ESPN is reportedly tapping Peter Schrager for his own daily show. The Athletic was first to report, Big Day with Peter Schrager debuts September 10. The official announcement follows months of speculation regarding Schrager and the daypart.
What We Know: Big Day will be replacing SportsCenter in that hour. The show will run four days a week during college football season, then expands to five afterward. Fridays during college football season will include Bussin’ & Pate, hosted by Josh Pate, Taylor Lewan and Will Compton. Schrager joined ESPN last year after leaving NFL Network, where he helped build Good Morning Football, and has since appeared on many of ESPN’s daily debate shows.
What’s At Stake: This is an investment by ESPN back into developing studio programming after some time away from the creative model. Having a program surrounding more direct football coverage following Pat McAfee’s program seems like a destination for a home run.
What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear the official make up of the show and its rotation of guest panelists.
What It Means: The move underscores ESPN’s continued bet on personality-driven programming. Schrager’s elevation signals confidence in him beyond pure NFL coverage. While Schrager will have the football season ahead, it will be interesting when we get to spring how the reception of the show becomes with no NFL or college football to speak of. Schrager has been getting reps in fill in roles on Get Up, First Take, and other studio programming. That should lend to a good balance once football season is complete.
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Can’t imagine “Shrages” carrying his own hourly TV gig. Obviously the ESPN brass felt the same and made the VERY smart move of adding “Bussin WTB” to the gig. I guess we’ll see soon enough whether or not Pete has got the legs to carry and make it work.
I wish him luck as it’s a cutthroat industry that requires constantly pivoting!
Was psyched to have stumbled upon this site until the pop ups kept on persisting as comments I made in response to articles sat in queue. Oh well, movin’ on, it’s all good!
Shrages alone would be a snooze fest which the ESPN brass smartly recognized by adding “Bussin’ WTB” into the mix. The business is more cutthroat than ever so hopefully Shrages and his life preservers can compete!