"Proven chemistry is difficult to manufacture. ESPN already knows this pairing works. With another opening on First Take, the easiest decision may also be the smartest one."
"USA Sports has made a big investment in myself and in the Pac-12 and wants to be the authentic home for the conference with the biggest games week-in and week-out."
"ESPN now has a decision to make. Lean all the way in and risk alienating part of its audience. Or show restraint—and protect the integrity of the platform that made this partnership valuable in the first place."
"The window between 10:45 and 11 a.m. ET averaged 26.0 million viewers as play-by-play voice Kenny Albert delivered the decisive call that secured the United States’ first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since 1980."
After slimming the broadcast to two hours in the middle of the year, USA Network will now broadcast a three-hour show beginning on Friday, January 2nd.
"We are excited to have veterans of multiple Olympics returning to serve as hosts to present the most compelling stories, news, and interviews as we take viewers from event to event throughout the Games"
"The new Pac-12 is where tradition meets transformation — a unique opportunity in the rapidly evolving college sports landscape that strongly aligns with the go-forward vision of USA Sports"
"Proven chemistry is difficult to manufacture. ESPN already knows this pairing works. With another opening on First Take, the easiest decision may also be the smartest one."
"I use the term irresistible on this show. That’s the moments I’m chasing in this show. It’s the one you can’t resist when it shows up in your feed. You’ve seen it five times in that ten second clip, and you’re still unpacking some of the feelings behind it. That’s what success will look like for me building out a roster of shows bringing those feelings out in different ways."