Linda Cohn, longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor, is retiring from the network. She is a long-ago KIRO sports alum, so might she return to help revive the station's dead sports image by freelancing during the Seahawks/Husky season and start of the Kraken???? Remember, she did a short-term deal to co-host Kraken pregame show the season before last on KING. Interesting idea. But what the ROI?
From Awful Announcing:
Linda Cohn will soon be departing ESPN.
Awful Announcing has learned Cohn’s contract expires at the end of the month, and the two sides could not agree on a suitable role for her moving forward.
After beginning her tenure at ESPN in Bristol, Cohn relocated to the Los Angeles area, where much of her family lives, and enjoyed the work-life balance of her role hosting the 1 a.m. ET SportCenter. Last year, ESPN opted to move the 1 a.m. SportsCenter back to its headquarters in Connecticut. Since then, Cohn’s role shifted to hosting SportsCenter from Bristol and other special projects. The day of cross-country flights and hotel beds just didn’t seem like an ideal situation going forward after 34 years at ESPN, despite the best efforts of TSA PreCheck and Marriott Reward points.
An announcement is expected as early as tomorrow, with Cohn expected to host several editions of SportsCenter throughout the week to celebrate her time with the company. Cohn has the distinction of hosting the most episodes of SportsCenter in ESPN history, with her 5000th show being celebrated.
Good question. If the ROI was any good at all, wouldn't they have brought her back last season? Same with KIRO. I think the thought she was a local draw three decades removed from being at 7 is a stretch at best.
ReplyDeleteThe KRAKEN show never got off the ground, they did not showcase her correctly or put her in positon to succeed. She was bunched together with two or three others on a small set and the show was generally underproduced, IMHO. I believe she lives in LA, so flying her in and out and putting her up would be expesive for KIRO. But, I think if they brought her on camera remotely from Sept. to Feb., she could at least provide some credibility and expertise as a solo act. Maybe, like KING did, have her for 10-12 live appearances on set. It probably is a stretch, but the eternal draw of being on TV and going home again to Seattle might hae some appeal. How about 'Cohn's Corner," pre-taped Thursday to preview Huskys, Hawks, Mariners in a possible stretch run, Kraken season? I just watched her interview with Rich EIsen, she mentioned Seattle several times and had clips as well.
ReplyDeleteOne other point, the KRAKEN brought Cohn in, not KING, I believe. So their judgment of whether the return of investment was worthwhile came from a different budget. Then ESPN closed LA and brought her to Bristol again. That led to her finally getting out at retirement age. She will have time on her hands for sure, however.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame to see Cohn leave ESPN, but making a Los Angeles based presenter do her show live from Connecitcut was never going to be sustainable. I wish Cohn the very best in her future endeavors.
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