ESPN ADDS DUTIES FOR BILL SIMMONS--PROGRAMMING ESPN

Author of "Now I Can Die in Peace," about his experience as a die-hard Red Sox fan, Bill Simmons' input into ESPN will increase, according to Pat Reichart in the New York Post:

• "Bill Simmons, a/k/a "The Sports Guy," has signed a multi-year, big-bucks contract extension with ESPN, where he will continue in his role as ESPN.com's lead columnist and also have input in programming decisions for ESPN Original Entertainment.

Simmons is also the lead columnist for ESPN The Magazine, and his Web site has generated almost 20 million page views (according to Hitbox Web measurement tools) since Super Bowl week.

Giving the outspoken Simmons input into programming decisions is a bold move by the network. In his columns, "The Sports Guy" frequently shares his opinions - oftentimes negative - of broad-casters and related sports programs.

"Hopefully, we're going to develop a couple of shows,'' Simmons said. "That I can't talk about yet. I'm more in the collaborative mix, helping out with ideas for shows, how to fix shows that aren't working, and stuff we're not doing [that we should be].""

• From the NY Post, 4/6/07, "Sports Guy Now Money Man," by Pat Reichart

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