One of ESPN’s biggest names is taking a dramatically reduced role after the NFL season. In other news, Bill Walton will be part of the cast for a national championship viewing party on ESPNU and Todd Grisham is headed from ESPN to the UFC.
Berman to Leave Current Roles At End of NFL Season
- Longtime ESPN anchor Chris Berman will step away from his current roles on the network’s NFL studio coverage, NFL Draft and MLB Home Run Derby at the end of the current NFL season, it was announced Thursday. He will remain with the network in a reduced role under a new multi-year contract extension, working NFL Primetime after the Super Bowl and NFL conference championship games, appearing each week on Monday Night Countdown, and retaining his current position as a play-by-play voice for the MLB Division Series on ESPN Radio. Berman has been with ESPN since it launched in 1979. News of his reduced role was first reported last year by Sports Illustrated. (ESPN Media Zone 1/5)
Walton Headlines Cast of ESPNU CFB Championship Simulcast
- ESPN college basketball analyst Bill Walton will be one of several ESPN personalities appearing in the annual “ESPN Voices” simulcast of Monday’s College Football National Championship. Walton will be joined by NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson and SportsNation co-hosts Michelle Beadle and Marcellus Wiley, observing the action in what amounts to a televised viewing party. Coverage airs on ESPNU. (ESPN Media Zone 1/5 via Awful Announcing 1/5)
Grisham Leaving ESPN for UFC
- ESPN SportsCenter anchor Todd Grisham has joined the UFC as a play-by-play voice and studio host, MMA Fighting reported earlier this week. Grisham, who is reportedly set to debut January 15, served as an MMA studio host and boxing commentator during his time with ESPN and previously worked for the WWE. (MMA Fighting, 1/3)
