As ESPN is forced to get creative during the coronavirus pandemic, it is bringing back one of its most popular programming stunts.
ESPN announced Thursday that it is bringing back its “ESPN8: The Ocho” programming block on ESPN2 Sunday. The annual block of oddball competition typically airs on August 8 (8/8), but with no live sports scheduled for the foreseeable future, ESPN has had to dig into its library for programming.
While “The Ocho” airs on ESPN2, the flagship ESPN network will present a seven-hour marathon of Tom Brady content. Brady announced this week that he is leaving the New England Patriots (reportedly to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
The Brady marathon will include condensed presentations of his notable games, from his first playoff game in 2002 through Super Bowl 53 in 2019.
ESPN will also carry an 11-hour marathon of old UFC fights on Saturday, while ESPN2 airs a full-day of old high school basketball games — including the 2003 All-American Game that included LeBron James.
The ESPN8 block, meanwhile, will include axe throwing, cornhole, putt putt, stone skipping, sign spinning, hamburger eating, robot fighting, cherry pit spitting, arm wrestling, Tetris, dodgeball, dodge juggling, Jelle’s Marble Runs and Slippery Stairs, among others. The full schedule is here.
ESPN8 debuted in 2017 and is inspired by the 2004 movie “Dodgeball,” which included a fictional ESPN8 that broadcast the eponymous competition.
In the week since the majority of sporting events were canceled due to the pandemic, ESPN2’s programming has largely consisted of studio show encores and recent old games. On Thursday, for example, the network will air three old Women’s NCAA Tournament games and a re-air of last week’s UFC Fight Night.
Prior to the pandemic, ESPN2 was scheduled to air three Women’s NCAA Tournament games Sunday.
