Fox Sports yesterday formally announced Colin Cowherd will join the network "in a four-year deal" that includes appearing on the "Fox NFL Kickoff" Sunday pregame show, which is moving from FS1 to the flagship network this season, according to Marisa Guthrie of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Cowherd "already has moved" to L.A., where his daily radio show and its FS1 simulcast "will originate from the Fox lot, and he's expected to get his own FS1 nightly show next year." Cowherd said that part of his decision to leave ESPN was a "desire to reunite" with his old ESPN boss -- Fox Sports National Networks President Jamie Horowitz. Cowherd's FS1 debut will include the Sept. 3 Utah-Michigan football opener, "where he'll seek a do-over interview" with UM coach Jim Harbaugh, with whom Cowherd had a "famously awkward" on-air exchange on July 1. Cowherd: "I could stay (at ESPN) or I could go to a fledgling, young network with an open canvas that is really interested in doing new things. I don't want it to come out like I'm not appreciative of (ESPN). I mean ESPN plucked me out of nowhere and I'm forever grateful for the opportunity. I don't love the way it ended. But I'm not a grudge-holder." When asked if he was surprised by ESPN pulling him off the air before his contract expired, Cowherd responded, "Enterprises need to protect the enterprise. I get that. And I chose my words very poorly. I made a mistake. I can be harsh but I don't think I'm mean. I hurt people with my words and I regret that. But I don't want that ending to overwhelm what was a great relationship" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/12).
MAKING ROOM: SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted Cowherd moving to Fox "has a significant impact" on "The Mike Francesa Show," which currently airs on FS1 weekday afternoons when not preempted by world soccer coverage. With Cowherd's radio show being simulcast daily on FS1 in the afternoon, Fox said that Francesa's show "will now morph" to FS2 and Fox Sports Go (SI.com, 8/12).
