ESPN commentators Michael Smith and Jemele Hill will host the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter beginning in February as part of new multiyear deals reached between the parties.
Smith and Hill, who currently host ESPN2’s His & Hers daily talk show, will take over the 6 p.m. SportsCenter anchorslot in February from current anchor Lindsay Czarniak, who will go on maternity leave in early November and return in a new role to be announced at a later date, according to the network.
During Czarniak’s absence, the 6 p.m. SportsCenter program will be hosted by Zubin Mehenti and Matt Barrie and other current SportsCenter anchors until Smith and Hill’s debut, said network officials.
Hill and Smith will continue to host His & Hers for the immediate future with their final show date to be determined.
“Jemele and Michael have unique chemistry and impressive journalistic credentials, and we look forward to bringing their entertaining mix of perspective and passion to SportsCenter,” said Rob King, ESPN senior vice president of SportsCenter and News. “We’ll build a new version of our program that amplifies all that makes them special.”
