Skipper No Longer on Deck

摘要

When ESPN programming chief Mark Shapiro left last October to eventually take over as CEO of Six Rags, the network looked to one of its own, John Skipper, to fill the vacancy. But with a diverse background in the magazine and Internet world (he has run both for ESPN), Skipper was given the role of executive VP of content for all of ESPN and ABC Sports, overseeing content for not just the television network but all platforms for one of the biggest brands in media. Since taking on his new role, Skipper has closed deals to land a long-desired reconciliation with NASCAR and to hang onto the World Cup soccer tournament, and he chose not to re-up with the PGA Tour (which was snapped up by Comcast for The Golf Channel). An ESPN-branded cellphone is just one way his company is looking to grow through new-media opportunities.