Pat McAfee’s present is transferring to ESPN as a part of a brand new multiyear deal introduced Tuesday.
McAfee first joined ESPN as a university soccer analyst for its Thursday evening video games in 2019. He returned to the community final yr and have become a part of the “School GameDay” crew in addition to internet hosting some alternate shows of ESPN video games, together with the CFP Nationwide Championship.
That may proceed, however it’s McAfee’s present that has created essentially the most buzz. It started on satellite tv for pc radio in 2016 and picked up steam when it started streaming in 2019. The present has been primarily on YouTube the previous three years, however will transfer to ESPN, the ESPN YouTube Channel and ESPN+ as a part of the community’s afternoon lineup starting within the fall. It’ll seemingly air after “First Take” and begin at 12 p.m. ET.
McAfee is exiting a four-year take care of FanDuel that the New York Publish reported was value $120 million.
The McAfee present is thought for weekly appearances by Aaron Rodgers throughout the soccer season, together with his announcement of his impending commerce to the New York Jets, but additionally for a frequent use of profanity. McAfee mentioned throughout ESPN’s presentation to advertisers Tuesday that he wouldn’t swear “almost as a lot” however the substance and elegance of the present wouldn’t change regardless of its new house.
“We ain’t altering a rattling factor,” McAfee mentioned. “Each different phrase is sweet to go. … We received’t be doing that as a result of it’s the center of the day, however every part else will probably be good.”
ESPN additionally introduced a documentary sequence on Serena Williams and 4 main matchups for the upcoming faculty soccer season.
“Within the Enviornment: Serena Williams” has began manufacturing and comes on heels of the 2021 “Man within the Enviornment: Tom Brady” sequence. The Brady sequence was 10 components and targeted on every of the seasons Brady took his crew to the Tremendous Bowl.
ESPN has not introduced what number of components there will probably be for the Williams sequence. Williams received 23 singles titles in grand slam tournaments, however ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro mentioned the episodes received’t be dictated by that.
“We’ll mix some issues right here, but it surely’s going to be unbelievable. I’m most likely as enthusiastic about that as I’m any movie that we’ve got in improvement proper now,” Pitaro mentioned.
Williams additionally appeared on stage throughout the presentation. The sequence will probably be directed by Gotham Chopra and is co-produced by ESPN, Faith of Sports activities, Brady’s 199 Productions, and Williams’ and Caroline Currier’s 9 Two Six Productions.
The Labor Day weekend sport between Florida State and LSU will air on ABC for the second straight season. The evening sport will probably be performed in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 3.
Alabama will host Texas on Sept. 9 in a sport airing on ESPN. ABC once more can have the Crimson River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma from Dallas on Oct. 7 in addition to Notre Dame’s sport at Clemson on Nov. 4.
The ESPN presentation was one a part of the Walt Disney Firm’s complete program for advertisers Tuesday. ESPN and different networks owned by Disney used to have separate packages earlier than the transfer to a mixed presentation a few years in the past.
Rita Ferro, president of Disney promoting gross sales and partnerships, famous the transfer from eight completely different occasions to at least one stemmed from a requirement from advertisers to do fewer large occasions.
The presentation got here amid layoffs all through the Walt Disney Firm, together with ESPN. Disney CEO Bob Iger introduced in February that the corporate would cut back 7,000 jobs both by way of attrition or layoffs.
ESPN went by way of the primary of two rounds of reductions final month. There additionally will probably be a spherical of cuts involving on-air expertise over the summer season executed by way of non-renewal of contracts, buyouts or cuts.
“It has been a troublesome interval, the previous few weeks. I believe people are trying ahead to getting by way of this month and regrouping,” Pitaro mentioned. “We’re working in a world the place fewer households are subscribing to conventional tv. That places stress on the enterprise.”
