ESPN has signed a multiyear deal with Pat McAfee to bring his sports talk show, “The Pat McAfee Show,” to the network. The show will be aired on weekdays on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN’s YouTube channel. McAfee will also continue as an analyst on ESPN’s “College GameDay” and host alternate broadcasts of college football games. The show, known for its athlete interviews and breaking news, has gained popularity and will maintain its substance and style despite the move to ESPN. Additionally, ESPN announced a documentary series on Serena Williams titled “In the Arena: Serena Williams,” following the success of the “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady” series.
ESPN: ‘Pat McAfee Show’ coming to ESPN in multiyear deal
ESPN News Services; May 16, 2023
Pat McAfee is bringing his weekday sports talk show to ESPN this fall as part of a multiyear deal, the network announced Tuesday.
“The Pat McAfee Show” will air live weekdays simultaneously on ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN’s YouTube channel. ESPN will announce the new weekday afternoon schedule before the show is launched this fall. “SportsCenter” will continue to be included in the schedule.
“Pat is a proven talent,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the statement. “He and his team have built ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ into one of the most engaging programs in sports and all of media. It’s a destination for athlete interviews and breaking news, and the centerpiece of a growing community of sports fans. We’re honored to bring Pat and the show to ESPN through a multifaceted, multiplatform approach.”
McAfee also will continue his analyst role on ESPN’s “College GameDay” and host alternate broadcasts of ESPN’s college football telecasts.
McAfee, a former All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts, launched his show, co-hosted by former NFL linebacker A.J. Hawk and featuring Boston Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, Tone Digs and others, in 2019. The show, which currently streams on McAfee’s YouTube channel, has gained national attention with its weekly interviews with quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the NFL season.
“We are extremely honored that ESPN is blessing us with this opportunity to be a part of the next chapter of the ESPN family,” McAfee said in the statement. “We do not take that lightly and are going to work hard to make sure this is a success. All parties involved agree the time has come for a bunch of sports stooges in a Thunderdome in Indiana to sprinkle in some fun and celebration of sport as well.”
McAfee said during ESPN’s presentation to advertisers Tuesday that he wouldn’t swear “nearly as much” once his show moves to ESPN, but the substance and style of the show would not change despite its new home.
“We ain’t changing a damn thing,” McAfee said. “Every other word is good to go. … We won’t be doing that because it’s the middle of the day, but everything else will be good.”
ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams. “In the Arena: Serena Williams” has started production and comes on heels of the 2021 “Man in the Arena: Tom Brady” series. The Brady series was 10 parts and focused on each of the seasons Brady took his team to the Super Bowl.
ESPN has not announced how many parts there will be for the Williams series. Williams won 23 singles titles in grand slam tournaments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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