ESPN is cutting back its MLB coverage dramatically and will rely on an MLB Network-produced show to fill the void.
ESPN’s decision to lay off several of its high-profile baseball reporters and analysts left many wondering what the future of MLB coverage would be for the struggling cable giant.
Part of the answer emerged Thursday as the network announced ESPN2 will starting airing MLB Network’s Intentional Talk as part of “a new collaborative effort.” Hidden in the announcement was news that ESPN’s long-running Baseball Tonight broadcast will air only once a week, as a preview show for Sunday Night Baseball.
The network laid off veteran baseball reporter Jayson Stark as well as Baseball Tonight analysts Dallas Braden, Raul Ibanez and Doug Glanville.
Intentional Talk will air on ESPN2 Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET during the season and for 30 minutes during the offseason. It still will be broadcast in its regular 5 p.m. timeslot on MLB Network.
ESPN’s official announcement said the deal to air Intentional Talk, co-hosted by Chris Rose and Kevin Millar, underscores that “MLB content is fundamental to ESPN’s offerings.”
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The network went on to say: “Additionally, ESPN will continue to televise Baseball Tonight roadshows from the sport’s most significant events, including the World Series, MLB All-Star and the Home Run Derby, MLB Wild Card, Opening Day, the Little League World Series, and more. Finally, ESPN will continue to regularly integrate baseball studio coverage into other weekly franchises, such as Monday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball.”
But it is hard to square that sentiment with the news about Baseball Tonight, which has been a staple of programming for ESPN since 1990, when it first started airing Sunday Night Baseball.