When ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, graded Monday Night Football’s overall presentation, it didn’t measure up to other NFL broadcast networks.
While Joe Buck and Troy Aikman may be the best in the booth, Magnus believes the network must improve by the time Feb. 14th, 2027, ESPN’s first Super Bowl, comes around.
To that end, Magnus and Mike McQuade, ESPN’s executive vice president of production, are turning to Fox for a new director, hiring Artie Kempner, Magnus told The Athletic.
Kempner is the third different director ESPN has had with Buck and Aikman. The duo is entering its fourth season of its five-year contracts that are worth a combined $165 million. Kempner replaces longtime ESPN director Derek Mobley, who lasted two seasons on Monday Night.
“I feel like we are not in the same conversation with Fox and CBS relative to our overall game presentation,” Magnus said.
Kempner previously worked with Buck and Aikman but had been Fox’s No. 2 NFL director, while being its lead on NASCAR. Kempner had been at Fox for more than three decades. He directed two Super Bowls, including when Buck-Aikman broadcast the New York Giants’ upset of the undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008.
By chance in December, Magnus met Kempner at the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. The two had never met before.
“As I was leaving, he introduced himself to me and we got to talking a little bit and I came to understand he was going to be available in the coming months,” Magnus said.
Magnus said if they were going to make a change, it had to be this year, as before next season, with the Super Bowl, it would be too late.
“There are only 12 people on earth who have directed Super Bowls, and he’s one of them,” Magnus said.
Mobley had been a top college director for ESPN before seemingly being in line to work the Super Bowl. He was on the Monday Night Football crew for two seasons.
The Monday Night director and producer chairs have been in a revolving seat since Buck and Aikman arrived. Mobley replaced Jimmy Platt, who had been the director for four seasons. When Mobley subbed in for Platt two years ago, he was joined by producer Steve Ackles. Ackles succeeded Phil Dean.
Ackles remains as the producer on Monday Night Football and now Kempner will direct.
“We want to put our best foot forward in every conceivable way in what, with no exaggeration, could be the biggest moment in the history of ESPN by the time Feb. 14, 2027 rolls around,” Magnus said. “Here is a guy who can elevate our game presentation.”
(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
