ESPN is considering a potentially powerhouse morning TV duo: Michelle Beadle and Mike Greenberg.
With the debut of Greenberg's solo morning show less than four months away, Beadle is emerging as a contender to join his show, sources tell Sporting News.
The move would unite two of ESPN's most talented on-air personalties at a new studio location in New York City. A final decision has not been made, as ESPN continues to look inside and outside for candidates.
"There are still a lot of ways this might go," a source said.
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Greenberg has co-anchored "Mike & Mike in the Morning" with Mike Golic on ESPN2 for the past 18 years. His new morning show launching Jan. 1, 2018 (7 to 10 a.m.), will be one of the network's biggest new show launches of the new year. The "Morning Joe"-like show for sports fans is expected to feature Greenberg, a female anchor, two to three rotating NFL/NBA experts and a star-studded guest list of celebrities who are either based in, or passing through, the media capital of the world.
The addition of the outspoken, humorous Beadle could create all kinds of new buzz around the show.
Beadle shot to overnight stardom with the 2009 launch of "SportsNation" on ESPN2. Originally paired with Colin Cowherd by ex-ESPN programmer Jamie Horowitz, Beadle quickly became one of ESPN's most popular personalities.
She jumped to NBC in 2012 for a bigger paycheck. But her turn at NBC was a disaster. She returned to "SportsNation" and ESPN in 2014.
This April, Beadle replaced Sage Steele to take over as full-time host of "NBA Countdown" on ABC and ESPN. In that role, she leads studio coverage for the NBA Finals on ABC, the NBA Playoffs and regular season. She boasts more than 1.5 million followers on Twitter alone.
The casting of Greenberg's new show will be one of the first major decisions by Connor Schell, the Oscar-winning producer of "OJ: Made in America," named new content czar by ESPN boss John Skipper in June. Both Greenberg and Beadle are represented by talent agency CAA.
Previously, ESPN was interested in luring Charissa Thompson from Fox Sports to work with Greenberg on the new show, which will get major promotional and marketing support. The ex-ESPNer's contract was set to expire after the 2017 season.
But now it looks like Thompson will stay with Fox in Los Angeles, where she hosts "Fox NFL Kickoff" (Sundays, 11 a.m. ET). She recently dropped her entertainment gig with "Extra," freeing her up to do more work for Fox and FS1 this season.
ESPN declined to comment on Beadle and Greenberg. But the Worldwide Leader in Sports previously announced Greenberg's new show will feature a "lively mix" of news, opinion and analysis.
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During a previous interview with Sporting News, Greenberg said breaking up his long-running TV/radio partnership with Golic was a risk worth taking.
"Is it a risk? Yes, of course it is. It’s a risk for the company and a risk for me, for sure," Greenberg said. "But there’s a part of that (that) makes you feel excited at the same time, you know?"
He and longtime partner Golic are currently in the lame duck phase of their show. With Greenberg flying solo, Golic will team with Trey Wingo. Their new show will debut this fall on ESPN2, before moving to ESPNU.
