It’s been a tough few years for sports TV newsmagazines, but Jemele Hill believes the format is ripe for reinvention.
The journalist and ESPN veteran is leading a new program on TNT Sports called Above The Fold that “delves into important stories and topics centered around the connection between sports and culture.”
Hill said the show is a “love letter to the profession that changed my life,” and the title is a reference to the most important articles published in the daily newspaper.
“As someone who has been in the industry professionally for almost 30 years, I can tell you that many of the intense, deep, long-form shows like “Outside the Lines” and “E60” have become the type of shows that have become nearly extinct,” Hill said. said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “My favorite thing about being part of this project is feeling like I’m engaging in that kind of storytelling and journalism every week, reporting on what’s happening on the ground and in the corners as it relates to sports and culture.” ”
Hill also adds that he wants people to remember. “We know that the discussion part of sports is always very attractive to people, but there’s also another side of sports where it’s important to really understand how sports work. People who are important in the sports world.”
Last year, ESPN canceled its journalism-driven newsmagazine Outside the Lines for the first time in 33 years (it continues as a corner on SportsCenter and digital platforms). And HBO ended Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, who had been a staple of the lineup since the mid-1990s.
Above the Fold will seek to fill the void left by those shows while also helping launch ambitious new programming from TruTV’s newly launched sports block, TNT Sports.
Above The Fold premieres on TruTV on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. Future episodes are scheduled to air Thursdays at 7 p.m. on TruTV, part of the cable channel’s new sports programming block that launched earlier this month. “Above The Fold” will be the block’s flagship storytelling-driven program, which will also include live sports, simulcasts and other sports studio programming. The show is produced by Uninterrupted, part of LeBron James’ SpringHill Company.
“I think even if you’re starting something new, the most important thing is the people who are passionate about it. Everyone here is going to make this a unique sports product that’s appealing and engaging for fans as well. We take it very seriously, and we think of ourselves as just a kind of observer checking in and checking out the sport,” Hill says.
“As we develop TNT Sports on truTV’s programming lineup, we are excited to partner with Uninterrupted and Jemele to create entertaining, insightful and thought-provoking programming,” said TNT Sports Chief Content Officer. says Craig Barry. “Jemele is an influential voice within the sports community and has a unique perspective. We look forward to building a platform to share meaningful and compelling perspectives with fans.” I am.
On this show, Hill and other correspondents delve into interesting sports and culture stories, both serious and funny. Hill said both veteran correspondents and first-time television reporters will contribute, and he hopes to introduce a new generation of journalists to the medium.
“When they hear this is going to be long-form storytelling, they immediately think about something very serious,” Hill says. “And while there’s always room for serious topics and serious discussions on the show, much of it also covers the fun and culture of sports.”
It includes profiles of the people behind the mascots and interviews with fascinating people involved in the sport.
It’s a familiar format for fans of real sports and its ilk, but it’s becoming increasingly outdated in a television industry where opinion and talking points dominate the lineup.
“It’s not easy to do journalism. Certainly, there are too many indicators that people enjoy seeing debates and debates and controversies that make me want to go back to this kind of sports storytelling.” “It can be very frightening for people,” Hill says. . “But certainly the opportunity to partner with TNT, Turner and Spring Hill, and their commitment alone to making this project part of our sports world, made it impossible to say no to this. ”
“Uninterrupted is a huge fan of Jemele Hill and given our previous work with her, we’re excited for our viewers to look forward to her sharing her unique perspective on sports and culture.” We know there are,” added Jamal Henderson, chief content officer at SpringHill Company. “As a brand founded on providing a platform that caters to the diverse voices of athletes and their interests, we are excited to partner with TNT Sports on truTV to bring this series to our viewers every week.”
Jemele Hill will serve as the show’s executive producer. The executive producers of Uninterrupted are LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, and Phillip Bailon. Joe Braswell and Steve Barry are executive producers on behalf of Kerklis, who has an overall deal with Spring Hill Company.
