ESPN.com To Be Redesigned, Launching SportsCenter.com, & To Debut Web-Only Shows

ESPN today is hosting its annual upfront presentation at N.Y.'s Nokia Theater, where it will make a number of announcements, including a new look for ESPN.com and the formal introduction of Hannah Storm as a "SportsCenter" anchor. ESPN plans to redesign ESPN.com later this year, and the new site, which is expected to be unveiled in the fall, will be much cleaner, with less clutter and easier navigation. New features will include a "news and analysis" section, which will filter stories by sport, columnist or topic. ESPN.com also will add personalization throughout the site. "We're improving our navigation to move visitors beyond the home page," one ESPN executive said. The most noticeable change will be on the home page, which will have a scoreboard at the top, with tabs for sports, scores, news and analysis, fantasy, video, SportsNation and games and guides just below. The site will group its columnists in one area on the home page and put its SportsNation poll in a permanent placement at the center of the page. Meanwhile, ESPN will launch SportsCenter.com in August. ESPN plans to use the site to interact with viewers via chats, blogs, e-mails and instant polls. "SportsCenter" producers will use the interaction to help determine which stories are generating the most buzz. ESPN intends to play up its new-media offerings along with what is coming on TV, outlining plans for original programming that will appear only online or on mobile devices. Those shows include “Mayne Street,” featuring Kenny Mayne, the “SportsCenter” anchor; “Eric’s Got Issues,” with Eric Kuselias; “P.O.V.,” which will compile and present video clips that are submitted to ESPN by viewers and fans; and a series about mixed martial arts.
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