Update: Michael Smith Is FINALLY Leaving ESPN Joins Sports Media Startup (Co)laboratory NEW SHOW: Brother from Another NOW ON AMAZON PRIME NFL

[playahaitian]

https://www.si.com/tech-media/2018/...&utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_facebook_si
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Michael Smith to Leave 6 PM SportsCenter
RICHARD DEITSCH
March 08, 2018
Sports Illustrated has learned that Michael Smith’s last day as an ESPN SportsCenter host will be Friday.

Smith leaving the 6 p.m. SC6 edition of SportsCenter follows his former SportsCenter co-anchor Jemele Hill ’s decision to depart the franchise to join the staff of The Undefeated, the ESPN microsite that fuses sports, race and culture, as well as other additional assignments. Both Hill and Smith have multiple years left on their ESPN contracts so look for Smith to craft a new role at ESPN over the next couple of months.

As this column wrote in October when it predicted Hill’s tenure as the co-host of the 6 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter would end, Smith leaving SportsCenter is not a surprise. The SportsCenter that Hill and Smith envisioned, what made their chemistry honest and unique on the ESPN2 show His and Hers and their podcasts together, had slowly been chopped away by a desire from management to change that show to that of a traditional SportsCenter. In addition, SportsCenter’s upper management shifted last September with longtime ESPN exec Norby Williamson becoming the lead executive on all SportsCenter content as part of a management shakeup in ESPN's content group.

It is an interesting exercise to look back at the Jan. 30, 2017 press release when Hill and Smith were announced as the hosts of a re-imagined version of SportsCenter. This was when management was touting boldly that ESPN had made a strategic shift in thinking to rebuild the SportsCenter franchise around what one of its executives termed “personalities and conceits that work for specific audiences.”

“With a format geared to fit Smith and Hill’s personalities, along with a specially-designed set and its own music, The Six will be different from any other SportsCenter produced since ESPN’s first telecast of its signature news and information program in 1979. Debuting on the day after the Super Bowl, the premiere episode of the weekday offering will be hailed with an hour-long simulcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS. Smith and Hill, who previously co-hosted ESPN2’s His & Hers and will be the first African-American duo to host SportsCenter on a regular basis, will combine some of the best elements of their previous program with SportsCenter for the new show, including a deliberate and well-paced conversational format in which they discuss sports topics, news, culture and social issues. The program will continue SportsCenter’s focus on news of the day and breaking news as warranted.

“I’m most excited for the viewers to see how much freedom we are going to have,” said Smith, who’s been with ESPN since 2004.

Asked directly by SI in late January how he would respond to the assertion that the reason Hill wanted off SportsCenter were the changes that he had instituted on the show that made it distant from the initial charter of the show, Williamson said, “I think there is probably an element of truth in that. That can happen anytime you start something from a certain point or certain direction and then you evolve certain products. … As you tweak different things, people come to the realization that this is not exactly for me.”

SC6 debuted on Feb, 6, 2017. It ended up lasting 13 months.

 

[playahaitian]

Michael Smith's time as a permanent host of ESPN's SportsCenter will end after Friday's 6 p.m. show.

ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson, in a statement to USA TODAY Sports, confirmed that Smith would be leaving the 6 p.m. program after Friday's show. "Michael is a talented commentator and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity. We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments," Williamson said in the statement.

Smith's departure as host of the 6 p.m. edition of the show, titled SC6, comes a little more than a month after his former co-host, Jemele Hill, stepped down to write for the company's sports, pop culture and race website, The Undefeated.

Smith and Hill previously hosted a show together on ESPN2 called His & Hers, in addition to a podcast under the same name. The duo was moved to the network's primetime SportsCenter slot in February 2017.

Sports Illustrated first reported the news of Smith's departure Thursday.

Smith, 38, first joined ESPN in 2004 after covering the New England Patriots for The Boston Globe for three seasons. He's contributed to a wide variety of network programming in the years since, from serving as a panelist on ESPN's popular afternoon talk show Around The Horn to anchoring SportsCenter prior to teaming up with Hill.

According to Williamson's statement, the 6 p.m. SportsCenter will feature a variety of anchors until permanent replacements are determined.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...m-sportscenter-jemele-hill-reports/409831002/

 

[doggish_098]

He isn’t the typical “anchor” didn’t think that would last long

 

[playahaitian]

Michael Smith's time as a permanent host of ESPN's SportsCenter will end after Friday's 6 p.m. show.

ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson, in a statement to USA TODAY Sports, confirmed that Smith would be leaving the 6 p.m. program after Friday's show. "Michael is a talented commentator and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity. We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments," Williamson said in the statement.

Smith's departure as host of the 6 p.m. edition of the show, titled SC6, comes a little more than a month after his former co-host, Jemele Hill, stepped down to write for the company's sports, pop culture and race website, The Undefeated.

Smith and Hill previously hosted a show together on ESPN2 called His & Hers, in addition to a podcast under the same name. The duo was moved to the network's primetime SportsCenter slot in February 2017.

Sports Illustrated first reported the news of Smith's departure Thursday.

Smith, 38, first joined ESPN in 2004 after covering the New England Patriots for The Boston Globe for three seasons. He's contributed to a wide variety of network programming in the years since, from serving as a panelist on ESPN's popular afternoon talk show Around The Horn to anchoring SportsCenter prior to teaming up with Hill.

According to Williamson's statement, the 6 p.m. SportsCenter will feature a variety of anchors until permanent replacements are determined.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...m-sportscenter-jemele-hill-reports/409831002/

sidebar:

damn...notice how they put Jemele picture instead of his????

 

[playahaitian]

ESPN’s Michael Smith joins anti-Trump former co-host Jemele Hill on ‘SportsCenter’ sideline
By Brian Flood | Fox News

Michael Smith and Jemele Hill’s version of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” lasted only 13 months.

ESPN’s Michael Smith will follow in the footsteps of his anti-Trump, former co-host Jemele Hill and leave the network’s flagship program “SportsCenter” after hosting Friday’s 6 p.m. ET episode for the last time.

Sports Illustrated first reported the news that Smith would leave “SportsCenter,” and Fox News has confirmed that his last day will be Friday.

“Michael is a talented commentator and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity. We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments,” ESPN Executive Vice President Norby Williamson said in a statement “Permanent anchors for the 6 p.m. ‘SportsCenter’ will be determined and announced at a later date. In the interim, the program will be hosted by a variety of anchors from the ‘SportsCenter’ team."

Smith and his good friend Hill were tasked with hosting a revamped edition of “SportsCenter” dubbed “SC6” that had an urban feel and aimed to attract younger viewers. However, the show was plagued by poor ratings and became a lightning rod when Hill tweeted, “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has surrounded himself with other white supremacists.”




ESPN re-assigned Hill “SportsCenter” to a new role at The Undefeated, the company’s site that covers the intersections of sports and race. Smith anchored alone for a few weeks but ESPN discontinued branding it “SC6” once Hill departed.

Smith has “multiple years” remaining on his ESPN contract but the network has not announced his next step.


“Look for Smith to craft a new role at ESPN over the next couple of months,” Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch wrote.

Industry insiders have speculated that Smith would follow Hill out the door, as the two have been extremely close over the years. Last month, Smith appeared on James Andrew Miller’s “Origins” podcast, discussed what occurred behind the scenes at ESPN and accused the network of silencing the outspoken duo.

In the interview that was taped before Hill left the show, he explained that “SC6” was created because of the natural chemistry between the co-hosts, but they were forced to dial back the dialogue.

“There was a time we weren’t even talking to each other [on air] anymore,” Smith said. “Like no more Michael and Jemele, not less, not here and there. No more Michael and Jemele talking. No more of their commentary. It’s just strictly live shots and analysis. That’s what pissed me off so much.”

ESPN initially declined to punish Hill for her comments about Trump but then sidelined her for two weeks in October when she violated the company’s social media guidelines a second time by calling on fans to boycott the Dallas Cowboys’ advertisers after owner Jerry Jones told players they would be benched if they did not stand up during the national anthem.

“SC6” was criticized for being an attempt to reach younger, diverse viewers with hot takes and opinions instead of simple highlights, but the ratings never took off with Hill aboard. Smith said the duo “knew we were gonna get s–t out of the gate” but they “weren’t built to take it” and “started pushing the panic button” before network executives eventually forced changes.

“Instead of saying ‘no, this is the vision for this show, this is what we’re doing. This show is about Michael and Jemele and their opinions and their chemistry, and they’re going to do ‘SportsCenter’ their way.’ Instead of sticking to that vision, we immediately tried to merge two things,” Smith said on the podcast. “It was very frustrating.”


Smith said “behind the scenes and on camera… [ESPN] got what they wanted, which was Michael and Jemele being muted. And that frustrated the s–t out of us.”

Smith’s candid remarks about the inner-workings of ESPN resulted in media watchdogs to believe it was only a matter of time until he left the network’s flagship program.

"SC6" only lasted 13 months.

Since leaving “SportsCenter,” Hill appeared on ABC News’ “The View” to double down on her infamous tweet. Hill told the panel on “The View” that she stands by what she said about President Trump, but she doesn’t think “his supporters are white supremacists” as a whole.

“What I would say, though, is that they have the benefit of privilege to be able to distance and dissociate themselves from certain issues. Me, as a woman of color, I feel vulnerable to certain behaviors, certain policies and certain things that he’s said and done,” Hill said.

Hill told the panel that the feeling of vulnerability contributed to her controversial tweet and said that it’s probably hard to understand her position if you’re not in her situation. Hill then asked Trump supporters to understand that her perspective is coming from a place of vulnerability.

“In this time, and in this moment, it feels like people of color are under attack,” Hill said.

Both ABC, which broadcasts "The View," and ESPN are owned by parent company Disney.

Brian Flood covers the media for Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @briansflood.

 

[playahaitian]

Michael Smith to Leave ESPN’s ‘SportsCenter’
By Brian Steinberg
@bristei

CREDIT: AP
ESPN had planned for the 6 p.m. edition of “SportsCenter” to be one of the network’s most personality-driven broadcasts. Instead, it may turn out to be one of its most traditional.

Michael Smith will leave the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” the network confirmed Friday, the latest talent switch in a broadcast that appears to have proven more difficult to get right than executives may have expected. Smith, who launched the show known as “SC 6” in February of 2017 with co-host Jemele Hill, will take on a role to be determined at the Walt Disney-owned sports-media giant. The duo approached the program as a spot for mixing the news and highlights of the moment with opinionated takes on sports and cultural trends.

“Michael Smith will be leaving the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter after tonight’s edition,” ESPN said in a statement Friday. “Michael is a talented commentator and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity. We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments.” His departure follows that of Jemele Smith, who announced in January that she would work at ESPN’s “Undefeated” as well as other properties.

ESPN has changed course on the hour, moving away from the interplay Smith and Hill introduced to fans on their “His & Hers” podcast, and, subsequently on ESPN2. In January, “SportsCenter” chief Norby Williamson said executives had found early-evening viewers “expect the most comprehensive news coverage and compelling analysis during the 6 p.m. hour.,” rather than commentary and opinion.

The network has been trying to tweak its best-known – and most ubiquitous – program, tailoring each edition so that it meets the needs of the audience tuning in. Scott Van Pelt has found success with a late-night version of “SportsCenter”that mixes a little humor with the sports news. “SportsCenter A.M.” airs earlier than any edition of the show has in the network’s history.

ESPN did not name a replacement for Smith, who was working solo on the show. A rotating group of anchors will fill in until the network sets upon a permanent set of hosts.

 

[playahaitian]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...michael-smith-jemele-hill-20180309-story.html

Michael Smith leaving the early-evening edition of ESPN's 'SportsCenter'
Phil RosenthalContact ReporterChicago Tribune


ESPN's Michael Smith, who last month ripped his bosses for “pushing the panic button” by abandoning the original concept of the early-evening edition of “SportsCenter” he launched last year with Jemele Hill, is now following Hill off the program.

Smith's sign-off from “SC6” is set for Friday.

ADVERTISING

Since Hill’s exit five week's ago for ESPN’s The Undefeated website, where she enjoys the freedom of expression afforded a commentator, Smith had been solo anchor of “SC6,” seen weekdays at 5 p.m. in Chicago (yet named for its East Coast time slot).

“Michael is a talented commentator and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity,” ESPN Executive Vice President Norby Williamson said in a statement. “We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments.”

Donald Trump, branding Trump “a white supremacist,” “a bigot” and “unqualified and unfit to be president.” ESPN disavowed the remarks and reprimanded Hill, later suspending her for a tweet suggesting a sponsor boycott in response to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ effort to discourage NFL players from protesting during the national anthem.

ESPN then issued more specific guidelines restricting employees use of social media and Hill, with three years remaining on her four year contract, began exploring her options. Her role at The Undefeated, which focuses on the nexus of sports, race and culture, draws on her journalism background but also promises opportunities to offer her perspective online, at events and on ESPN programs.

Al Sharpton on MSNBC. “But it was not a fit for me because ultimately I had a lot of things that I really wanted to say and wanted to express, and the ‘SportsCenter’ vehicle is not necessarily set up for that. So I wanted to be on a property that was.”

Meghan McCain, daughter of Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, asked Hill two and a half weeks ago on ABC's “The View” if Hill stood by her Sept. 11 tweet that “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.”

Hill said she did, clarifying that she did not believe all members of Trump's administration or all Trump supporters shared the same views on race.

“What I would say (to Trump's supporters) though is that they have ... the benefit of privilege to be able to distance and disassociate themselves from certain issues,” Hill said. “As a woman of color I feel vulnerable to certain behaviors, certain policies, certain things that he has said and done and so all of that was part of that response of feeling that vulnerability. If it doesn't impact you directly if you don’t feel that it’s probably harder for you to understand it.”

News of Smith's exit was first reported by Sports Illustrated.

philrosenthal@chicagotribune.com

 

[playahaitian]

Michael Smith: ESPN panicked and 'muted' him and former 'SportsCenter' co-host Jemele Hill
Phil RosenthalContact ReporterChicago Tribune


Now it’s apparently ESPN's Michael Smith’s turn to be outspoken.

Smith is teeing off on ESPN management for stifling him and Jemele Hill, his former “SportsCenter” co-host who recently welcomed the move to the company’s The Undefeated website, where she will be free to be a commentator.


For now solo anchor of “SC6,” the early evening edition of “SportsCenter” he once shared with Hill, Smith shed light on what drove Hill away, ripping ESPN bosses for "pushing the panic button.”

Hill took heat for tweets last year critical of President Donald Trump and suggesting a sponsor boycott in response to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ effort to discourage NFL players from protesting injustice during the national anthem. ESPN disavowed Hill’s anti-Trump tweets, which included calling the president a “white supremacist,” and suspended her after she again violated its social media policy with the boycott tweet.

"SportsCenter" needs to be, but I know what I need to be and I don't think those things are on the same page," she said.

Smith is more blunt about "SC6" (which is seen in Chicago at 5 p.m. but named for its East Coast time slot) and how what it was conceived to be got derailed.

“We knew we were going to get (expletive) out of the gate ... but we weren’t built to take it,” Smith said. "Immediately we started pushing the panic button. Instead of saying: 'No, this is the vision for this show. This is what we’re doing. This show is about Michael and Jemele and their opinions and their chemistry, and they’re going to do "SportsCenter" their way.' Instead of sticking to that vision, we immediately tried to merge two things."

Ultimately, Smith said, "They got what they wanted, which was Michael and Jemele being muted. And that frustrated the (expletive) out of us.”

 

[playahaitian]

ESPN's Jemele Hill tells MSNBC's Al Sharpton why she left 'SportsCenter'
Phil RosenthalContact ReporterChicago Tribune

ESPN’s Jemele Hill, in her first interview since leaving “SportsCenter,” told Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s “PoliticsNation” Sunday that her move to ESPN’s The Undefeated website was “definitely, 100 percent, my choice” and should leave her less constrained when it comes to commentary “about issues revolving around race and sports.”

Hill characterized her job change as less of a retreat from taking stands than an effort to ensure she was on a proper platform to do so.

“‘SportsCenter’ is the legacy brand at ESPN, I had a great year doing the show,” Hill said on MSNBC. “But it was not a fit for me because ultimately I had a lot of things that I really wanted to say and wanted to express, and the ‘SportsCenter’ vehicle is not necessarily set up for that. So I wanted to be on a property that was.”

Hill stoked controversy with tweets calling President Donald Trump “a white supremacist,” “a bigot” and “unqualified and unfit to be president” and later, after being reminded of ESPN’s social media policies, for suggesting fans upset with how NFL owners respond to player protests during the national anthem should consider sponsor boycotts.

Colin Kaepernick, who this conversation started with, and still is very much the foundation of this conversation.”

Hill’s final “SC6,” seen at 5 p.m. weekdays in Chicago but so named because of its East Coast time slot, was Friday. She thanked the show’s staff and co-host Michael Smith, with whom she previously was paired on “His & Hers” as well.

“This year has been interesting, to say the least, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of highs,” Hill said. “While we won’t be doing this show together, certainly our friendship is not ending … You all (are) still going to see me on TV.”

Said Smith, who now will be the solo anchor of “SC6”: “We’re all proud of you, and as your friend, I’m happy that you’re happy. That’s the most important thing.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...e-hill-sportscenter-msnbc-20180204-story.html

 

[husband73]

Told y’all this was gonna happen back in November
ESPN got what they wanted

 

[Soufboy]

Hate to see this happen, an example when moving up isn't exactly the better thing to do. I loved the His and Hers show It was reminiscent of the barber shop talk black people have between each other at the barbershop or in casual settings the show had that vibe to it .

I immediately thought they weren't going to let them keep that same vibe for sportscenter and turns out that's exactly what happened.

 

[THREAD_CRITIC]

He sucked

 

[Cybts1]

The SHOW lasted 13 months and I stopped watching 12 and a half months ago. I want sports and only sports in my Sports Show. Not saying what they did was bad, I just WILL NOT DEAL with anything more than sports.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

He should replace max

 

[Complex]

Him and Jemele doing His & Hers again

The SHOW lasted 13 months and I stopped watching 12 and a half months ago. I want sports and only sports in my Sports Show. Not saying what they did was bad, I just WILL NOT DEAL with anything more than sports.

Yeah, I wanted sports also.

 

[Amajorfucup]

Michael Smith to Leave 6 PM SportsCenter

Told ya last year this wouldnt last PH... All the "political" shit aside... the show just wasnt that good. Granted, that could have been in part to them not being allowed to work out the kinks..but still, it just wasnt that good.

 

[Amajorfucup]

He should replace max

Max is the only think watchable in FT.

Him and Jemele doing His & Hers again

That ship has sailed.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Max is the only think watchable in FT.

That ship has sailed.

Nigga please

Max adds nothing and is a misplaced cac

Is it boxing?

Is it sports nation?

Is it around the horn?

Ducking chump

 

[Amajorfucup]

Nigga please

Max adds nothing and is a misplaced cac

Is it boxing?

Is it sports nation?

Is it around the horn?

Ducking chump

That show stinks my man.. And Stephen A doing his grumpy yelling man routine gets tired as fuck now that he isnt playing the sometimes straight man against Skips troll routine. Its redundant trash.. Max is atleast thoughtful and articulate and says shit that actually makes sense sometimes.

Now its just SAS yelling (and straddling the fence trying to appease cacs). .. Max playing the voice of reason, and Will Cain doing cameos to show people ESPN likes conservatives too. Its awful.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

That show stinks my man.. And Stephen A doing his grumpy yelling man routine gets tired as fuck now that he isnt playing the sometimes straight man against Skips troll routine. Its redundant trash.. Max is atleast thoughtful and articulate and says shit that actually makes sense sometimes.

Now its just SAS yelling (and straddling the fence trying to appease cacs). .. Max playing the voice of reason, and Will Cain doing cameos to show people ESPN likes conservatives too. Its awful.

Yet u still watching

Just like me

Put mike smith on there

No max = more rating

 

[Entrepronegro]

Good. I never liked him or Jemele Hill. Both of them were annoying. ESPN has been crap since Stuart Scott died.

 

[Amajorfucup]

Yet u still watching

I dont actually. If clips or topics arent posted here i no longer catch it.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

I dont actually. If clips or topics arent posted here i no longer catch it.

The bgol brothers agree with me over you

 

[Amajorfucup]

The bgol brothers agree with me over you

Thats usually why im right.

 

[gman4gov]

There was a time SportCenter was cool to watch and had good reporting. Now, I don't even know the name of their reporters and anchors since they fired the better ones for the shit they put on now.
ESPN is not what it used to be with fucked up reporting and unreliable bullshit.

http://www.espn.com/espn/corrections
ESPN reporting
March 1, 2018 1:39 PM
Additional reporting confirmed that ESPN was correct in a Feb. 24 SportsCenter video talk back which stated that Arizona coach Sean Miller and Christian Dawkins, a key figure in the FBI's investigation into college basketball corruption, spoke in 2017. A correction of that report, issued Feb. 25, misstated that the conversation in question took place in 2016.

 

[shaddyvillethug]

Thats usually why im right.

The bgol brothers > al roker

 

[jss]

Not surprised, espn and the white male audience wasn't ready for mike or jemele in primetime

 

[World B Free]

....should have stayed on His and Hers...., they knew the nature of ESPN...

 

[playahaitian]

....

 

[lightweightplaya]

Knew this was going to happen when their programming president stepped down after confessing his addiction to drugs. He is the reason espn programming was even diverse in the first place. Pti, highly questionable, sc6 were all John skipper's "babies". When he left, you had to think sc6 would get axed.

 

[Complex]

S6 was too much of a change for ESPN for it to catch on immediately. After it changed back to a traditional Sportscenter I'm sure Mike and Jemele didn't like it.

Looks like it wasn't his decision

https://thebiglead.com/2018/03/09/jemele-hill-michael-smith-espn-sportscenter-ratings/

I wonder how the new leadership effects Pablo and Bo's show.

 

[Amajorfucup]

Looks like it wasn't his decision

Of course it wasnt. Nor was it Jemelles.. .regardless of what she says.

I wonder how the new leadership effects Pablo and Bo's show.

My initial response was "not at all"... but im actually certain it (and the change in leadership) have played a part in the shows delayed premiere. Im sure they are trying to make sure all kinks are worked out and it debuts in the perfect environment and slot to help insure its success.

 

[Complex]

Of course it wasnt. Nor was it Jemelles.. .regardless of what she says.

.

I think both knew the writing was on the wall and they were essentially pushed out with the format change

but I think Mike would have left with Jemele if it was completely his decision.

 

[BaseballKid]

Not surprised. Only thing decent about ESPN is PTI when Tony and Mike are hosting!

 

[peterlongshort]

The SHOW lasted 13 months and I stopped watching 12 and a half months ago. I want sports and only sports in my Sports Show. Not saying what they did was bad, I just WILL NOT DEAL with anything more than sports.

I miss Stuart Scott. Shit just hasn't been the same since.