The ESPYs this year will move from ESPN to ABC and broadcast live on July 15. Prior to the start of the show, "SportsCenter at The ESPYs" and "The ESPYs Countdown Show" will air from 6:00-7:00pm and 7:00-8:00pm, respectively, on ESPN (ESPN). ADWEEK's Chris Ariens noted the move to ABC "puts the awards show in front of a larger potential audience," and one that is "not uniquely sports-centric." The ESPYs "have transcended the sports world in recent years, attracting celebrities from TV, film and music" (ADWEEK.com, 4/23).
OLYMPIC PROPORTIONS: The AP reported the IOC "plans to launch its digital Olympic TV channel" in April '16, just a few months before the Rio Games. Olympic Broadcast Services CEO Yiannis Exarchos said that the channel "is hiring a staff of almost 100 people based in Madrid to produce programmes and features on Olympic athletes and sports to accompany footage of past Games." Exarchos: "It's a pretty aggressive plan, it's a pretty optimistic plan but we live in the Olympic world." Details of likely revenue and costs "remain sparse." But Exerchos said that the channel "would secure a return" on the $600M investment in 10 years (AP, 4/23).
SNAKE BITTEN: In Phoenix, Scott Bordow reports a glitch that caused some DirecTV customers living in Sun City, Ariz., to not get D-backs games on FS Arizona "has been fixed." Residents "living in the 85375 zip code lost the feed" during the first two weeks of the season "because the DirecTV database wasn't updated properly when their zip code went from six to five numbers." D-backs Senior VP/Communications Josh Rawitch said the team received a "few dozen" calls last week (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/24).
LIVE FROM THE HIVE: In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell reports Hornets TV play-by-play announcer Steve Martin -- the team's "original radio voice" -- is "returning to that medium next season after eight years." Martin "will do radio for the Hornets’ 82-game schedule next season, replacing Scott Lauer" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/24).
