ESPN Announces America 250 Content Initiatives Across Platforms

ESPN has announced several content initiatives marking America's 250th anniversary, as part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Celebrates America programming initiative running June 27 through July 4.

SportsCenter Special - July 4, 5 p.m. ET, ABC

A two-hour live edition of SportsCenter co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson will feature original storytelling, historical retrospectives, and segments from Chris Berman, Stephen A. Smith, Scott Van Pelt, Joe Buck, Pat McAfee, and others. Randy Scott and Gary Striewski will report from a Savannah Bananas game at Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa; Hannah Storm will be at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles; and Nicole Briscoe and Michael Eaves will join from Wrigley Field in Chicago ahead of the Cubs vs. Cardinals game.

ESPN.com - America 250 Road Trips (June 29-July 3)

A five-day series following five ESPN reporters on road trips exploring how sports shaped American identity. Stories include:

June 29 - Alyssa Roenigk: Why do Americans still take risks?

June 30 - Kent Babb: Can sports still unite us?

July 1 - Aishwarya Kumar: What makes a sport American?

July 2 - Roberto Jos Andrade Franco: What's left of boxing?

July 3 - Dotun Akintoye: Why do Americans believe in the impossible?

Get Up and First Take (Beginning June 29)

Get Up (8-10 a.m. ET, ESPN) will highlight notable sports plays in honor of America 250. First Take (10 a.m.-noon ET, ESPN) will feature historic and iconic moments in U.S. sports history through July 4.

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest - July 4

Coverage begins at noon ET on ESPN2, with the men's contest simulcasting on ABC at 12:30 p.m. ET. A re-air airs at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Joey Chestnut, seeking his 18th title, and Miki Sudo, seeking her 12th overall and fifth consecutive, are the top-ranked competitors.

ESPN App

The ESPN App will participate in a 24-hour Disney Celebrates America broadcast beginning the evening of July 3 and continuing through July 4, spanning ABC, Disney+, Hulu, the ESPN App, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ABC News Live, and ABC Owned Television Stations and affiliates.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/07/01/espn-announces-america-250-cont...
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