ESPN Films

ESPN Films (formerly known as ESPN Original Entertainment) is a production company owned by ESPN that produces and distributes sports movies and documentaries.

History

EOE began in 2001. It produced various talk shows, series, documentaries and movies that aired on ESPN and its related networks. (See list below)

For several months starting in 2007, it ceased operations. With the exception of the daily talk show "Jim Rome is Burning", the EOE logo did not appear on any ESPN programs.

Revamp

In the first week of March 2008, ESPN announced that this service would change its name to ESPN Films. In addition, ESPN announced a new alliance with Creative Artists Agency, which represents such athletes as LeBron James, David Beckham and Peyton Manning in addition to many movie and television stars.

The first production to be branded "ESPN Films" is "Black Magic", an already-completed four-hour documentary which is about the history of basketball as played at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It is scheduled to air on March 16 and 17 on ESPN without commercial interruptions.

Also planned is "30/30", a 30-hour series to air on ESPN in 2009 and 2010 to mark 30 years of the original network. Among those who have signed up for the project include Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, and Mike Tollin.

Another significant change is that ESPN Films will make movies for theatrical release as well as for television, as MTV and Nickelodeon already do. Walt Disney Studio Entertainment will have the right of first refusal on all projects.

List of programs that aired under EOE umbrella

Talk shows

‎
*"Around the Horn" (2002–present)
*"Cold Pizza" (2003–2007) (now "ESPN First Take (2007–present)
*"ESPN Hollywood" (2005–2006)
*"The Fantasy Show" (2006)
*"Jim Rome Is Burning" (2003–present)
*"Pardon the Interruption" (2001–present)
*"Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith" (2005–2007)

eries

*"Playmakers" (2003)
*"Tilt" (2005)

Mini-Series

*"The Bronx is Burning" (2007)

Events

*ESPY Awards (1993–present)
*X Games (1995–present)
*Winter X Games (1997–present)
*World Series of Poker (1988–present)

Reality

*"Battle of the Gridiron Stars" (2005–present)
*"Bonds on Bonds" (2006)
*"Bound for Glory" (2005)
*"Madden Nation" (2005–present)
*"Knight School" (2006)
*"Streetball"
*"The Contender" (2006–present)

Game shows

*"Stump the Schwab" (2004–present)
*"2 Minute Drill" (2001-–2002, 2006)

Documentaries

*"Once in a Lifetime" (2006)

Films

*"" (2004)
*"A Season on the Brink" (2002)
*"Code Breakers" (2005)
*"Hustle" (2004)
*"Ruffian" (2007)
*"The Junction Boys" (2002)
*"Four Minutes" (2005)

References

[http://www.dailynews.com/sportscolumnists/ci_8483495 ESPN Films sees the big picture]

Links

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/index/ ESPN EOE website]