Hannah Storm to join ESPN

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Former CBS "Early Show" co-host Hannah Storm will join ESPN in August as one of the central anchors for the channel's new Monday-Friday daytime "SportsCenter" block.

ESPN announced Tuesday at its "upfront" presentation to advertisers that the new 6 a.m.-3 p.m. live "SportsCenter" will bow August 11, just in time for the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Storm will anchor the 9 a.m.-noon "SportsCenter." Other hosts will be announced later.

Also launching in the summer is SportsCenter.com, which will give viewers interactivity with anchors via chat sessions and email. ESPN also previewed the redesign of ESPN.com (espn.go.com/), which will debut soon with additional digital content and other features.

The 1 a.m. ET "SportsCenter" will originate from ESPN's new Los Angeles studio across from the Staples Center. And the existing Bristol, Connecticut, studio will get an extreme makeover with new studios and graphics starting in April.

ESPN's presentation was a special, live-before-an-audience edition of "SportsCenter," anchored by Scott van Pelt and Steve Levy at the Nokia Theatre at Times Square. New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer joined Levy and van Pelt at the anchor desk.

So, too, did filmmaker Spike Lee, who has filmed Lakers star Kobe Bryant during an April game for a documentary celebrating ESPN's 30th anniversary in September 2009.

"If you like your upfront pitches peppered with sports cliches -- and, frankly, who doesn't? -- you've come to the right place," van Pelt said.

ESPN also will start an all-action-sports online network in 2009.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter