LEAH LAPLACA is changing duties at ESPN, moving from the company's programming department to its affiliate group. In her new role as VP/Digital Video Distribution, LaPlaca will report to Senior VP/Digital Video Distribution MATT MURPHY. ESPN Exec VP/Programming NORBY WILLIAMSON in an internal memo to employees wrote LaPlaca and her team "will work on the syndication of ESPN.com content and short-form programming for the SEC Network," in addition to providing content for ESPN's distributors. Williamson: "This move will strengthen our relationship with our colleagues in Affiliate as we continue to work together to create and distribute quality content." LaPlaca had been VP/Programming, where she managed ESPN's relationships with the NFL, NBA and golf. LaPlaca's former direct reports, Senior Dir DOUG WHITE (NBA) and Dir MATT VOLK (NFL), now will report to VP JULIE SOBIESKI. LaPlaca's golf responsibilities will report to VP JOHN PAPA (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
TODAY IN HISTORY: For the first time in 25 years, CBS Sports will have a new producer overseeing "The NFL Today." The net named DREW KALISKI producer for the pregame show. He replaces ERIC MANN, who held that position since '88. Kaliski had been a producer at CBS Sports Network, last year launching "NFL Monday QB" and overseeing the network's Super Bowl week productions in New Orleans during the week leading up to the game. Previously, he was a senior producer at NFL Network who worked on "Total Access" and the scouting combine. Mann will stay at CBS Sports as a producer (Ourand).
ALL THE NEWS: Fox Sports 1 has named Minneapolis-based KMSP-Fox VP & News Dir BILL DALLMAN to the same position. Dallman, who begin July 1 with the upstart cable net, will report to Senior VP/News RICK JAFFE (Fox). He will work on the nightly "Fox Sports Live" highlight show (TWINCITIES.com, 5/30).
