EOE Still Has Ambitious Plans

(From Sports Business Daily)

While ESPN "insists the EOE department is busy as ever, there have been some signs of scaling back," as ESPN has not announced a scripted drama series since TILT in 2004, according to TV WEEK's JAMES HIBBERD.

But ESPN Executive Vice-President/Content JOHN SKIPPER "denied EOE's ambitions have been reduced."

Skipper -- "My anticipation is that we will have more product on the air next year than this year, more this year than last year."

Skipper is set to announce three documentaries about MUHAMMAD ALI, ten hours of NASCAR documentary projects and the acquisition of two feature-length films, a "less-expensive option for a network that previously produced all its own movies."

The net has also acquired joint North American rights with MIRAMAX FILMS to the documentary ONCE IN A LIFETIME on THE NEW YORK COSMOS.

KAGAN RESEARCH senior analyst JOHN MANSELL, on the value of original programming for ESPN, "NFL games are going to do more ratings on ESPN than a series. But most other sports are probably less costly on an hourly basis than their original movies, and you have to consider the number of hours you get out of it."

HORIZON MEDIA Senior Vice-President/Research
BRAD ADGATE added, "By putting on a reality show or movie you can get some new eyeballs."