is expected to sell a midweek package of games to a digital outlet.
ESPN to open new NHL stint with Penguins-Lightning
ESPN is scheduled to carry an NHL Opening Night doubleheader of Penguins-Lightning and Kraken-Golden Knights on Tuesday, October 12, the network’s first NHL games since the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. TNT would make its NHL debut the following night with a doubleheader of Rangers-Capitals and Blackhawks-Avalanche.
The Opening Week line-up was announced on ESPN’s SportsCenter Thursday, along with a handful of other nationally televised games. TNT is also scheduled to carry Bruins-Flyers and Blues-Golden Knights October 20, while ESPN+ and Hulu are set to exclusively carry the Kraken’s first official home game (against the Canucks) October 23.
As has been known since their deals were announced earlier this year, TNT will also carry the Winter Classic (Blues-Wild) on January 1, while ESPN/ABC will carry the NHL All-Star events on February 4-5. [ESPN PR 7.22, Turner Sports PR]
As expected, Taylor out at ESPN
ESPN announced Wednesday that it has parted ways with NBA studio host and college football reporter Maria Taylor, who is widely expected to move to NBC. An official announcement to that effect is imminent, per the New York Post. According to multiple reports, “The Jump” host Rachel Nichols — who was named ESPN’s lead NBA studio host in 2019 before the company abruptly changed course the following year — will not be under consideration to replace Taylor in the studio.
Per Front Office Sports, Malika Andrews — Nichols’ last-minute replacement on the sidelines during the just-completed NBA Finals — is a contender for the studio hosting role. [ESPN PR 7.21, Front Office Sports 7.21, NYP 7.21]
ESPN announces several extensions
ESPN this week announced contract extensions with SportsCenter hosts Neil Everett and Ashley Brewer, college football analyst Joey Galloway and SEC Network hosts Dari Nowkhah, Alyssa Lang and Peter Burns. Everett will continue in his current role anchoring the Los Angeles-based 1 AM ET SportsCenter, with Brewer joining him, Stan Verrett and Linda Cohn in a four-anchor L.A. rotation.
With her move from ESPN’s Connecticut headquarters to Los Angeles, Brewer will relinquish her short-lived role as host of the rebooted SportsNation.
Galloway and the SEC Network hosts will continue in their current roles. [ESPN PR 7.22, 7.21, 7.20]
MLB expects to sell midweek package to digital company
Major League Baseball will likely sell a package of midweek games to a digital company at some point in the coming months, MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden told Sports Business Journal this week. ESPN is giving up its Monday and Wednesday night baseball games after this season, leaving MLB with just one weeknight of nationally televised games going forward (TBS will begin airing Tuesday night games next season).
The new midweek package would co-exist with local RSN coverage in the participating markets. [SBJ 7.20]
ESPN this week announced contract extensions with SportsCenter hosts Neil Everett and Ashley Brewer, college football analyst Joey Galloway and SEC Network hosts Dari Nowkhah, Alyssa Lang and Peter Burns. Everett will continue in his current role anchoring the Los Angeles-based 1 AM ET SportsCenter, with Brewer joining him, Stan Verrett and Linda Cohn in a four-anchor L.A. rotation.
With her move from ESPN’s Connecticut headquarters to Los Angeles, Brewer will relinquish her short-lived role as host of the rebooted SportsNation.
Galloway and the SEC Network hosts will continue in their current roles. [ESPN PR 7.22, 7.21, 7.20]
Major League Baseball will likely sell a package of midweek games to a digital company at some point in the coming months, MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden told Sports Business Journal this week. ESPN is giving up its Monday and Wednesday night baseball games after this season, leaving MLB with just one weeknight of nationally televised games going forward (TBS will begin airing Tuesday night games next season).
The new midweek package would co-exist with local RSN coverage in the participating markets. [SBJ 7.20]
Correction: The original version of this post mistakenly said that October 13 and 14 were the first two dates of the coming 2021-22 NBA season. The NBA season is actually slated to begin October 19.
