Longtime ESPN producer and host Howie Schwab passes away at age 63. Plus: The Indiana Fever reach media rights agreement with local over-the-air broadcaster; Utah’s new NHL team to air on independent Scripps-owned station next season.
Former ESPN research Howie Schwab dies at 63
ESPN producer, researcher, and host of the eponymous Stump the Schwab passed away on Saturday, the network announced. Schwab joined the network in 1987, working in behind-the-scenes roles up until 2004 when the network launched the sports trivia show he hosted. After a three year run the show was canceled, though Schwab remained at the company until being laid off in 2013. Following his ESPN career, Schwab made stops at Fox Sports and as a consultant on Sports Jeopardy!. (ESPN, 4.20)
Indiana Fever land local broadcast deal
The WNBA’s Indiana Fever has reached an agreement with TEGNA, owner of NBC affiliate WTHR and MeTV affiliate WALV in the Indianapolis market, to air 17 games this upcoming season, the company announced Monday. The Fever, who drafted Caitlin Clark last week during a record-setting night for the WNBA, will also have 36 of 40 regular season games broadcast nationally between the WNBA’s several media rights partners. The 17 games scheduled for local over-the-air broadcast consist primarily of games slotted for NBA TV or Prime Video nationally. ESPN2 will air the first Indiana Fever game of the season on May 14th. (TEGNA, 4.22)
Utah’s NHL franchise inks over-the-air deal
Utah’s new NHL franchise has secured a local broadcast partner before the team even has a name. The Salt Lake City-based team, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, will air on E.W. Scripps-owned KUPX, according to a report from FOX 13 in Salt Lake City last Thursday. The franchise is next in the line of NHL teams ditching traditional regional sports networks in favor of over-the-air affiliates. Now, both Utah’s NBA and NHL franchises will be broadcast on local channels, with the Jazz currently under contract with KJZZ. (FOX 13, 4.18)
