Tonight in Unpacks: In the wake of last week’s firing of football production czar Lee Fitting, ESPN’s Norby Williamson sent out an internal memo outlining who would be overseeing pro and college broadcasts, along with some other moves. SBJ’s John Ourand details what’s happening behind the scenes.
You’re reading the Lite version of SBJ Unpacks. Subscribe to SBJ All Access for the full version of this newsletter, plus daily email alerts, executive transactions, virtual SBJ Event access and dozens of other subscriber-only benefits. Here are the stories you’re missing in tonight’s full newsletter:
Other headlines:
- U.S. Open expecting continued strong financials in 2023
- Crypto.com Arena has lucrative run of late summer events
- PWHL announces plans for inaugural season
- TV networks prepare to fight Nielsen’s Amazon NFL plan
- Op-ed: Sports stars help fight stigma of mental health struggles
- TendedBar to debut at Texas, Texas A&M stadiums
- NASCAR's Sportradar deal ends Genius' exclusivity
In this morning's Buzzcast, SBJ’s Abe Madkour shares his thoughts on:
- Bills, Sabres separate again after Pegula Sports & Entertainment is dissolved
- Pro Women’s Hockey League picking its first six markets
- Broncos rolling out $100 million in upgrades for Mile High
- More changes afoot for the College Football Playoff?
- Are pro, college support staff rosters getting too bloated?
- Matt Davis getting big promotion at A-B InBev
ESPN reorg: Williamson shuffles network’s football production roles
ESPN’s behind-the-scenes pro and college football teams are set, as the network’s executive editor and head of event and studio production, Norby Williamson, outlined changes via an internal memo this afternoon, reports SBJ's John Ourand.
The moves come a little more than a week after former SVP/Production Lee Fitting was fired, though ESPN sources said while some of the moves announced today were prompted by Fitting’s removal, not all the changes were made as a result of Fitting’s situation. Fitting had overseen all college and pro football production at ESPN.