ESPN's "OTL" will air a 90-minute special today at 1:00pm ET "featuring live coverage" of O.J. Simpson's parole hearing in Carson City, Nev., according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Jeremy Schaap will "anchor the coverage" from ESPN HQ and will be "joined in-studio" by legal analyst Ryan Smith and The Undefeated’s Jason Reid. Mark Schwarz will "report from Nevada's Lovelock Correctional Center" while Shelley Smith will be in Carson City, "where the Nevada Board of Parole will convene in to consider the case." ESPN also is "picking up a pool feed from inside the hearing while Simpson will appear via video conference." A decision from the parole board is "expected on the day of the hearing." "OTL" and "E:60" Coordinating Producer David Sarosi said, "All of this is taking place during the absolute slowest week on the sports calendar and as a TV producer when you see something like this, like the parole hearing for Simpson pop up in the third week of July, you are thanking your lucky stars that you actually have something of real news value to talk about and produce. But even if it was January 20, we would still be doing this, I assure you." Deitsch noted Hannah Storm at 7:00pm will anchor an hour-long "SportsCenter" "dedicated to the day's Simpson proceedings" (SI.com, 7/17). In Miami, Barry Jackson noted ESPN's interest in the story is "hardly surprising, considering the time and resources that the network invested in 'OJ: Made in America,' its Oscar-winning documentary that aired last year" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/17). Nevada Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Brooke Keast said that more than 240 media credentials "have been approved" for today. She added that a dozen satellite trucks are "expected at the sites" both in Carson City and Lovelock (USATODAY.com, 7/18).
DOMINATING THE NEWS CYCLE: VARIETY's Brian Steinberg noted NBC News expects to air a special report at 1:00pm on the parole hearing, "enlisting Lester Holt to anchor the proceedings." He will be "joined by Savannah Guthrie and Cynthia McFadden." Ashleigh Banfield will "lead coverage on Time Warner's HLN." Fox News will also "offer analysis," with MSNBC and CNN both presenting coverage as well. Some networks "intend to offer more coverage after the hearing ends." CNN tomorrow night will present "After O.J.: The Fuhrman Tapes Revealed," in which correspondent Kyra Phillips "reveals never-before-heard excerpts from the tapes that many believe altered the trajectory of the Simpson murder trial." MSNBC's Ari Melber on Saturday at 10:00pm will "present an in-depth examination of Simpson's life since the murder trial in an hour that will feature interviews with business partners, friends, fellow inmates -- and rarely heard audio recordings of Simpson himself" (VARIETY.com, 7/18).
LOVE IT OR HATE IT: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said he would "spend some time watching" the parole hearing. Kornheiser: "Yes, I'm going to watch. I want to see what he looks like, I want to see how he's aged. It's irresistible to me, if you put that on I will watch some of it." ESPN's Mike Wilbon responded, "I guess that's why it's on because there are enough people like you. I find it embarrassing, I find it just pandering to the lowest possible common denominator" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/17).
