ESPN wants to extend its most popular talk show.
After “Around the Horn'' was canceled in the summer of 2025, ESPN floated the idea of expanding “Pardon the Interruption'' into an hour-long show to fill the void. There is. Reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic..
“PTI,” starring Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, has aired at 5:30 p.m. ET since its creation in 2001.
The newspaper previously reported that ESPN will end broadcasts of its show “Around the Horn,” which preceded “PTI” since 2002, before next year's football season.
Expanding “PTI” is the highest return, lowest risk idea for ESPN after “Around the Horn” ends.
“PTI” has long been the most-watched talk show on ESPN's airwaves, with ratings spiking during the half-hour of the broadcast and declining during the hour that follows on “SportsCenter.”
It remains to be seen whether that is something the 'PTI' host agrees to, considering the success of the half-hour show for almost a quarter of a century.
Kornheiser is 76 years old and Wilbon is 66 years old.
He still has the dry wit that was a big part of the show's success, but he's not at the age where most people would be eager to take on additional duties.
Both PTI and Around the Horn will be executive produced by Eric Rydholm.
Other ideas ESPN is working on to fill the half-hour gap include new vehicles for Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith, The Athletic reports.
Smith is nearing a blockbuster contract extension with ESPN, and Sharp signed a new deal with the network earlier this year.
The two have forged a dynamic partnership on “First Take” in the months since Sharpe left FS1's “Undisputed” last year.
