The podcast to broadcast model has been mostly focused on radio, but ESPN is taking advantage of the hours of cable television programming it has to fill by announcing that each weekday between 2-3pm ET it will televise a different video version of one of its podcasts. A new, seasonal content initiative lineup will include the podcasts First Draft, The Hoop Collective, The Lowe Post, The Mina Kimes Show and The Elle Duncan Show.
“This strategic content initiative provides our ESPN podcasts with a tremendous opportunity for continued growth and audience expansion, while simultaneously lending compelling content to our ESPN2 television lineup,” said Mike Foss, ESPN Senior VP of Production. “The opening slate of podcasts combine timely, in-season sports – First Draft, The Hoop Collective and The Lowe Post – and high-profile ESPN personalities such as Mina Kimes and Elle Duncan.”
Mondays will go to the First Draft podcast featuring what ESPN calls the “godfather” of draft analysis, Mel Kiper Jr., who joins host Field Yates to break down the top prospects in the coming NFL draft.
On Tuesdays, viewers will be able to watch The Hoop Collective, featuring Brian Windhorst and other ESPN NBA Insiders, including Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps.
On Wednesday, the timeslot goes to The Lowe Post, the show hosted by ESPN's Zach Lowe, who mixes a combination of reporting, data analysis, and film study to provide a look inside the NBA.
Then on Thursday, The Mina Kimes Show, Featuring Lenny will air on ESPN2.
Mina Kimes combines film study with data analysis – plus her trademark humor and insight on the podcast that is a joint production with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. She’s joined each episode by a guest from around the league.
Finally on Fridays, ESPN2 will air The Elle Duncan Show. It features SportsCenter anchors Elle Duncan and Gary Striewski who talk sports, but they often end up talking around sports – the drama, gossip, and stories that happen adjacent to the on-field action.