Sports broadcaster ESPN, which is part of the Walt Disney group, said it would spread responsibility for many of its best-known studio programmes under two different programming executives, entertainment news outlet Variety reported yesterday evening India time.

The Variety report, without giving much detail initially, stated that ESPN has overhauled the structure of its content division, including opening a new role for an executive to oversee production on the Super Bowl, which the Disney-backed sports-media giant will get to broadcast in 2026 and 2030 under the terms of its most recent deal with the NFL.

Mike McQuade was named EVP of Sports Production, placed in charge of studio programmes, while David Roberts was named an EVP of Sports News & Entertainment, Variety reported.

Meanwhile, a statement from ESPN, accessed by Indianbroadcastingworld.com on the sports network’s website,

 Roberts oversees ESPN’s vast news operation, including sports news and coverage, investigative and enterprise journalism, research and digital editorial and all editions of ‘SportsCenter’. He also has oversight of studio shows including ‘First Take’, ‘Get Up’, ‘PTI’, ‘Around The Horn’, ‘ESPN BET’ and fantasy shows, ESPN Audio, ESPN podcast content and ESPN digital shows.

Prior to being named to his current role, Roberts was the head of event & studio production at ESPN, leading the network’s NBA and WNBA production, in addition to his expansive collection of content responsibilities.