ESPN Scores Multi-Year Telecast Deal for Heisman Trophy Ceremony

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Network will air 86th annual edition Jan. 5 from its Bristol studios

The Heisman Trophy
(Image credit: ESPN)

ESPN will continue to telecast college football’s the Heisman Trophy Ceremony as part of a new multi-year agreement reached with The Heisman Trust.

The sports network, which has televised the ceremony since 1994, will televise the 86th annual Heisman Trophy Ceremony on Jan. 5 from its studios in Bristol for the first time due to the pandemic. The Heisman Trophy goes to the most outstanding college football player during the season. 

"The Heisman Trophy is one of the most iconic awards in sports and ESPN is honored to have annually presented the Ceremony for nearly three decades,” said Kurt Dargis, director of programming for ESPN in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Heisman Trust in the years ahead as we come together to celebrate college football and one of the sport’s enduring traditions.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.