Sports Biz: ESPN Highly Quarantined w/ Dan Le Batard & Friends UPDATE: CANCELLED! Now DEBATABLE! Now DONE!
- Thread starter playahaitian
- Start date
That's What She Said with Sarah Spain - You Get The Show - One Last LAF | ESPN
Sarah - aka The Commish - welcomes recurring guests from the "Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" and the "Le Batard And Friends" podcast network to share their favorite stories and memories of Dan, Stu and the Shipping Container as the guys get ready to leave ESPN.
Dan Le Batard’s New Media Startup Will Reportedly Target Jemele Hill And Bomani Jones
ROBBY KALLANDTWITTERSENIOR SPORTS WRITER
JANUARY 12, 2021
uproxx.com
Dan Le Batard has ventured off on his own after two decades at ESPN, as the longtime columnist, radio host, and TV personality parted ways with the four-letter on January 4 with an emotional goodbye on Highly Questionable.
In the week-plus since, Le Batard’s radio show has been doing a “pirate” broadcast now that it is independent and while there was ample speculation about where the wildly popular show would land, the answer we got over the weekend was that Le Batard and former ESPN chief John Skipper would be teaming up to launch a new media company. While we don’t know specifics on a launch date for the new outlet or even a name, we do have some details on who they will be targeting to bring on board.
According to Front Office Sports, they are going after a number of Le Batard’s former ESPN colleagues, including Jemele Hill (who confirmed discussions in the story), Bomani Jones, Kate Fagan, and Erik Rydholm — the producer and creator of Highly Questionable, PTI, and much of ESPN’s afternoon block.
In any case, the Le Batard and Skipper company clearly has a vision for the type of personality they want to bring on board and see themselves as capable of landing some very big fish — which also indicates they will have ample funding behind them.
ROBBY KALLANDTWITTERSENIOR SPORTS WRITER
JANUARY 12, 2021
Dan Le Batard’s Media Startup Will Target Jemele Hill And Bomani Jones
Dan Le Batard reportedly has his eye on some of his favorite former ESPN colleagues to bring onto his new media startup.
uproxx.com
Dan Le Batard has ventured off on his own after two decades at ESPN, as the longtime columnist, radio host, and TV personality parted ways with the four-letter on January 4 with an emotional goodbye on Highly Questionable.
In the week-plus since, Le Batard’s radio show has been doing a “pirate” broadcast now that it is independent and while there was ample speculation about where the wildly popular show would land, the answer we got over the weekend was that Le Batard and former ESPN chief John Skipper would be teaming up to launch a new media company. While we don’t know specifics on a launch date for the new outlet or even a name, we do have some details on who they will be targeting to bring on board.
According to Front Office Sports, they are going after a number of Le Batard’s former ESPN colleagues, including Jemele Hill (who confirmed discussions in the story), Bomani Jones, Kate Fagan, and Erik Rydholm — the producer and creator of Highly Questionable, PTI, and much of ESPN’s afternoon block.
Hill has a number of projects she is working on, like her Vice show Stick To Sports with Cari Champion as well as a Spotify podcast, so it seems the biggest hurdle is figuring out exactly what her role would be and how involved she is. Jones is still under contract with ESPN, having taken over Highly Questionable in Le Batard’s absence among other responsibilities, so swiping him away would be quite the task.
In any case, the Le Batard and Skipper company clearly has a vision for the type of personality they want to bring on board and see themselves as capable of landing some very big fish — which also indicates they will have ample funding behind them.
John Skipper, Dan Le Batard's Progressive Response To 'Outkick'
John Skipper and Dan Le Batard are talking to Jemele Hill about a liberal sports startup that would be opposite of Clay Travis' Outkick.
frontofficesports.com
John Skipper, Dan Le Batard’s Progressive Response To ‘Outkick’
- Jemele Hill confirms early discussions with the new startup.
- New outlet would be philosophical opposite of Clay Travis’ site.
- BY MICHAEL MCCARTHY
JANUARY 12, 2021
Former ESPN president John Skipper and personality Dan Le Batard are partnering on a politically progressive sports media company. The new venture is described as the strategic opposite of Clay Travis’ Outkick, sources told Front Office Sports.
Skipper and Le Batard will build a diverse lineup of progressive sports voices, said sources. Their target list includes former ESPN colleagues Jemele Hill, Bomani Jones and Kate Fagan.
Their still-unnamed startup has begun to seek sports talent in front of and behind the camera, said sources. Their strategy: sell various types of original content, from TV, radio and streaming sports shows to films and documentaries.
Hill confirmed she’s had early discussions with Skipper.
“We’re trying to figure out the most productive way to work together,” she told Front Office Sports. “Both John and Dan know I have such a deep level of respect for them. So me working with them again always felt like it was inevitable.”
Skipper, the executive chairman of sports streaming company DAZN, also wants to hire a “content creator” he trusts from his six-year stint as president of ESPN from 2012-2017.
Among possible executives on his wish list are three longtime colleagues: Erik Rydholm, who executive produced Le Batard’s “Highly Questionable” TV show at ESPN; Connor Schell, the former content chief who resigned to form his own production company; and DAZN executive vice president of content Jamie Horowitz, who launched DAZN’s “40 Days” documentary franchise after creating “SportsNation” and “First Take.”
A DAZN spokesman said Skipper was not available for comment.
BY MICHAEL MCCARTHY / JUNE 26, 2020
Skipper and Le Batard’s new content outfit faces plenty of hurdles. First, they’ll need financing. Their standard of personalities and executive talent won’t come cheap.
Some candidates on their wish list like Jones, host of “The Right Time” podcast, are still under contract with ESPN.
Hill, whom ESPN suspended in 2017 after calling President Donald Trump a “white supremacist,” has formed her own independent media platform after leaving the sports giant.
Her projects include “Stick to Sports,” the Vice TV talk show with Cari Champion, the “Jemele Hill is Unbothered” Spotify podcast, a production company, and a regular column in The Atlantic.
The media veterans are tapping into a culturally, politically progressive avenue at a perfect time. The country is one week removed from the U.S. Capitol riots and one week away from Joe Biden’s inauguration and Democratic control of the Congress.
Jimmy Pitaro, Skipper’s successor as ESPN president, had directed his talent to steer clear of pure politics unless it directly intersects with sports such as player protests over the death of George Floyd.
Le Batard, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, called ESPN “cowardly” in 2019 for not addressing Trump’s racist remarks about four Democratic congresswomen of color at a political rally.
https://frontofficesports.com/dan-le-batard-leaving-espn-jan-4-jon-stugotz-weiner/
“Here, all of a sudden, nobody talks politics on anything unless we can use one of these sports figures as a meat shield in the most cowardly possible way to discuss the subject,” Le Batard had said on his show, adding that Hill’s public battle with Trump made ESPN afraid to tackle racial and social justices issues.
After signing off from ESPN on Jan. 4, Le Batard recently called Travis a “shit-stain” for hosting Trump on his radio show multiple times.
Even if they don’t reach an agreement on her involvement, Hill has “no doubt” Skipper and Le Batard will be successful in their new venture.
“John and Dan could fill a huge hole in the marketplace in terms of more content. Yes, of course, ESPN has a lot of it. But as streaming continues to grow and develop, this is still an untouched area for them,” she said. “So there’s a lot of opportunity out there.”
Travis tweeted he welcomes anyone who wants to start their own media business.
“Yay, capitalism. But this will just make [Outkick] even more successful because it pushes the rest of the sports media industry even farther left. It’s a woke knife fight to see who is the purest.”
If the Skipper/Le Batard startup gets off the ground, it should have its pick of available talent. Thousands of writers, editors, producers, directors, announcers and analysts have been thrown out of work by COVID-19-caused layoffs in the media business.
At the start of 2021, sports media free agents include ex-ESPNers such as Mike Golic Sr., Josina Anderson, Trey Wingo and Michelle Beadle. If Skipper and Le Batard hit it big, one hope is their independent company could one day sell for something close to the $200 million pocketed by ex-ESPN colleague Bill Simmons for The Ringer.
The Miami Herald first reported on Skipper and Le Batard’s plan to partner on a new venture.
You know it
So happy for Dan and the crew man.
Anyone checking the 24 hour stream?
Yea, been checking all day from time to time
Those were some glorious years man. The music they used to create alone was gold
ESPN Finally Cancels ‘Highly Questionable’
ESPN has finally canceled “Highly Questionable,” which continued on after co-creator and host Dan Le Batard left ESPN in January. The show will morph into a digital series, titled “Debatable,” on Oct. 4. Every weekday, a new 45-60-minute episode will debut exclusively on ESPN’s Twitter, Facebook...
Espn messed up on this one
Should have just moved it to espn+
It was the perfect vehicle to highlight the mire unique voices on the espn roster
Should have just moved it to espn+
It was the perfect vehicle to highlight the mire unique voices on the espn roster
@dik cashmere
OK seems like they doing my idea
www.oregonlive.com
theathletic.com
Good
They still owe me a check
OK seems like they doing my idea
ESPN cancels ‘Highly Questionable,’ debuts new Max Kellerman show Sept. 14
“Highly Questionable” was first hosted by longtime ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard.
ESPN's 'Highly Questionable' canceled; Max Kellerman's new show debuts Sept. 14
ESPN's "Highly Questionable," which launched in 2011, has been canceled and will have its final show on Friday. The premiere of "This Just In" hosted by Max Kellerman will be Sept. 14.
theathletic.com
Good
They still owe me a check
Yes they do. Someone on here definitely taking ideas@dik cashmere
OK seems like they doing my idea
ESPN cancels ‘Highly Questionable,’ debuts new Max Kellerman show Sept. 14
“Highly Questionable” was first hosted by longtime ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard.
ESPN's 'Highly Questionable' canceled; Max Kellerman's new show debuts Sept. 14
ESPN's "Highly Questionable," which launched in 2011, has been canceled and will have its final show on Friday. The premiere of "This Just In" hosted by Max Kellerman will be Sept. 14.
Good
They still owe me a check
Dan Le Batard: ‘I Couldn’t Do The Job ESPN Hired Me For Anymore’ | Barrett Media
"We left amicably and I don’t have hard feelings toward ESPN. They helped make us bigger."
www.barrettsportsmedia.com
John Skipper & Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media Inks First-Look Deal With Apple TV+
Former ESPN colleagues John Skipper and Dan Le Batard (Highly Questionable, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz) are getting into business with Apple TV+.
deadline.com
John Skipper, Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media Hires Deirdre Fenton as Head of Unscripted (EXCLUSIVE)
John Skipper and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media has brought on Deirdre Fenton as executive director of unscripted
variety.com