Report: ESPN making big decision on future of 'Around the Horn'

ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” a debate-style show featuring a rotating panel of sports journalists and sports media personalities, has been an evening staple for sports fans for nearly two decades.

But according to a report from Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, the fan-favorite show could be signing off the airwaves for the final time at some point next year.

“The daily ESPN sports talk show, which debuted in 2002, is facing an uncertain long-term future, The Post has learned,” Glasspiegel wrote. “Several sources believe that the show will come to an end on ESPN before the 2025 football season. A reason for the show’s potential end was not immediately available. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.”

In the show’s infancy, polarizing sports television personality and boxing announcer Max Kellerman served as host before leaving the network to join Fox Sports and giving way to Tony Reali, who got his start as “stat boy” from 2001-14 on another popular ESPN show, “Pardon the Interruption,” hosted by Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon.

“Around the Horn” has followed a unique format, consisting of four primary segments in "The First Word" (current trending sports headlines), "Buy or Sell" (a rapid-fire fact or fiction), "Showdown" (two highest-scoring panelists debate topics head-to-head) and "FaceTime," where the winner is given 30 seconds uninterrupted to say whatever is on their mind.