ESPN Cover Story Franchise Launches Today with Features across Digital, Linear, Social Platforms

ESPN Cover StoryNFL

ESPN Cover Story Franchise Launches Today with Features across Digital, Linear, Social Platforms

Monthly initiative debuts with feature on Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins; Includes written longform piece by Mina Kimes, original photography, and digitally-optimized video content

ESPN today launched its new multi-platform franchise, ESPN Cover Story, the sports fan’s new monthly ticket to the biggest stories on the most captivating athletes – told with inside access, bold reporting and unforgettable visuals. ESPN Cover Story is a reimagined offering of sports’ breakthrough moments told through athletes’ stories, and produced in a modern, multimedia presentation that takes advantage of ESPN’s unmatched storytelling across every platform.

A new ESPN Cover Story feature will debut each month across linear, digital and social platforms including ESPN.com, YouTube, the ESPN app, SportsCenter, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. ESPN Cover Story will come to life through original feature photography and design reminiscent of a magazine cover, video features for linear, longform narrative profiles for digital, and socially- and digitally-optimized video content.

“Our goal with ESPN Cover Story is to capture what was most impactful and enduring about ESPN The Magazine’s legacy—and build on it,” said Alison Overholt, ESPN vice president storytelling and special projects. “The franchise touches nearly every dimension of the company and we’re really proud to create something that allows ESPN’s multi-platform storytelling to shine.”

The debut ESPN Cover Story feature is on Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his deep devotion to his mother, Sabrina Greenlee. ESPN senior writer Mina Kimes reports on how Greenlee’s resilience in the wake of a terrifying attack years ago created an unbreakable bond with Hopkins that has lifted them both. Despite losing her vision in the attack, Greenlee still attends every Texans home game and, in the piece, Hopkins shares that he owes his career to his mother.

A sneak peek of the first ESPN Cover Story aired on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt last night and a video feature will air across SportsCenter throughout the day, along with a full digital package on the ESPN app and original storytelling across social. A standalone 30-minute special airs tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and E:60 will also include a version of the feature during its primetime debut airing on Tuesday, Oct 22.

ESPN Cover Story EPK

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Jennifer Cingari Christie

Based in New York City, Jennifer Cingari Christie is a Communications Manager for ESPN Films and Original Content. Her projects include the critically-acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series, ESPN The Magazine and The ESPYS, among others.
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