Behind the Mic: ESPN Inks Multi-year Extension With Bomani Jones; Cris Carter Heads to Fox Sports

Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including deals, departures, and new assignments. In this week’s edition, ESPN signs Bomani Jones to a multi-year extension, Cris Carter joins FOX Sports as a FS1 NFL analyst, Mike Greenberg agrees to a massive deal with ESPN, Magic Johnson returns to ESPN’s NBA Countdown, ESPN brings in soccer reporter Julie Stewart-Binks and MMA analyst Brett Okamoto.

bomani-jones-20141ESPN has signed Bomani Jones to a multi-year extension. Jones, who joined ESPN full time in 2013, will continue to host The Right Time with Bomani Joneson ESPN Radio weekdays from 4 – 7 p.m. ET. He will also remain co-host of Highly Questionable, with Dan Le Batard and Papi, weekdays on ESPN at 4:30 p.m. Additional projects featuring Jones will be developed. Jones has been a fulltime co-host of Highly Questionable since May of 2013. In March of 2015, ESPN Radio launched The Right Time with Bomani Jones, which allows Jones, in his entertaining and humorous manner, to focus on sports commentary and a frank discussion of social topics, while engaging in compelling dialog with his guests. Jones has also regularly appeared as a panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn and has appeared on other ESPN programs including SportsCenter, First Take and Outside the Lines. He sometimes joins Dan Le Batard on ESPN Radio’s The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. Jones started his relationship with ESPN as a columnist for ESPN.com…

…Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime broadcaster Cris Carter has joined FOX Sports as a FS1 NFL analyst. The eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver will bring his distinctive insights to a number of FS1’s daily studio shows. One of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, Carter finished his career as the NFL’s second all-time leading receiver and with the second-most touchdowns in league history. Carter is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s. Carter transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting following his playing career, joining HBO’s Inside the NFL as a studio analyst in 2002. He became well-known for his candor, creating one of the show’s most memorable segments when he interviewed his former coach Buddy Ryan and opened up about his controversial release from the Philadelphia Eagles early in his career. Carter moved to ESPN in 2008, appearing on a variety of programs as a studio analyst, including Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown, becoming a fixture on the sports television landscape… 

…According to James Andrew Miller, Mike Greenberg recently agreed to a deal with ESPN that pays him more than $6.5 million a year, which makes him one of the highest-paid personalities at the network. ESPN reportedly also been exploring the possibility of giving Greenberg his own morning show. (Awful Announcing)…

…Magic Johnson, the two-time Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and sports icon, has returned to ESPN and debuted on NBA Countdown as a studio analyst during ABC’s Christmas NBA coverage. Johnson will now join NBA Countdown pre-game coverage for the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series – the NBA’s marquee game of the week, starting Jan. 21, 2017. Johnson previously served as an NBA studio analyst from 2008-2013 and he worked alongside Michael Wilbon on NBA Countdownfrom 2011-2013. Wilbon, one of ESPN’s most visible commentators, will continue his regular role as co-host of Pardon The Interruption, among his several other responsibilities…

…ESPN has added Julie Stewart-Binks as sideline reporter for Major League Soccer and U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team games. Stewart-Binks, a versatile reporter and host who is emerging as one of soccer’s best sideline reporters, will make her ESPN debut in March 2017 during ESPN’s MLS season-opening telecast. Stewart-Binks joins ESPN from FOX Sports where she served myriad roles including update anchor, studio host, sideline reporter for soccer and on-site reporter for other live events. She also conducted one-on-one interviews and more. Stewart-Binks was a roving reporter during FOX Sports’ presentation of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Covering the sport in her home country, she earned critical acclaim for her insightful reporting from 20 games in seven different Canadian cities during the tournament. Stewart-Binks made her U.S. national television debut in July 2011 as an anchor on FOX Soccer Report, then FOX Soccer Channel’s flagship soccer news, highlights and information program, originating from a studio in Winnipeg. In June 2013, she joined FOX Sports 1 at its launch – moving from Canada to Los Angeles to host the network’s FOX SOCCER DAILY studio show.  Born in Toronto, Stewart-Binks began her journalism career as a program assistant at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). At the CBC, she covered the National Hockey League working on the popular Hockey Night in Canada show. She also worked for CTV in Canada as a reporter and anchor before joining Fox Sports 1. An avid hockey fan and former prep player, Stewart-Binks has continued her work as a sideline reporter on NHL games…

…ESPN has renewed its agreement with MMA analyst Brett Okamoto. Okamoto, who joined ESPN in 2010, will continue as a breaking news reporter, feature writer and analyst, host of 5ive Rounds, ESPN’s weekly MMA-centric podcast, and a one-on-one interviewer, for MMA content across linear and digital platforms…

 

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