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ESPN will premiere a new daily show built around Peter Schrager beginning Sept. 10, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic.
The sources, speaking under anonymity to discuss something not yet announced, said the one-hour daily program will be called “Big Day with Peter Schrager” and run at 2 p.m. ET.
It is a high-profile move for Schrager and ESPN as he joins Mike Greenberg, Stephen A. Smith, Pat McAfee, Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon and Scott Van Pelt with daily programs centered on their personalities on the network. “Big Day with Peter Schrager” replaces “SportsCenter” in the time slot.
During the college football season, Schrager’s program will be on four days a week. On Fridays, a new college football program, “Bussin’ with Pate,” featuring Josh Pate, Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, will be on during the hour. After college football season ends, “Big Day” will be five days a week.
ESPN declined to comment.
Schrager, 44, will be joined by two or three panelists each day, mixing in ex-players, reporters and potentially some celebrity sports fans, the sources said. Schrager has mostly made his name talking football — notably at NFL Network, where he was a main component during the rise of “Good Morning Football.” His new show is expected to be heavy on the NFL but will also cover other sports.
Some of the personalities expected to be featured on “Big Day” are Steve Smith, Jason McCourty, Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and others from ESPN and its sister platform, NFL Network. The program could have regular crews around Schrager based on the day.
The move represents one of the biggest swings yet for ESPN president of content Burke Magnus and his top studio lieutenant, Mike Foss. Magnus and Foss have leaned in heavily on McAfee with his daily program, his featured role on “College GameDay” and, this season, “Monday Night Countdown.” They have also invested in Lewan, Compton and Pate.
Schrager was an on-air personality whom Magnus targeted to bring into the ESPN fold. After signing him last year, Schrager has been featured on ESPN’s daily talk shows, “NFL Live,” and has worked on the sidelines on the network’s No. 2 NFL games.
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