ESPN to Roll Out New Series

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

A sports version of ABC's Nightline late-night news show and an early
morning sports-entertainment show are two of several new ESPN shows on tap to
premiere next year, according to network executives.

Executive vice president of programming and production Mark Shapiro --
speaking at an ESPN upfront presentation Tuesday -- said the network will extend
its Outside the Lines sports-newsmagazine show to primetime next
April.

Also set to premiere in fall 2003 is Cold Pizza, a daily, 7 a.m. to 9
a.m. skein ESPN executives describe as a Good Morning America for sports
fans.

The network also finalized a Nov. 4 launch date for its daily sports-talk
show, Around the Horn. The 30-minute show, hosted by ESPN boxing analyst
Max Kellerman, features several sportswriters discussing the sports issues and
news of the day, an ESPN spokeswoman said.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.