Chicago -- Always dreamed of being an ESPN sports anchor? The network will
give aspiring sportscasters an opportunity to land the "dream job" as part of a
new eight-week reality series premiering next February.
Dream Job, hosted by SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott, will put
several wanna-be sports anchors through various "on-air tasks," such as sideline
reporting, anchoring, play-by-play and one-on-one interviews, network executives
said. ESPN anchors, producers and athletes will comprise the panel of
judges.
At the end of each show, viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their
favorite participant and determine who advances to the next round.
The winner will get a one-year, on-air contract, as well as appearing in one
of ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" ad-campaign promos.
ESPN executive vice president of programming and production Mark Shapiro said
the series is being created to foster appointment viewing among ESPN viewers, as
well as to develop and find someone with sound sports knowledge and camera
presence.
He added, though, that the show would not compromise the network's
journalistic standards.
