When it was announced that he was leaving ESPN and after departing in disgrace last month, Fox Sports has announced that Colin Cowherd will join its organization. His first appearance will be on Fox Sports 1, Thursday, September 3 for the Michigan at Utah game.
The news was broken by the Hollywood Reporter in an interview granted by Cowherd in which he also discussed his controversial departure from ESPN.
In this deal, Cowherd will set up shop in Los Angeles where Fox Sports is located. He’ll host a national show from noon to 3 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Radio which will be simulcast on Fox Sports 1. Expect the simulcast of the Mike Francesa Show to move to Fox Sports 2 which will please the Sports Pope to no end.
In addition, Cowherd will on Fox NFL Kickoff which moves from Fox Sports 1 to the Fox Television Network this year and will be aired at 11 a.m. He also reunites with Fox Sports executive Jamie Horowitz who created SportsNation for ESPN2 which Cowherd co-hosted with Michelle Beadle and later with Charissa Thompson.
So Cowherd will have a big role on Fox Sports 1. We have official announcement:
COLIN COWHERD JOINS FOX SPORTS AND PREMIERE NETWORKS
Thought-Provoking Media Personality Hosts New Program
Simulcast on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports Radio Network
Becomes a Regular on FOX NFL KICKOFFLos Angeles — Colin Cowherd, one of the most thought-provoking sports hosts in the country, joins FOX Sports and Premiere Networks in September as a television, radio and digital personality. The announcement was made today by Jamie Horowitz, President, FOX Sports National Networks and Julie Talbott, President, Premiere Networks.
Cowherd is set to host a three-hour sports talk program titled THE HERD beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 airing simultaneously on FOX Sports 1 and the FOX Sports Radio Network, including AM 570 LA Sports/KLAC, weekdays from 12:00 to 3:00 PM ET. FOX Sports Radio is produced and distributed under a long-term agreement between FOX Sports and Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any radio or television outlet. FSRN programming is also available on www.FOXSportsRadio.com, FOXSports.com, as well as iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, iHeartMedia’s digital radio platform.
In addition to the FOX Sports 1/FSRN simulcast, Cowherd also becomes a key member of the FOX NFL KICKOFF cast, a show which moves from FOX Sports 1 to FOX, airing Sundays at 11:00 AM ET preceding FOX NFL SUNDAY. The show’s full roster is expected to be unveiled in the days ahead. Cowherd is also part of the team contributing to FOX Sports 1’s coverage of Jim Harbaugh’s debut as Michigan head coach when Utah hosts the Wolverines in both teams’ season-opener on Thursday, Sept. 3.
“It’s hard to put into words how much fun it is for me, as a broadcaster, to build something with really smart, talented people,” said Cowherd. “I can’t wait for this next chapter in my career to start. FOX Sports is the perfect spot for me at this time in my life.”
“Colin is the first person I hired for my first daily studio show at ESPN, so it’s fitting that he’s the first one I’m hiring at FS1,” said Horowitz, who chose Cowherd as the original co-host of SportsNation in July 2009. “Colin is a unique voice in sports media with a loyal following of fans, and we’re looking forward to building our daytime programming around him.”
“Colin is one of the most powerful and talented personalities in sports media today, and his addition to Premiere’s lineup demonstrates our continued commitment to reaching diverse audiences with the best talent the industry has to offer,” shared Talbott. “We’re excited to join with FOX Sports in bringing Colin’s passionate and engaging brand of sports entertainment to millions of people across multiple platforms. By leveraging our combined reach, we’ll have the opportunity to connect with more sports fans than ever before, while delivering unmatched results for our partners.”
Cowherd was host of ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, airing nationally on weekdays and simulcast on ESPNU. He also hosted Colin’s New Football Show on ESPN2 in 2013 and 2014, in addition to a variety of programs on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Classic. He was the original co-host of SportsNation on ESPN2. Cowherd joined ESPN Radio in 2004 when his program launched as an hour-long broadcast just on the West Coast.
Prior to ESPN Radio, Cowherd hosted a popular three-hour morning drive program, The Herd at KFXX 910-AM in Portland, Ore. He also anchored weeknight sports and Sports Sunday for KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8.
Cowherd’s rise in the industry also includes serving as sports anchor at Tampa’s WTVT-TV, where he received a local Sports Emmy for Buc Sunday, and as sports director at KVBC-TV in Las Vegas, where he earned multiple Nevada Sportscaster of the Year awards. He began his career as the play-by-play voice for the Pacific Coast League’s Las Vegas Stars baseball team.
In 2013, Cowherd’s first book, You HERD Me! was a New York Times bestseller, spending five weeks on the list in hardcover.
I’m sure Fox will be pushing Cowherd’s hiring so expect a lot of promotion on FS1 until he hits the air next month.
