BOSTON — Since 1979, SportsCenter has been a pioneer by completely redefining how fans receive their daily sports news. Now, almost 40 years later, ESPN is looking to take their award-winning show to Snapchat — the first time that SportsCenter will be aired on a separate platform.
Currently on Snapchat, ESPN has a daily publisher subscription page where users can view short highlights and read the day’s breaking sports news articles. Over the past several months, ESPN has been in talks with Snap about launching a new show that is specific to the Snapchat platform.
“A year ago we launched Snapchat shows, and currently have 30 to date,” said Sean Mills, Snapchat’s Head of Original Content. “We really wanted to reimagine SportsCenter for a new generation, while still keeping the DNA that makes the show what it is. In today’s world, especially with the younger generations, the ‘mobile screen is the first screen,’ and we’re making a significant investment in producing content for this medium.”
On Monday at 5 p.m. ET, ESPN’s newest talent, Katie Nolan, took to the unchartered waters of Snapchat, where SportsCenter will debut on the popular mobile app. The new show is the first-ever daily sports show on Snapchat, and will only be about 3-5 minutes long — aired twice a day on weekdays at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. and also once at 5 a.m. on weekends. Staying true to the SportsCenter brand, the show will still feature a fast-paced mix of the latest and most engaging sports stories and breaking news.
“The conversations around sports have evolved,” Mills said. “I used to watch SportsCenter to find out the scores of games, and who played well the night before. Today, you can get that information on your phone the second it happens. We wanted to create a show that expanded the conversation from reporting the news, to opening up discussions and dialogue about culture and what’s going on with players off the court as well.”
The latest version and 1st episode of @SportsCenter is live on @Snapchat. pic.twitter.com/brwAk5Gr6U
— Josh Krulewitz (@jksports) November 13, 2017
This new show features a roster of up-and-coming talent, including Nolan, current SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan, ESPN NBA Commentator Cassidy Hubbarth, ESPN radio host (and former fiddle player for The Band Perry) Jason Fitz, and comedian Cy Amundson. All of the hosts are also very involved with the writing process and production of each episode — which is vital for the show to remain authentic, and allows viewers to experience each host’s true personality and opinions.
“This show is very ‘host-driven,’” ESPN Sr. Coordinating Producer Glenn Jacobs said. “The fans are going to spend a lot of time with these hosts, and we want it to feel just like another fellow sports fan discussing and sharing the news with them.
“These hosts should be people that you want to grab a drink or drive cross country with.
With years of sports news experience between them, both Nolan and Duncan were particularly excited for this unique opportunity. “This is very different and laid back for ESPN,” said Nolan, who is bringing her unfiltered/comedic-style reporting to mobile phones everywhere — reminiscent of her time as a host on Fox.
“I really enjoy pushing the limits and seeing where the boundaries are,” added Duncan.“This is very different than the SportsCenter that’s on television.”
“It sounds cliche, but ESPN’s mission statement is ‘to meet sports fans wherever they are,” said Jacobs. Now, fans will be able to have SportsCenter in the palm of their hand.
Literally.