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June 25, 2008
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ESPN Aiming To Add Two New Late-Night Shows As Early As April '09

Clinkscales Discusses ESPN's
Plans For Late-Night Shows

ESPN2 is hoping to launch next April a 60-minute late-night show titled "ESPN Timeline," but the "ideal plan is to eventually expand to a 90-120-minute late-night block," according to Ben Grossman of BROADCASTING & CABLE. ESPN has "no format as of yet" for "Timeline," but the net "foresees a multi-person chatfest about the latest in sports." Once the show is "up and running, ESPN would like to add a more comedic-slanted show to follow it," for which the net has been "soliciting and taking pitches for months." A sports-themed version of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" has been discussed. ESPN Senior VP/Content Development & Enterprises Keith Clinkscales: "That's the holy grail. But I don't know what it will be; it depends on talent. We remain open to different opportunities." Grossman writes one direction ESPN "most likely isn't headed is back into the scripted world, after high-profile misses" such as "Playmakers" and "Tilt." The net instead is "continuing to push its documentary and film side, which it feels is more in line with its refocusing on core sports." Clinkscales: "When we are thinking about storytelling, we want that as close to the games as possible, and the documentaries let us go there. We want to distinguish ourselves in that area" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 6/23 issue).

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