WABC — the flagship owned-and-operated station of ABC in New York City — is giving sportscasts from ESPN radio a trial run as part of its morning news.
ESPN and ABC are both owned by Walt Disney Corporation, making the partnership an easy opportunity for corporate synergy. WABC news director Kenny Plotnik told The New York Daily News that he asked ESPN radio for segments that focused on local sports. “This gives us an opportunity to have the latest information,” he said.
The segments air in the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. hours of the morning show. WABC made the decision recently to not have a morning sportscaster, and Plotnik said the arrangement with EPSN gives the station an alternative to having sports anchor Rob Powers tape something the night before, which may be outdated by the time the morning rolls around.