Updated with name and details of new venture: John Skipper and Dan Le Batard, who were ESPN colleagues as network president and on-air talent, respectively, have formed Meadowlark Media.
The content venture, supported by billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, “will emphasize a creator-centric point of view,” the official announcement said. Skipper will remain in his role as executive chairman of Dazn, the global streaming service backed by Blavatnik.
“I’m thrilled to be back in business with Dan, one of the leading and most unique voices in sports media,” said Skipper. “We have a lot in the works, but the first order of business will be to find Dan a new home for his wildly popular audio programs.”
Le Batard broadcast his final ESPN show on January 4.
“We hear the term ‘free agency’ a lot, but our fans, as loyal and rabid as any in sports, just gave us...
The content venture, supported by billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, “will emphasize a creator-centric point of view,” the official announcement said. Skipper will remain in his role as executive chairman of Dazn, the global streaming service backed by Blavatnik.
“I’m thrilled to be back in business with Dan, one of the leading and most unique voices in sports media,” said Skipper. “We have a lot in the works, but the first order of business will be to find Dan a new home for his wildly popular audio programs.”
Le Batard broadcast his final ESPN show on January 4.
“We hear the term ‘free agency’ a lot, but our fans, as loyal and rabid as any in sports, just gave us...
- 1/19/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Dazn Group has announced a pair of co-ceos, Shay Segev and James Rushton.
Rushton had been Dazn’s acting CEO since June 2020. Prior to that, he was the company’s chief revenue officer.
Segev comes over from sports betting and gaming company Entain, which also has a tech-centric focus.
“This is an important moment for Dazn Group as we deepen our leadership team and ready the organization for its next phase of growth,” John Skipper, Dazn Group executive chairman, said in a statement on Monday. “James has displayed tremendous leadership, navigating incredible challenges and achieving terrific results which have made us a stronger and more focused company.
“In Shay, we’re adding depth and fresh expertise to the team. He is recognized as one of the leading figures in online gaming and brings vast technology and operations experience to the role as well as an impressive track record in digital transformation.
Rushton had been Dazn’s acting CEO since June 2020. Prior to that, he was the company’s chief revenue officer.
Segev comes over from sports betting and gaming company Entain, which also has a tech-centric focus.
“This is an important moment for Dazn Group as we deepen our leadership team and ready the organization for its next phase of growth,” John Skipper, Dazn Group executive chairman, said in a statement on Monday. “James has displayed tremendous leadership, navigating incredible challenges and achieving terrific results which have made us a stronger and more focused company.
“In Shay, we’re adding depth and fresh expertise to the team. He is recognized as one of the leading figures in online gaming and brings vast technology and operations experience to the role as well as an impressive track record in digital transformation.
- 1/11/2021
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Former ESPN chief John Skipper and Dan Le Batard, the former host of ESPN network’s “Highly Questionable,” are teaming up to launch a new sports-focused content company.
Skipper, who resigned from ESPN in 2017, would remain in his current position as executive chair of Dazn Group but shift focus to daily oversight of the new company, according to the Miami Herald, which suggested that Kevin Mayer, a former high-ranking Disney exec who now is an adviser to Dazn parent company Access Industries, might take over his responsibilities at Dazn.
According to Sports Business Journal, Skipper and Le Batard’s are looking to sell Le Batard’s new podcast, which he launched after his recent ESPN exit, and hire a staff to create sports-focused editorial content for their company, with the expectation that the scope of content could branch out into other topics besides sports.
Representatives for Skipper and Dazn Group...
Skipper, who resigned from ESPN in 2017, would remain in his current position as executive chair of Dazn Group but shift focus to daily oversight of the new company, according to the Miami Herald, which suggested that Kevin Mayer, a former high-ranking Disney exec who now is an adviser to Dazn parent company Access Industries, might take over his responsibilities at Dazn.
According to Sports Business Journal, Skipper and Le Batard’s are looking to sell Le Batard’s new podcast, which he launched after his recent ESPN exit, and hire a staff to create sports-focused editorial content for their company, with the expectation that the scope of content could branch out into other topics besides sports.
Representatives for Skipper and Dazn Group...
- 1/10/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
To paraphrase President Nixon: ESPN won’t have Dan Le Batard to kick around anymore. The veteran host signed off for good today after doing his TV show Highly Questionable since September 2011.
It came a month after the call-’em-like-he-sees-’em host, who also had fronted an eponymous ESPN Radio show, and the company parted ways over his venturing into politics amid the Worldwide Leader’s “stick to sports” mandate.
“This will be my last time on this cruddy little TV show we’ve done for almost a decade,” he said in typically self-deprecating style. “A decade — can you believe that?” Watch his five-minute farewell below.
Le Batard had clashed with ESPN executives during the latter half of 2020, and he had complained that the network wouldn’t let him talk about politics. Another major problem concerned his longtime radio producer Chris Cote, who was laid off in a 300-person downsizing in November.
It came a month after the call-’em-like-he-sees-’em host, who also had fronted an eponymous ESPN Radio show, and the company parted ways over his venturing into politics amid the Worldwide Leader’s “stick to sports” mandate.
“This will be my last time on this cruddy little TV show we’ve done for almost a decade,” he said in typically self-deprecating style. “A decade — can you believe that?” Watch his five-minute farewell below.
Le Batard had clashed with ESPN executives during the latter half of 2020, and he had complained that the network wouldn’t let him talk about politics. Another major problem concerned his longtime radio producer Chris Cote, who was laid off in a 300-person downsizing in November.
- 1/5/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The purge at ESPN continues, as longtime show host Dan Le Batard will leave the network in January.
The announcement of his departure said Le Batard “will be leaving ESPN early next year to pursue a new opportunity.” His ESPN radio show, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, will end Jan. 4. His hosting of the TV show Highly Questionable will finish the same day, but the show will remain on ESPN with what’s described as a “contributing team.”
“It was mutually agreed that it was best for both sides to move on to new opportunities and we worked together closely to make that possible,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. “We thank Dan for his many years and contributions to ESPN and wish him all the best going forward.”
Le Batard has clashed in recent months with ESPN executives, and has complained that the...
The announcement of his departure said Le Batard “will be leaving ESPN early next year to pursue a new opportunity.” His ESPN radio show, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, will end Jan. 4. His hosting of the TV show Highly Questionable will finish the same day, but the show will remain on ESPN with what’s described as a “contributing team.”
“It was mutually agreed that it was best for both sides to move on to new opportunities and we worked together closely to make that possible,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. “We thank Dan for his many years and contributions to ESPN and wish him all the best going forward.”
Le Batard has clashed in recent months with ESPN executives, and has complained that the...
- 12/3/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Dan Le Batard, the popular and opinionated ESPN talk-show host, is walking away from the sports-media giant after working there in various capacities for nearly a decade.
Le Batard, who in mid-2019 openly challenged what had been ESPN’s policy not to address straight political matters, is leaving to pursue a new opportunity that neither party described. The last broadcast of his “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” on ESPN Radio will take place January 4, and will subsequently be replaced by Mike Greenberg’s new radio program, “Greeny.” Le Batard will host his last episode of the ESPN TV program “Highly Questionable” on the same day. ESPN said that program will continue to run as part of its regular lineup.
Le Batard is the latest in a string of prominent content executives and personnel to announce their departure from ESPN in recent days and comes as the Disney unit...
Le Batard, who in mid-2019 openly challenged what had been ESPN’s policy not to address straight political matters, is leaving to pursue a new opportunity that neither party described. The last broadcast of his “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” on ESPN Radio will take place January 4, and will subsequently be replaced by Mike Greenberg’s new radio program, “Greeny.” Le Batard will host his last episode of the ESPN TV program “Highly Questionable” on the same day. ESPN said that program will continue to run as part of its regular lineup.
Le Batard is the latest in a string of prominent content executives and personnel to announce their departure from ESPN in recent days and comes as the Disney unit...
- 12/3/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Dan Le Batard is leaving ESPN next month. His TV show, “Highly Questionable,” will continue on without him — or his dad.
“It was mutually agreed that it was best for both sides to move on to new opportunities and we worked together closely to make that possible,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. “We thank Dan for his many years and contributions to ESPN and wish him all the best going forward.”
The final episode of “The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” will broadcast on Monday, Jan. 4, with Le Batard’s final episode of “Highly Questionable” to air the same day.
The announcement of Le Batard’s exit comes a month after a clash with ESPN executives over a producer on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Chris Cote, fell victim to the network’s latest round of layoffs. Le Batard called the move...
“It was mutually agreed that it was best for both sides to move on to new opportunities and we worked together closely to make that possible,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor. “We thank Dan for his many years and contributions to ESPN and wish him all the best going forward.”
The final episode of “The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz” will broadcast on Monday, Jan. 4, with Le Batard’s final episode of “Highly Questionable” to air the same day.
The announcement of Le Batard’s exit comes a month after a clash with ESPN executives over a producer on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Chris Cote, fell victim to the network’s latest round of layoffs. Le Batard called the move...
- 12/3/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
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