With more layoffs looming, ESPN is holding onto its most prized talent and its president. In other news, ESPN’s Cari Champion will reportedly get a new gig, and NBC’s Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will work primetime figure skating during the Olympics.
Report: ESPN Extends Scott Van Pelt
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt has reached a multi-year contract extension to remain with the network, Van Pelt and ESPN EVP/production Norby Williamson confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday. Van Pelt has been with ESPN since 2001 and most recently signed an extension in 2015. That same year, he began hosting the Midnight ET edition of SportsCenter. [The Hollywood Reporter 11.14]
Report: ESPN Extends President
ESPN has reached a contract extension with company president John Skipper through 2021, The Big Lead reported Tuesday. ESPN has not officially announced the move. Skipper, whose current contract expires next year, is in his 20th year with ESPN and his fifth as network president. [The Big Lead 11.14]
Report: Champion to Get SportsNation Gig
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Cari Champion is expected to replace the departing Michelle Beadle on the network’s daily SportsNation talk show, The Big Lead reported Wednesday. The move will not take place until the spring, when Beadle’s new show — the untitled Mike Greenberg project — debuts. Champion was previously on another ESPN daytime show, First Take. [The Big Lead 11.15]
No Surprise: Lipinski and Weir Get Olympic Skating Gig
NBC has named Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir the lead broadcast team for Olympic figure skating. The move, announced Wednesday, has been a foregone conclusion since the last Winter Olympics in 2014 — when the trio’s performance on NBCSN’s daytime figure skating coverage impressed NBC executives, media critics, and presumably viewers.
NBC’s previous figure skating team consisted of Tom Hammond, Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic. Hamilton have a role on the daily Olympic Ice preview show on NBCSN. [NBC Sports PR 11.15]
