Amazon hires ex-ESPN exec to boost its sports content
American tech giant Amazon announced on Wednesday it hired the former ESPN Vice President Marie Donoghue as part of its latest efforts to improve its sports content. Donoghue, who spent 17 years with ESPN and took part in the creating of the hit Oscar-winning documentary "O.J.: Made in America," will act as the new vice president of sports video at Amazon.
The Jeff Bezos-owned company has recently increased efforts to create a more visible sports presence, especially in the field of live sports content. Aside from preparing to air another season of "Thursday Night Football" NFL games on its platforms, Amazon Prime members in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch Grand Slam exclusive tennis coverage from the US Open in New York. Also, the company won the rights to show English Premier League matches from December 2019, which will enable its Prime users to watch a full match-day program consisting of all 10 games twice during the season.