Amazon hired former ESPN Exec VP/Global Business & Content Strategy MARIE DONOGHUE to "oversee sports for Prime Video," according to sources cited by Jessica Toonkel of THE INFORMATION. The hire of Donoghue, a 19-year veteran of ESPN who left the net in June '17, shows how Amazon is "continuing to focus on sports to win viewers of its Prime video service" (THEINFORMATION.com, 8/28). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Andrew Bucholtz wrote it is "unclear" how Donoghue fits in with the role of Amazon Head of Sports JIM DELORENZO, who was hired in '16, but it is "clear that Donoghue will play a significant role in Amazon’s sports efforts going forward." At ESPN, Donoghue "oversaw a lot of different initiatives, including Grantland, FiveThirtyEight, The Undefeated, ESPN Films and '30 for 30.'" It is the ESPN Films/"30 for 30" involvement that is "perhaps particularly interesting when it comes to Donoghue and Amazon." Documentaries are "one area where Amazon’s really made their mark on the sports space so far, especially with the NFL and Manchester City ones." Donoghue’s experience "may come in handy," as there is "obviously value in these immediate all-access documentaries, just as there’s value in live games, and it doesn’t seem likely Amazon will abandon either any time soon" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 8/28). Donoghue was honored as an SBJ/SBD Game Changer in '12 (THE DAILY).
