ESPN is making yet more changes to its NBA studio show.
ESPN announced Thursday that it has named SportsNation host Michelle Beadle the host of NBA Countdown on Wednesdays and Fridays, replacing Doris Burke and Sage Steele, respectively. Steele, who is taking on a new SportsCenter role, will continue to host weekend editions of the show on ABC. Burke will have an expanded role as an NBA game analyst and sideline reporter.
Beadle previously filled in for Steele on a May 2014 edition of NBA Countdown, but has not otherwise hosted the show. Her new duties will not affect her role on SportsNation.
It was not immediately clear who would join Beadle on the Wednesday and Friday editions, which will expand to one hour. The Big Lead reported last month that Doug Collins will move from the studio to game analysis next season, leaving at least one vacancy.
Entering its 15th season covering the NBA, ESPN/ABC has now had nine regular studio hosts — Beadle, Steele, Burke, Mike Tirico, Dan Patrick, Fred Hickman, Kevin Frazier and the late John Saunders and Stuart Scott.
(Thu. news from ESPN Media Zone)
