Overall, ESPN documentary series E:60 led all programs with 10 nods, while FOX’s Super Bowl LIV coverage nabbed seven with five each for FOX’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, NFL on Fox, HBO’s 24/7 and ESPN’s SC Featured. Lesley Visser remains set to receive the Sports Emmys’ Lifetime Achievement Award. The full list of nominations can be found here.

PROGRAMMING

The Indianapolis 500 became the latest major event to get pushed as a result of the coronavirus, with the famed race, once scheduled for May 24 now postponed until August 23. Meanwhile, the GMR Grand Prix will transition to July 4 on the IMS road course as part of a double-header featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and NASCAR. This first-of-its-kind racing event also will be televised by NBC on Independence Day. “Memorial Day weekend has always provided Indianapolis 500 fans an opportunity to honor the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our nation’s freedom,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “This August, we’ll also have a unique and powerful opportunity to honor the contributions and heroism of the doctors, nurses, first responders and National Guard members serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. We’re grateful for the patience of our fans as we’ve navigated this situation, and we extend our thanks to NBC for its terrific partnership and diligent work to maximize broadcast coverage with this new schedule.”

Also getting the scratch for the moment, the NHL postponed three upcoming league events in the scouting combine in Buffalo, the NHL Awards in Las Vegas and the NHL draft in Montreal. The location, timing and format of the 2020 NHL Draft (and Draft Lottery) will be announced once details are finalized, the league said in the announcement.

On the flip side, the WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm will continue to be held on April 17 as scheduled. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league will now conduct a virtual draft without players, guests, and media with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announcing the draft picks live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8p while top prospects will take part remotely. “The WNBA draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the draft,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Safeguarding the health and well-being of our prospects, players, employees, and everyone connected to our game as well as the general public is paramount. With that in mind, we will work diligently with our broadcast partner, ESPN, to create a memorable but virtual event that appropriately honors these accomplished athletes.”

Elsewhere in women’s basketball, the International Basketball Federation selected Australia to serve as the host nation for the 2022 FIBA Women’s basketball World Cup. The tournament will take place in the city of Sydney over ten days in September and October 2022.

On the programming front, CBS Sports will re-air the 2012 NCAA Tournament National Championship game between Kentucky and Kansas on April 5 at 4p on CBS. Additionally, the Network will show three classic NCAA Tournament games this Sunday: 1985 National Championship (Villanova vs. Georgetown) at 1p; 1997 National Championship (Arizona vs. Kentucky) at 2:30p; and 2010 National Championship (Duke vs. Butler) at 4p.

ESPN is celebrating what was scheduled to be Major League Baseball’s opening weekend with a special content initiative titled Strikeout Saturday on March 28, an eight-hour programming marathon featuring four of the six 20-strikeout games in MLB history airing in two-hour windows. The marathon begins at noon on ESPN.

Right next door, ESPN2 will offering a 22-hour marathon of marquee matches from past Wimbledon and Australian Open tournaments between– Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The six-match slate begins at 6a immediately following the conclusion of the previously announced marathon featuring Serena Williams starting Friday at 6p.

Finally, ESPN is tapping into an arsenal of Disney sports films as part of its Friday night programming, beginning with “The Rookie” on Friday, while Glory Road runs April 3. Additional air dates to be announced.

NBC Sports looks to offer 12 hours of live racing coverage this week as NBCSN simulcasts TVG’s Trackside Live from 4-8p today and continuing through Sunday. The biggest race of the weekend – the $750,000 Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida – will air on NBCSN as previously scheduled this Saturday at 6p and will be part of the Trackside Live coverage.

Golf Channel’s Big Break is returning to the network. Starting Monday, fans can watch every season of the hit series. Meanwhile, GOLFPASS will offer access its library of premium entertainment and instructional videos for free through a complimentary two-month trial of the newly launched GOLFPASS Video membership.

Rafael Márquez trilogy this Saturday at 10p on Showtime. The Mexican rivals squared off in three consecutive award-winning fights which aired live on SHOWTIME in 2007 and 2008 before meeting for a fourth and final time in 2010. The first three bouts were all contested with the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship on the line.

Eclipse TV announced nine syndicated specials that will roll out this summer. Among the lineup, in conjunction with Carson International, will be the Incredible Dog Challenge presented by Purina Pro Plan and featuring athletic dogs from around the world compete in freestyle disc, pole weaving, hurdle racing, dock diving and more. Eclipse also distributing three half hour specials with Red Bull International called ‘Ultimate Rush’. Cleared in 80% of the US and airing from May – August, these shows look at extreme athletes from big wave surfers to squirrel suit flyers to extreme mountain bikers and explore what inspires them to pursue these dangerous sports.

For the Love of Dirt is out on digital on April 1, with the documentary featuring NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and World of Outlaws Sprint Car driver Sheldon Haudenschild and providing access behind the scenes to the World of Outlaws racing circuit.

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Outdoor Sportsman Group’s global, subscription-based, streaming service MyOutdoorTV is offering an extended 30-day period of free service when consumers subscribe using the promo code STAYHOME between now and April 15. “We want to give all interested consumers of hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure programming the opportunity to watch and experience great entertainment on MOTV, especially our loyal enthusiasts who find themselves stuck inside more than they would like to be,” Sr. Vice President & General Manager of MOTV, Sean Luxton said. “This extended 30-day period of free service is our way of acknowledging all the sacrifices that are being made during these difficult days.”

PlayersTV announced that the new platform is launching exclusively on Samsung TV Plus. The new sports network serves as an alternative programming option for “fans to connect with their favorite athletes during this unprecedented period when live sports are currently on hold,” offering a look into athlete’s passions, interests, and off-the-field pursuits, and blends a variety of formats (reality shows, comedies, documentaries and podcasts), all centered on sports, culture, and lifestyle

ESPORTS

ESL is deepening ties with PUBG MOBILE, partnering up to establish a new esports program that will give players a chance to battle their way to a share of a $5 million prize pool. The all-new format will be part of the PUBG MOBILE 2020 esports ecosystem. ESL will support in the delivery including building a brand new, innovative studio, exclusively dedicated to PUBG MOBILE esports in Katowice that will become the home of offline matches once all parties are advised that it is safe to do so by the relevant global health organizations. As part of the agreement ESL becomes a commercial partner for the PUBG MOBILE Esports Program in 2020. ESL will, together with PUBG MOBILE, enhance media rights as well as solidifying brand partnerships to set the foundation for a long and successful competition system for teams and partners.

Tribe Gaming raised over $1M in its first round of investment capital. Investors include celebrity and industry leaders Gordon Hayward of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, mobile gaming veteran Kristian Segerstrale, Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro) of the WWE, and angel investor Victor Krahn, who will also serve as strategic advisors to Tribe. “I’ve been an NBA All-Star and made it to the NCAA championship, but I still get a rush when I’m taking down my enemy’s towers in a game of Clash,” said Gordon Hayward, NBA player for the Boston Celtics. “Tribe is about celebrating mobile gaming, whether it’s by cheering your team on the sidelines or watching your favorite streamers on your couch. I’ve been a mobile gaming fan for a long time, and I can’t wait to help bring those experiences to more people around the world.”

Motorsport Games announced a partnership with Codemasters and the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy to create the World RX Esports Invitational Championship. The series will be held on the dates of selected rounds of the 2020 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy that have been postponed with the first race, the Barcelona World RX Esports Invitational, held on April 19 using DiRT Rally 2.0 on PC via Steam. A number of the official World RX drivers will be taking part in the championship and fans around the world will have the opportunity to earn a place on the grid against these stars.

Twitch hosts Stream Aid 2020 on Saturday starting at noon and running for 12 full hours in a move to raise money for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. Names such as Diplo, Barry Gibb, Ryan Tedder, Lauv, Charlie Puth and more will participate with competition that will span from Fortnite to Uno and partners that include Enthusiast Gaming.

Gaud-Hammer Gaming Group, Ultimate Gaming Championship, and Beasley Esports are teaming up for Shutdown Showdown, an online, national Apex Legends charity tournament to promote and reward those fighting against the spread of COVID-19 by staying home. The five-week online tournament taking place runs March 31-April 28 and sees teams of three compete against one another in Apex Legends custom server. A total of 40% of each registrant’s fee will be donated to the No Kid Hungry campaign, a campaign working to get kids the meals they need, during school closures and all year long. As a Media & Content Outreach Partner, Beasley Esports will collaborate with UGC and G3 on content initiatives for both broadcast and social media, as well as providing media coverage from its esports and gaming platform, CheckpointXP.

Meanwhile, Tempo Storm is committing to four full days of livestreaming, beginning today and running through March 30 via its “Tempo’s Sleepless Nights” charity initiative. For 24 hours a day during “Tempo’s Sleepless Nights,” broadcast personalities, popular guests, and celebrities will be live on Twitch raising money for: Feeding America and CARE. By donating through Softgiving, the amazing gaming community will be helping the fight against COVID-19.

Misfits Gaming is launching two new live broadcast shows around the LEC starting this weekend. The Misfits Warmup show will run for 30 min before LEC ready check starts for each day of broadcast, featuring segments and special guests. After LEC’s Post Game Lobby segment each day, we’ll wrap things up with the Misfits Cooldown, where players and staff will be discussing the games and breaking down the biggest moments. Content kicks off on March 27 on the Misfits Twitch channel.

INDUSTRY & ROSTER MOVES

The Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame promoted Kimberly Beaudin to Chief Executive Officer. She previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at the org. “Kimberly was chosen to lead the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame because of her depth and breadth of experience in fan and partnership engagement as well as her tremendous energy and enthusiasm,” said A.J. Robinson, Chairman of the Atlanta Hall Management Board of Directors. “We have full confidence that she will uphold our position as one of the nation’s premiere sports and entertainment destinations. Her steady leadership is critical through this pivotal period, and we know she will successfully build a foundation for future growth for the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame.”

Wanda Sports Group reported that the company will sell its Ironman business to Advance Publications. The all-cash transaction values the business, which is comprised of a global portfolio of mass participation sports events across triathlon, running, trail running, cycling and mountain biking, at $730 million.

In the Know
Sports in fiction week. In Episode One of the Star Wars franchise, in what sport did Anakin Skywalker beat Sebulba? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city).

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question
Mad Max competed against Master Blaster (technically just Blaster) in this post-apocalyptic sport. What is the name of that sport? Answer: Thunderdome. Kudos: Michael Ritz-Lenox Advisors/NY; Matt Sautter-WideOrbit/Harrisburg; Matt Deprey-CSPAN/DC; Kyle Krebs-Intersection/Dallas; Tom Moore-Kalt Productions/LA