As the Fourth of July draws closer, ESPN has announced its broadcast plans for the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest from Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y. ESPN has the exclusive live broadcast rights from 10:45 a.m. EST until the conclusion of the event, marking the 21st consecutive year in which the company will televise the competition. Jeremy Schaap, host of E60 and Outside the Lines, will host the event along with Rich Shea, the president of Major League Eating, the organization that sanctions the event. Tiffany Greene, a college sports play-by-play commentator for ESPN, will provide on-site reporting for the broadcast.
Coverage of the women’s competition will start at 10:45 a.m. EST on ESPN3, during which Miki Sudo will aim to defend her Mustard Belt title. The men’s competition begins at 12 p.m. EST on ESPN2 and will be re-aired at 5 p.m. at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN. A new champion will be decided in the competition as a result of Joey Chestnut not participating following a sponsor conflict. Top male and female international eaters from various countries around the world will compete in the landmark competition from the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island.
“The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest is arguably the most iconic sporting event in American history,” George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, said in a statement. “Eaters from across the globe come to Coney Island to honor this celebration of freedom.”
During the competition itself, Miki Sudo and Geoffrey Esper will have isolation cameras on them airing on ESPN3. The Sudo camera will air at 11 a.m. EST and the Esper camera will be on at 12:30 p.m. EST for the competition. Sudo holds the world record in the women’s competition with 48.5 hot dogs and buns attained in 2020. Chestnut is the men’s world record-holder with 76 hot dogs and buns, a mark he set during the 2021 competition. Nathan’s Famous is also going to make its annual donation of 100,000 hot dogs to the Food Bank for New York City prior to the event.
