Live Weekday Morning Show FIRST TAKE to Move to ESPN Beg. 1/3

FIRST TAKE, ESPN's lively weekday morning studio debate show featuring Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and host Molly Qerim, will move to ESPN at 10 a.m. ET beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. The live two-hour program will continue to focus on the most compelling and entertaining topics of the day from the world of sports.

The two hours of SPORTSCENTER currently airing on ESPN from 10 a.m. - noon will move to ESPN2, also on January 3. SPORTSCENTER Face to Face, an interview-based program hosted by Hannah Storm, will air from 10 - 11 a.m.

The two-hour SPORTSCENTER Coast to Coast, hosted by David Lloyd in Bristol and Cari Champion in Los Angeles, will air from 11 a.m. - noon on ESPN2. The second hour of SPORTSCENTER Coast to Coast will remain on ESPN, with the exception of January 3 - 6 when the final week of His & Hers, hosted by Jemele Hill and Michael Smith, will air on ESPN from noon - 1 p.m. Hill and Smith will become co-anchors of the 6 p.m. SPORTSCENTER on ESPN beginning February 6, 2017.

"First Take and SPORTSCENTER are two strong, complementary franchises airing on two strong, complementary platforms," said Burke Magnus, ESPN executive vice president, programming and scheduling. "We have always demonstrated a willingness to take a fresh approach with our network schedules and this move is the latest example of that thinking."

First Take and SPORTSCENTER will both continue to be streamed live on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. FIRST TAKE will continue to be reaired on ESPN2 each day.

The ESPN weekday morning lineup as of January 3:

6 am - SPORTSCENTER (reair)

7 am - SportsCenter:AM (live)

8 am - SportsCenter:AM (live)

9 am - SportsCenter:AM (live)

10 am - FIRST TAKE (live)

Noon - SPORTSCENTER Coast to Coast (live except January 3-6 when His & Hers airs on ESPN)

The ESPN2 weekday morning lineup as of January 3:

6 am - Mike & Mike

10 am - SPORTSCENTER Face to Face (live)

11 am - SPORTSCENTER Coast to Coast (live)

About First Take
First Take is ESPN's weekday morning studio debate show featuring commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman with host Molly Qerim. FIRST TAKE airs weekday mornings from 10 a.m. - noon ET from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. The show is televised live from some of the biggest sporting events including the COLLEGE FOOTBALL Playoff, the SUPER BOWL and the NBA Finals. Every November, the FIRST TAKE team travels to a military base to show support for our troops and veterans. The entire show is available as an audio-only podcast following the broadcast of the recorded show. Follow FIRST TAKE on Twitter, Facebook or the Podcast for more updates and information.

The show debuted on May 7, 2007. Smith joined the show every Wednesday starting September 7, 2011, and was made a permanent commentator on May 1, 2012. Qerim rejoined ESPN in July 2015 as interim host of FIRST TAKE and was named full-time moderator of the show on September 14, 2015. Kellerman, the most recent addition to First Take, started on July 25, 2016. Guests regularly appear to provide additional distinct commentary and perspective.

Image courtesy of ESPN Press

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