After two years, ESPN is bringing SportsNation, though on ESPN+. Plus: Tony Romo could work remotely on Wild Card weekend; Tom Rinaldi is set to make his Fox debut.
ESPN bringing back SportsNation
ESPN announced Thursday that it is resurrecting its daily talk show SportsNation on ESPN+ beginning Monday. The show, which ran on ESPN2 and later ESPN from 2009-18, will post new episodes each morning at 9:30 AM ET. Ashley Brewer, Taylor Twellman and Treavor Scales will host alongside a rotation of guests. For most of its existence, the original iteration of SportsNation was hosted by Michelle Beadle, first alongside Colin Cowherd and later with Marcellus Wiley.
SportsNation is not the first ESPN show given a second life on ESPN+. The streaming outlet is also home to the new version of ESPN’s NFL Primetime. [ESPN PR 1.7]
Report: Romo could call Wild Card game remotely
CBS is weighing whether to have Tony Romo call Sunday’s scheduled Bears-Saints playoff game remotely from his home, according to the New York Post. Romo missed last weekend’s NFL game coverage over COVID-19 concerns. All options remain on the table, including having Romo on-site or having him not call the game at all. [NYP 1.5]
Plus: Rinaldi, Peacock, IndyCar
New Fox Sports reporter Tom Rinaldi is scheduled to make his on-air debut with his new employer on Saturday’s scheduled Rams-Seahawks game. … The NBC streaming service Peacock plans to air its own distinct postgame show following its simulcast of Sunday’s scheduled Browns-Steelers NFL playoff game, with “Brother From Another” hosts Michael Smith and Michael Holley anchoring. … IndyCar has pushed back its scheduled season opener at St. Petersburg from early March to April 25. Assuming no other changes, the season would now start April 11 at the Grand Prix of Alabama. [Fox Sports PR/Twitter 1.4, NBC Sports PR, IndyCar 1.6]
