ESPN's Clinkscales Discusses Efforts To Develop Original Content

Clinkscales Says ESPN Aims For Diversity In Approach

ESPN Senior VP/Content Development & Enterprises Keith Clinkscales spoke with Multichannel News about the network’s efforts to develop original movies and documentaries. Clinkscales said, “We want to make sure we have an active presence in creating studio shows because at ESPN, under (Exec VP/Production) Norby Williamson, it’s one of the greatest production facilities in the world.” Clinkscales added the net also wants “to get into series development … for both television and for digital.” The net’s foray into documentaries was discussed, and Clinkscales said, “We make sure that we’re diverse in how we approach the stories, diverse in the sports that we go after, make sure that we find different ways to bring stories to fans the way they want them.” When asked if the “series development” was for more scripted series or documentary series, Clinkscales said, “We’re going to do good stuff. We will always look at something if it’s good. It’s not a mandate to say it can’t be this or it must be that. What we have found is by focusing on documentaries, by focusing on some of the things we’re doing digitally, we’ve been less scripted. That’s not to say we’ll never consider the form, it’s just that right now we’ve got a good run doing what we’re doing now” (MULTICHANNEL.com, 10/27).