ESPN's L.A. HQ Nearing Completion
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Seems like forever ago that we first touched on ESPN expanding out West, but after months of planning and building, the "L.A. Team" is ready to start work from their new digs on November 1st. Via Sports Video Group....
In a few weeks’ time, ESPN’s national presence will expand dramatically, when the network opens the doors to its brand-new production center in downtown Los Angeles. Leading the charge as VP of the 12,300-square-foot facility is a sports outsider, Judi Cordray, formerly VP, BO&E West Coast operations for Disney/ABC’s Media Networks Group. Shifting her sights from news to sports is one of many challenges Cordray must overcome in taking the helm of this cutting-edge 1080p facility.Currently the only confirmed show to be produced out of the new facility is the 1am version of Sports Center, but that has to be a relief to some of the anchors that have to stay in Bristol over night. Also, while some of the workers move in on November 1st, production won't be going live until probably April.
Having managed ABC News’ technical-network facility in Los Angeles for 2½ years, Cordray is very comfortable with her management role, overseeing day-to-day operations of the new ESPN facility, and making the move from news to sports is not as big a leap as one might expect.
“I think that news and sports are similar in many ways,” she says. “I think there’s an immediacy with sports as there is with news. With breaking news, there are no planned events, where sports are very planned events. But, in terms of the fan base and the coverage, the two are somewhat similar. Sports seem to have a little more fun with it.”
ESPN Goes West (SVG)
6 Comments:
Maybe this will ultimate lead to the SG having his own show in his backyard.
Lame,
Look at the L.A. teams
NBA=rapist
MLB=nobody cares
NHL=?
NFL=no team
Whats the hardon to get setup in L.A.?
The most popular league in the USA and the city cant support a team, what a joke.
Just star gazers.
Has the Roman empire gotten to big?
Is LA ESPN's version of Constantinople?
Three people got that, but the analogy works
No a fan of LA, but saying that LA is incapable of being the home to ESPN West becuase of a lack of teams is hilarious. What teams exactly are in Bristol? How about Conneticut? Yeah, doesnt quite work. But there are tons of media people who want to be in LA, it is where it all happens.
ESPN went Hollywood a long time ago, more concerned with a glitzy look, rubbing elbows with celebs and style over substance... frankly, I'm amazed it took this long. It'll be interesting to see how many of the East-based talent head West. Would be nice to do the 11 PM SC at 8 PM, too, I'm sure.
The place is really nice and huge from the schematics I've seen. Also the digital pipeline their using across the country to be able to have all the information sync together is pretty cool. They're also considering moving the SportsCenter Deportes to that studio too.