ESPN next Monday is "joining TV’s morning fray," as "SportsCenter AM" will launch at 7:00am ET, the "earliest ESPN has ever aired an original hour of the program," according to Brian Steinberg of VARIETY. During the three-hour show, co-hosts Jay Harris, Kevin Negandhi and Jaymee Sire, as well as contributor Sarina Morales, will "deliver a new take on sports news that is tailored to the behavior of the early-morning viewer." ESPN Senior VP/"SportsCenter" & News Rob King said, "We are zeroing in now how ‘SportsCenter’ can distinguish itself throughout the day. We are really trying to differentiate the hours of ‘SportsCenter’ that are on the air.” Steinberg reports all the daytime versions of “SportsCenter” through 1:30pm "will be tweaked and debut in new versions the week 'AM' debuts." King said that the net will "attempt to make the new A.M. effort specifically for the early bird," including "aggressively informing viewers of what segments are coming up and when they will air." King added that the anchors will have a "more conversational tone than they might at other hours of the day." The opening hour will "focus on game highlights in rapid-fire fashion, with hosts able to do more than just narrate the action." King said as the morning progresses, anchors will begin to “parse the night in different ways.” The third hour will include "some emphasis on news breaking that morning." King said that the new "SportsCenter" will "share some resources" with ABC's "GMA" and ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike." Steinberg notes the "Mike & Mike" simulcast on ESPN2 next Monday also will "get a new look, enhanced set and new theme." ESPN's Molly Qerim will "provide news updates, discussions of trending topics and a short segment" promoting that day's "First Take," which she moderates (VARIETY.com, 2/1).
MORE OF WHAT TO EXPECT: SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported Hannah Storm is "expected to get her own solo" hour of "SportsCenter" from 10:00-11:00am, while Jay Crawford and Chris McKendry will continue to co-host the 11:00am-12:00pm hour. The 12:00-2:00pm window will "consist of a co-host setup" with Cari Champion based in L.A. and David Lloyd in Bristol (SI.com, 1/31).
