Former tennis player Andy Roddick yesterday was announced as a co-host of "Fox Sports Live," the flagship news program for the upcoming Fox Sports 1 network, and he said that he will appear on the show "between Monday and Friday, working either four or five nights depending on the week," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Roddick will join host Charissa Thompson on "one side of the studio as part of a panel discussing the sports news of the day and interviewing newsmakers." Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole will "appear on the other side of the studio as the primary highlight readers." Fox Sports execs "initially contacted" Roddick a few weeks after he announced his retirement at the U.S. Open last August. Roddick told Fox Sports execs he "was not looking for a full-time job in television," but the two sides "stayed in touch." Roddick's previous work on a syndicated Fox Sports Radio show with host Bobby Jones "proved to be a big selling point." Fox Sports said that Roddick "could also get involved with its radio division again." Fox Sports Media Group Exec VP & Exec Producer Scott Ackerson said that he "listened to Roddick on Fox Sports Radio and became convinced he could converse on multiple sports." Roddick "signed a multi-year deal." He said that he would be "interested in an occasional one-off exhibition but his job with 'Fox Sports Live' is his priority." Roddick added that he is "not interested in commentating on tennis." Test shows for "Fox Sports Live" will "start as early as June." Fox Sports plans to "hire more panelists (likely former athletes) for the show in the near future." Fox Sports execs said that viewers "should think of 'Fox Sports Live' as multiple shows inside a three-hour block" (SI.com, 5/22).
HAS THE EAGLE LANDED? THE BIG LEAD's Jason McIntyre cites sources as saying that former NFLer Donovan McNabb is "in advanced talks" with FS1 to "possibly join" the net. McNabb's role "isn't yet defined." A source said that he "likely would be an analyst" on "Fox Sports Live." McNabb was an NFL Network analyst last season (THEBIGLEAD.com, 5/23).
LEAVING 8 MILE: FS Detroit on-air personality Ryan Field announced that he is "leaving the local all-sports channel" to join FS1. The DETROIT NEWS noted Field "started with FSD as a correspondent in 2003 and served in that role on Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons Live telecasts" (DETROITNEWS.com, 5/22).
