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ESPN Elevates Mike McQuade, David Roberts in Content Overhaul

brian steinberg
·3-min read

ESPN said it would spread responsibility for many of its best-known studio programs under two different programming executives, while overhauling the structure of its overall content division. The moves include opening a new role for an executive to oversee production on the Super Bowl, which the Disney-backed sports-media giant will get to broadcast in 2027 under the terms of its most recent deal with the NFL.

In the past, oversight of these programs has been scattered among different executives, but “one key message heard loud and clear” during recent internal talks “was the recommendation that studio, production, and editorial functions could be better aligned for effectiveness and creativity,” said Burke Magnus, president of content, in a memo issued Monday. The moves involve a small number of layoffs, Burke indicated, without offering a number of employees affected.

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Mike McQuade, a 37-year veteran of ESPN, was named executive vice president of sports production, placed in charge of studio programs built around a specific sport, including those tied to the NFL and NBA, as well as production around all game telecasts. David Roberts, meanwhile, was named an executive vice president of sports news and entertainment, given oversight of shows with a broader aperture, including “First Take,” “Sports Center” and “Get Up.” McQuade had previously been running coverage of tennis, hockey, boxing, golf and ESPN’s late-night “Sports Center” anchored by Scott Van Pelt.

“Since May, we’ve been working on a plan to restructure our department to improve collaboration, centralize functions, create better alignment, and redeploy resources to areas of growth – further positioning our people to deliver on ESPN’s priorities during rapidly evolving times,” Magnus said.

The moves are some of the most sweeping by Magnus since he was named president of content in March of 2023. They also define responsibility for some of ESPN’s most important properties following the exit of four-decade veteran Norby Williamson in April. Williamson, famous inside ESPN for his control over studio programming and an insistence the programs stick primarily to sports results over chatter about broader social issues, came under a public spotlight after host Pat McAfee disparaged him on air

Meanwhile, oversight of outreach to digital and streaming audiences was placed under Katiee Dailey, senior vice president of digital, social and streaming content. The role includes supervising production for social media and ESPN’s relationship with Omar Roja, the Instagram guru whose facility with sports highlights has made him an important figure in media companies’ efforts to reach younger fans with sports content.

Freddy Rolón was named to lead global sports production and ESPN’s talent office, charged with, among other things, keeping tabs on the roll-out of a series of NBA and WNBA games that will be made available around the world on digital platforms, including Disney+.

One new job ESPN will seek to fill is a vice president to oversee work tied to the Super Bowl. ESPN has not had the rights to one of these lucrative games in decades, and there has been a sense that the company would like to experiment with new formats and telecasts in a bid to reach new audiences. “This new VP position will enable us to fully focus our resources and efforts on creating another defining moment for this company with our Super Bowl,” Magnus said.

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