ABC will attempt to keep sports fans tuned in Sunday afternoon when its NBA coverage gives way to the network’s Oscars pre-show, leaning on ESPN digital personality Omar Raja to help bridge the transition between live sports and Hollywood’s biggest night.
Raja, who built a massive following through his House of Highlights social media brand before joining ESPN in 2020, will appear during the first 30 minutes of ABC’s On the Red Carpet at the Oscars.
According to reporting by Variety, the segment aims to blend sports conversation with broader pop culture topics while encouraging viewers who tuned in for basketball to stay with the broadcast as the Academy Awards festivities begin.
Network executives view the crossover as a strategic opportunity to connect two massive audiences that often intersect in the social media era, particularly as sports personalities increasingly drive digital conversation beyond traditional game coverage.
“We’re trying to take part of that sports audience and keep them engaged by mixing sports and culture,” Raja said of the concept to Variety. Raja’s segments will lean heavily on the same conversational style that built his following online. He regularly invites fans to submit opinions and hot takes through social media, which he then highlights or debates in short-form videos and posts designed to spark wider engagement.
Those submissions frequently extend well beyond sports.
“I get every kind of take you could imagine,” Raja said. “One person might say Pop-Tarts are the most underrated snack ever, while someone else argues popcorn is completely overrated. The conversations go way beyond sports.”
ABC’s early Oscars coverage will also feature ABC News personalities Linsey Davis, Whit Johnson and Lara Spencer, along with veteran sports and entertainment journalist Chris Connelly. Raja contributed briefly during last year’s pre-show, though his expanded role signals Disney’s continued effort to integrate sports storytelling with entertainment programming.
Adrianne Anderson, ABC’s senior vice president of content development, said Raja’s background made him a logical choice to connect those audiences.
“As one of ESPN’s leading digital voices, Omar brings a perspective that naturally links NBA coverage on ABC with the excitement surrounding the Oscars red carpet,” Anderson said.
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