It is once again time for seldom-seen sports to get their moment in the sun.
ESPN8: The Ocho is back for 2023 — and this time, it's better than ever. For the seventh straight year, ESPN2 will rebrand as the fictional "Ocho" for a summer marathon of the world's best obscure sports.
For the first time ever, the televised showcase will begin live in prime-time this year. That will kick off 43 straight hours of programming featuring 52 different sports — including 31 that have never been seen before on American airwaves.
It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off.
MORE: Watch ESPN8: The Ocho live on Fubo (free trial)
Here's how you can tune into ESPN8: The Ocho in 2023:
How to watch ESPN8: The Ocho
- When: Thursday, Aug. 3 - Saturday, Aug. 5
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
If you look for ESPN8 on your channel listings, you won't have much luck. That's because it doesn't actually exist.
Instead, you're going to want to look for ESPN2, which will be carrying 43 straight hours of the best obscure sports content starting at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 3.
Coverage can also be live-streamed via ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.
What is ESPN8: The Ocho?
The fictional network first appeared in the 2004 film "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story."
In the movie, it carried the broadcasting rights for the dodgeball championship between the Average Joes and Globo Gym. Commentators Cotton McKnight (Gary Cole) and Pepper Brooks (Jason Bateman) were on the call as the Average Joes, led by Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn) upset White Goodman (Ben Stiller) and his heavily-favored Globo Gym team.
It made its real-life debut in 2017, when ESPN finally decided to bring it into existence as a televised showcase of obscure sports from around the world. Its motto and mission remain simple: “Bringing You the Finest in Seldom Seen Sports.”
MORE: Everything to know about the Savannah Bananas' 2023 season
ESPN8: The Ocho TV schedule 2023
Events in bold are making their debut on The Ocho
| Date | Time (ET) | Event |
| Thursday, Aug. 3 | 7 p.m. | Savannah Bananas vs. The Party Animals |
| 9 p.m. | 2023 ACL Pro Shootout Championship | |
| 10 p.m. | 2023 Table Hockey World Championships | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Red Bull Fierste Ljepper | |
| 11 p.m. | Slamball | |
| Friday, Aug. 4 | 1 a.m. | Stern Heads-Up Pinball Invitational |
| 1:30 a.m. | 2020 USA Mullet Championships | |
| 2 a.m. | 2021 US Air Guitar Championships | |
| 3 a.m. | 2022 Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship | |
| 4 a.m. | Jelle’s Marble Runs | |
| 4:30 a.m. | Foosball World Cup | |
| 5:30 a.m. | World Chase Tag 5 | |
| 6:30 a.m. | 2023 Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship | |
| 7 a.m. | Microsoft Excel World Championship | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Truck and Tractor Pulling | |
| 8 a.m. | OneWheel World Championship | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Arm Wrestling Reborn | |
| 9 a.m. | Extreme Axe & Knife Games | |
| 10 a.m. | Omegaball Women’s Invitational | |
| 11 a.m. | 2023 BullShooter Invitational Shootout | |
| 12 p.m. | Omegaball Men’s Invitational | |
| 1 p.m. | Professional Cuesports League (PCL) | |
| 2 p.m. | TurfWars Invitational: Adult Kickball Championship | |
| 3 p.m. | The Ocho Show | |
| 4 p.m. | 2023 NWLA Wiffleball All-Stars | |
| 5 p.m. | Major League Table Tennis | |
| 6 p.m. | 2023 Slippery Stairs | |
| 7 p.m. | Johnsonville SuperHole IV Championship | |
| 9 p.m. | Viii Sports YMCA Invitational | |
| 10 p.m. | Pillow Fight Championship | |
| 11 p.m. | 2023 FootGolf World Cup | |
| 11:30 p.m. | Masskrugstemmen Stein Holding Competition | |
| Saturday, Aug. 5 | 12:00 a.m. | 2023 Corgi Races |
| 12:30 a.m. | World Dog Surfing Championship Best Waves | |
| 1 a.m. | USA Dodgeball All-Star Showcase | |
| 2 a.m. | CROSSNET Sand Series: SoCal | |
| 2:30 a.m. | 2022 eSkootr Championship | |
| 3 a.m. | 2022 Spikeball’s Co-Ed Invitational: Utah | |
| 4 a.m. | Red Bull Paper Wings | |
| 4:30 a.m. | Corunna Belt Sander Races | |
| 5 a.m. | Franklin Rock River Stone Skipping Competition | |
| 5:30 a.m. | Teqball Tour: Los Angeles | |
| 6:30 a.m. | 2020 Tetris Championships | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Golden Tee World Championship | |
| 8 a.m. | World Sign Spinning Championship | |
| 8:30 a.m. | Grass Drag Racing Season Opener | |
| 9 a.m. | 2022 AUDL Championship | |
| 9:30 a.m. | Ultimate Ninja World Finals | |
| 10 a.m. | Red Bull Rapids | |
| 10:30 a.m. | FlingGolf: San Diego Open | |
| 11 a.m. | Professional Horseshoes League | |
| 12 p.m. | 2023 ACL Pro Doubles World Championship |
