ESPN has extended Hannah Storm; a former ESPN executive has taken an on-air role at FS1; Bob Iger has stepped down as Disney CEO; and more.
ESPN extends Storm
ESPN announced Thursday that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm. The news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle. The extension comes on the heels of ESPN expanding Storm’s role on the morning editions of SportsCenter.
Storm is now in her 12th year with ESPN, which as the Chronicle noted is her longest tenure with any company in her three-decade career. She spent ten years with her best known employer, NBC. [Houston Chronicle 2.27, ESPN PR/Twitter 2.27]
Wildes joins FS1 First Things First
Former ESPN senior coordinating producer Kevin Wildes debuted as the new co-host of the FS1 morning show First Things First Thursday, filling the vacancy left by the fired Cris Carter. Wildes’ addition was first reported by The Big Lead earlier this month. During his time with ESPN, Wildes was involved in the creation of The Jump, Detail on ESPN+, SportsNation and Numbers Never Lie. [Fox Sports PR 2.27, The Big Lead 2.13]
Iger done as Disney CEO
Disney CEO Bob Iger resigned on Tuesday, ending a 15-year run that most recently included the launch of Disney+ and the acquisition of $71.3 billion in 21st Century Fox assets. Iger’s departure had been rumored for years, though the timing was nonetheless sudden. Disney Parks chairman Bob Chapek took over upon Iger’s resignation.
Iger will remain with Disney as executive chairman until the end of his contract on December 31 of next year. [New York Times 2.25]
Also: Collinsworth, Martin, Hinchcliffe
The Big Lead reported Thursday that ESPN NFL reporter Jac Collinsworth is leaving for NBC. Collinsworth, who had been with ESPN since 2017, is the son of NBC’s lead NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth. … ESPN announced Thursday that it has hired Yahoo! Sports senior NFL writer Kimberley A. Martin as an NFL reporter for SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL studio shows and ESPN.com, among other properties. … Active IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe will serve as an analyst on NBC’s IndyCar races this season and also contribute to coverage of the NASCAR Brickyard 400. [TBL 2.27; ESPN PR 2.27; NBC Sports PR 2.27]
