ESPN is reportedly in buyout talks with Michelle Beadle; NBC Sports is reportedly set to demote Pierre McGuire; CBS is adding Gene Steratore to its college football coverage; Chris Mortensen is taking on a lighter workload this season.
ESPN said to be in buyout talks with Beadle
ESPN is negotiating a buyout with Michelle Beadle, according to the New York Post, a move that comes on the heels of reports that she will be replaced as host of NBA Countdown. According to the Post, there is “no timetable” for the how long the talks will last.
Beadle is in her second stint with ESPN, having rejoined the company in 2014. She spent the past three seasons as host of NBA Countdown and was briefly a co-host of ESPN’s “Get Up!” morning show.
Per the Post, Maria Taylor will replace Beadle as host of Countdown, with the Rachel Nichols-hosted “The Jump” replacing Countdown as the pregame show for ABC’s Saturday night NBA games. [NYP 9.3]
McGuire to be demoted from lead NBC NHL team, per report
The Athletic NHL writer Rick Carpiniello reported Wednesday that NBC Sports is demoting Pierre McGuire from its lead NHL broadcast team in favor of Brian Boucher. In a statement to Sports Business Journal writer John Ourand, NBC did not deny the role change, saying only that Boucher will be part of the lead team for its opening night game.
McGuire has been part of NBC’s lead NHL broadcast team since the network began airing NHL games in the 2005-06 season. [Carpiniello/Twitter 9.4, Ourand/Twitter 9.4]
CBS adding Steratore to college football coverage
CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore is expanding his role to include college football games, it was announced Wednesday. Steratore, who joined CBS last year, already serves as a rules analyst on CBS NFL and NCAA Tournament games. [CBS PR 9.4]
Mortensen to take on lighter role this season
ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen is taking on a lighter role this season to accommodate “his lifestyle and health requirements,” but says he has no plans to retire, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. Mortensen, who has been with ESPN since 1991, has been battling cancer since 2016. [LA Times 9.1 via Sports Business Daily 9.4]
