Shae Cornette is the new host of “First Take” on ESPN; The Ringer and Netflix reach a deal surrounding video podcasts; and Main Street Sports Group inks a content partnership with Omaha Productions. Plus news on NBC Sports, Erik Johnson, DeMarcus Cousins and Billy Gil.
Cornette named new host of “First Take”
Shae Cornette has been named the new host of “First Take” on ESPN, the network announced Thursday. Cornette, who has been on “SportsCenter” for several years as both a fill-in and full-time anchor, will officially begin her new responsibilities on Monday, Nov. 3. The news follows what was believed to be a multi-week audition process that included Peter Schrager, Courtney Cronin, MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Amina Smith and Joe Fortenbaugh.
Cornette moves into the hosting role after the departure of Molly Qerim last month. The rationale behind Qerim’s exit from the program is unknown, but ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said in a recent podcast appearance with Richard Deitsch that the network was trying to have her do other things and “redo the agreement.” Qerim ended up announcing her exit from “First Take” shortly after the news was reported by Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal.
With her move to “First Take,” Cornette will anchor her final edition of “SportsCenter” on Saturday, Oct. 25. Cornette has been anchoring the program for several years in a full-time capacity from the network’s Bristol studios.
Cornette joined ESPN in 2020 after reporting on the Chicago Bears for Fox 32 and co-hosting “Kap & Co.” on ESPN 1000 Chicago. Throughout her time with ESPN, she has worked across television and radio programming on shows such as “GameDay” and “SportsNation” in addition to filling in on several studio programs. She has occupied the hosting chair on “First Take” several times in the past when Qerim was absent from the show.
The Ringer video podcasts to be accessible through Netflix
Video podcasts from The Ringer and Spotify Studios will become available on Netflix early next year in the United States across a variety of genres, it was announced late Tuesday. Sports shows hosted by Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe and Todd McShay, along with programs dedicated to the NFL, NBA and F1, will be part of the portfolio and enjoy expanded distribution. Audiences in other markets will be able to watch the shows under this collaboration as time goes on, but they will no longer be available in full on YouTube, per Anthony Crupi of Sportico.
Roman Wasenmüller, VP and head of podcasts at Spotify, hailed the agreement as “a new chapter for podcasting” and said that it offers creators “more choice” and “unlocks a completely new distribution opportunity.”
Simmons, who founded The Ringer in 2016 after leaving his role at ESPN, will continue hosting his eponymous show and appearing on “The Rewatchables” podcast, both of which are part of the Netflix agreement. Earlier in the year, he renewed his contract with Spotify to continue serving as the company’s head of talk strategy under which he oversees The Ringer, Spotify Studios and other original content. Spotify purchased The Ringer five years ago for a reported $250 million.
The Ringer is losing Ryen Russillo as he prepares to launch an independent digital media company under a partnership with Barstool Sports. The new iteration of Russillo’s show is slated to launch on Monday, Nov. 3 and will have a new feed and YouTube channel.
Main Street Sports Group to partner with Omaha Productions on new content
Main Street Sports Group and Omaha Productions have entered into a strategic content partnership that will span linear, digital and streaming platforms, it was announced Thursday. Under the agreement, Omaha will produce new content for Main Street, and both companies will engage in cross-promotional initiatives. Main Street enters into this deal after it recently launched original programming distributed to RSNs it owns and operates, including “FanDuel Sports Network Countdown Live” and “Golic & Golic.”
In addition, Main Street is launching its own production division that will be responsible for content to air on both its owned channels and outside partners. Former ESPN executive Norby Williamson, who has been serving as the president of production and programming for Main Street since January, referred to this as “a transformative moment” for the company.
Omaha continues to work with ESPN under a nine-year agreement under which “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” is produced throughout the NFL season. The company is also continuing to create original content that airs on ESPN platforms, which included “The Breakdown” last year and the “Places” series featuring an array of legendary athletes.
Plus: NBC Sports, Erik Johnson, DeMarcus Cousins, Billy Gil
- NBC Sports has picked up “Enjoy Basketball” co-founder Kenny Beecham and Dallas Mavericks play-by-play voice Mark Followill for NBA coverage this season. Select podcasts from Beecham’s company will air across NBCU platforms, while Followill is going to call select NBA games for the network, starting with Mavericks-Pistons from Mexico City on Saturday, Nov. 1.
- Longtime NHL defenseman Erik Johnson, who announced his retirement from hockey two weeks ago, has joined ESPN as an NHL game analyst. The former No. 1 Draft selection and Stanley Cup champion is also doing studio analysis for the Colorado Avalanche and color commentary for Air Force and Denver college hockey.
- Former 12-year NBA center DeMarcus Cousins is joining FanDuel TV as a co-host of “Run It Back,” it was announced by the company on Thursday. Cousins is slated to work alongside Michelle Beadle, Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams on the weekday program, which returns on Monday, Oct. 20.
- Billy Gil, a longtime producer for “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” is leaving the Meadowlark Media program after 15 years, it was announced Thursday. Gil’s last day on the program will be Friday, according to Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, and he is said to be joining Spotify and The Ringer in “a mostly off-air management position.”
