ESPN Launches Daily Mobile ‘SportsCenter,’ Twitter Team-Up, Digital Originals – NewFronts

May 2, 2018

ESPN announced a new daily edition of SportsCenter for its mobile app, as well as a series of shows developed through parent Walt Disney Co.’s sweeping new agreement with Twitter, during a NewFronts presentation today in New York.

The new SportsCenter, listed as “coming soon” to the app, will be hosted by Scott Van Pelt and other SportsCenter anchors will be a curated edition, with top plays, highlights and a preview of the day in sports. The new show, plus the well of Twitter content, is designed to

ESPN, under the direction of newly installed president Jimmy Pitaro, has been overhauling its digital presence in recent weeks, rolling out a redesigned app as well as the $5-a-month OTT service ESPN+. The NewFronts announcements emphasized the effort to deliver the network’s content to fans across platforms, a top-line priority for Disney CEO Bob Iger. Disney is also building a direct-to-consumer app for launch in late 2019.

The Twitter tie, teased during Monday’s NewFronts presentation by Twitter, was a major theme of the presentation.

“Our relationship with Twitter goes as far back as 2007 and is rooted in connecting with fans and driving conversation around sports,” said Ryan Spoon, Senior Vice President, Social Content, ESPN, in the network’s announcement.. “For over a decade, ESPN has fostered a Twitter presence unmatched in reach and scale – which has led to terrific engagement and fan interaction. We are tremendously excited about delivering a series of unique, live and interactive shows that will pair the best of Twitter with the best of ESPN.”

Live shows and content from ESPN in development include:

SportsCenter Live – When news breaks, ESPN will bring fans unparalleled coverage in Twitter Moments and Video with @SCLive, a Twitter take on its flagship program and an extension of its popular @SportsCenter handle that reaches more than 35 million sports fans. Blending insight, analysis, and reporting from a wide array of talent and reporters, @SCLive will deliver robust breaking news coverage through the innovation of the Moments experience.

Hoop Streams – Launching just in time for the NBA Playoffs, the show will feature two of the most trusted and respected voices in basketball, David Jacoby and Ryen Russillo, previewing each playoff, conference final and NBA Finals game prior to tip-off. True to the Twitter platform, they will incorporate real-time conversation with fans as they discuss the upcoming match-up.

Fantasy Focus Live – ESPN’s award-winning and most popular fantasy sports podcast will now also be live streamed daily on Twitter. Each morning, fantasy experts Matthew Berry, Field Yates, Stephania Bell and Daniel Dopp will provide player previews, injury reports, game overviews and strategies, as well as featured guests and interviews, throughout the football season. The show will take fan questions and opinions, and engage the Twitter audience using key football moments and social content.

The College Football Show – ESPN’s new weekly show will recap the best highlights of the day and preview the biggest game of the week on every college football Saturday throughout the season. Fans will be able to interact with the show through Twitter.

Rankings Reactions – Coming off its success last year, Rankings Reactions returns with Mike Golic, Jr. and Jason Fitz this upcoming college football season. Each week, Mike and Jason will react to and discuss the latest College Football Playoff rankings from the moment they are first unveiled on October 30 through Selection Day on December 8. Once again, they will bring in audience questions and insights directly from Twitter to the forefront of the conversation.

Disney’s wide-ranging deal with Twitter includes ABC, Disney Channel and Freeform, Disney Digital Network, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Radio Disney and Marvel. Live content to launch from these entities under the new agreement will be announced at a later date.

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