This is a move that was not totally unexpected. ESPN Radio is cutting the Colin Cowherd Show by an hour and giving that to the Scott Van Pelt Show. It actually benefits Cowherd as he hosts SportsNation on ESPN2 and gives him more time to prepare for the TV show.
Here’s the announcement.
Scott Van Pelt Show Expands to 1-4 p.m. ET; The Herd Goes 10 a.m.-1 p.m.The Scott Van Pelt Show will expand to three hours – from 2-4 p.m. ET to 1-4 p.m. — effective Monday, April 5, allowing the host and Ryen Russillo more time to opine and analyze the day’s big sports stories, and interview key topical guests.Also that day, The Herd with Colin Cowherd will slide back in to its original 10 a.m.-1 p.m. time slot. This will allow Cowherd additional time to prepare for ESPN2’s record-setting * SportsNation, which he began co-hosting upon its July 6, 2009 debut.“Research shows the value of Colin’s Radio and TV shows, and his new schedule will give him the best opportunity to grow those franchises,” said Mo Davenport, Senior VP ESPN Audio. “Meanwhile, the chemistry between Scott and Ryen is resonating with fans, so it makes sense to expand their show into the traditional mid-afternoon slot. These moves, sandwiched between Mike & Mike in the Morning and Doug Gottlieb’s afternoon show, strengthen what’s already radio’s best weekday sports-talk programming.”ESPN Radio’s Weekday Line-up Effective April 5, 2010All Times ET6-10 a.m.: Mike & Mike in the Morning10 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Herd with Colin Cowherd1-4 p.m.: Scott Van Pelt Show4-7 p.m.: Doug Gottlieb Show*Through its first six months, ESPN2’s SportsNation enjoyed one of the most impressive starts for an original program since the 2001 debut of Pardon the Interruption. SportsNation’s average audience for the fourth quarter in 2009 was up 51 percent from the corresponding time period in 2008.Through January, SportsNation’s average audience was up 56 percent compared to the show’s first month on the air – July 2009.
Links are coming up.
