The Spanish-language version of ESPN on Monday will debut a sports and entertainment show out of the cable channel’s downtown L.A studios, increasing activity and employment at the complex.
ESPN Deportes will begin broadcasting “Nacion ESPN,” a sports and entertainment variety show, from studios opposite Staples Center at L.A Live. The cable channel, owned by Walt Disney Co., has spent $1 million developing the show. If it catches on with viewers, ESPN Deportes may produce other shows there.
“This show is the largest investment in original programming for our network,” said Ignacio Garcia, coordinating producer of the show, who relocated from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn., to help manage the hourlong program.
Only ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” a popular evening show that recaps the day in sports, has been broadcast out of the downtown building, which opened in 2009 and where about 100 people had worked. An additional 50 are working on the new program, some relocated from ESPN headquarters in Bristol or its studios in Mexico City, while others were new hires. The facility, which contains offices and control rooms, has room for a third set.
“Nacion ESPN,” which will air daily in the evening, will be similar to its English-language counterpart “SportsNation,” though topics covered will vary. “SportsNation” does not cover soccer, but “Nacion ESPN” will have heavy coverage of European and Mexican games, with the first guest the new head coach of the Mexican national soccer team. It also will cover sports that appeal to Latinos, including pro football, baseball and basketball.
“Nacion ESPN” will initially only air in the United States, but plans call for it to be added to the network’s Mexican cable channel later this year. The show already has attracted advertiser interest. Toyota is the presenting sponsor along with Farmers Insurance, Burger King, AT&T and Miller Lite as secondary sponsors. ESPN said it is the first show to launch on the network with that many corporate advertisers in place.
It will be hosted by David Faitelson and Adriana Monsalve. Faitelson is a native of Mexico and spent 22 years as a sports reporter before joining ESPN in 2007. Monsalve was born in Venezuela and joined ESPN in 2007; she has worked as a “SportsCenter” anchor.
