Could ESPN’s replacement for Around the Horn already be on its airwaves? According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, ESPN is considering extending ATH’s longtime running mate, Pardon the Interruption to an hour to make up for the empty 5 p.m. ET slot.
Marchand says ESPN still isn’t sure exactly what it will do but that preliminary talks indicate that extending PTI is, “at the forefront of discussions.” He also reports that the show’s longtime hosts, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, would likely receive raises for extending their airtime to an hour each. PTI is one of ESPN’s staple programs and began airing on the network in 2001 but will soon be without its longtime compatriot as a lead-in.
Among the other options include a new Shannon Sharpe vehicle, something Marchand reports was discussed during Sharpe’s contract talks earlier this year. Marchand hints that the show could feature Sharpe and his First Take foil Stephen A. Smith, though nothing further has been discussed yet.
ESPN made a surprising announcement in November that it was ending Around the Horn after 22 years on the air. According to the New York Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel, who broke the news, the show will reportedly end before the 2025-26 NFL season, meaning a summer end date is in line.
Tony Reali has hosted ATH since 2004 and has so far not addressed the topic of the show coming to an end.
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