View source for ESPN8 The Ocho

{{Short description|Annual feature of obscure sports on ESPN}}
{{Infobox company
| name = ESPN8 The Ocho
| logo = ESPN8 The Ocho ESPN Organization Logo.svg
| founded = {{Start date and age|2017}}
| parent = ESPN
}}
'''ESPN8 The Ocho''' is an annual special [[block programming|program block]] showcasing seldom-seen obscure sports that airs on the networks of [[ESPN Inc.]]
The Ocho consists of lesser-known, unconventional and humorous sports and other competitions with some athletic or physical skill component, including [[Pop-A-Shot]], [[roller derby]], [[crossnet]], [[Quidditch (real-life sport)|Quidditch]], trampoline dodgeball, [[air hockey]], [[darts]], [[disc golf]], [[kabaddi]], [[soccer]], [[chess boxing]], bed races, [[sport stacking]], [[electrician]] games, dodge juggle, [[death diving]], [[cherry pit spitting]], [[Robot combat|robot fighting]], [[firefighter]] games, [[Cow dung|cow chip]] throwing, pizza dough throwing, [[Frog jumping contest|frog jumping]], [[Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake|cheese rolling]], [[Shopping bag|grocery bag]] competitions, [[Pogopalooza|extreme pogo]], [[shuffleboard]], [[breakdancing]], and more. It is traditionally aired in early August, the eighth month of the year. Much of the programming consists of previously recorded content and [[rerun]]s previously aired on the ESPN networks,<ref name=ifonlyforaday/> some as far back as the 1990s.<ref name=espncrazyplans/>
{{As of|December 2023}}, ESPN8 The Ocho is also offered as a [[Free ad-supported streaming television|FAST channel]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s website and app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Jim |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Watch Free: The 'ESPN8: The Ocho' Unlocked Channel Is Now Streaming with No Sign-In Needed! |url=https://abc.com/news/insider/espn-8-the-ocho-unlocked-tv-channel-watch-free-abc-and-abc-app |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=ABC.com}}</ref>
==Origins==
The concept of ESPN8 originated as a fictional television channel in the 2004 film ''[[Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story]]'', in which it was a full-time channel showcasing obscure competitions that are "almost a sport" (its name being a comic exaggeration, since at the time there were only four linear ESPN channels—ESPN, ESPN2, [[ESPNEWS]] and [[ESPN Classic]]; the fifth, [[ESPNU]], launched a year after the film). Its nickname "The Ocho" (Spanish for [[wikt:ocho#Spanish|"eight"]]) was a play on [[ESPN2]]'s 1990s nickname "The Deuce."<ref>{{Cite news |title=ESPN is creating ESPN8: 'The Ocho' for one glorious day |work=SB Nation |url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/8/3/16091446/espn8-the-ocho-real-tv-channel |access-date=2017-08-18 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818054220/https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/8/3/16091446/espn8-the-ocho-real-tv-channel |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ifonlyforaday>{{Cite news |last=Rosenthal |first=Phil |title='ESPN8: The Ocho' to replace ESPNU — if only for a day |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-espn8-the-ocho-espnu-20170804-story.html |access-date=2017-08-28 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813234434/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-espn8-the-ocho-espnu-20170804-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Starting August 8, 2017, ESPN paid homage to its lampooned portrayal in ''Dodgeball'' by airing a day-long "ESPN8: The Ocho" marathon on its college sports channel [[ESPNU]] as a way to fill airtime on the channel during the collegiate offseason. The 2017 airing was a success, prompting ESPN to repeat the block the next year, this time licensing the ''Dodgeball'' film from [[20th Century Fox]] for inclusion in the block ([[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|ESPN's parent company would buy 20th Century Fox the next year]]); it made some other adjustments to the 2018 schedule, including heavier editing to shorten each sport's time slot, hoping to accommodate short attention spans.<ref name=espncrazyplans>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=August 8, 2018 |title=Bold strategy, Cotton: Inside ESPN's crazy plans to turn 'The Ocho' into a business |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bold-strategy-cotton-espn-the-ocho-business-1202899209/ |access-date=August 8, 2018 |website=Variety |archive-date=August 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808123944/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bold-strategy-cotton-espn-the-ocho-business-1202899209/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Continuation==
Due to a lack of live sports programming during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], [[ESPN]] announced on March 22, 2020, that it would reprise the stunt earlier than scheduled on ESPN2.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-19 |title=ESPN8 'The Ocho' is back, normally you have to pay double for that kind of action, Cotton |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2020/03/espn8-the-ocho-is-back-normally-you-have-to-pay-double-for-that-kind-of-action-cotton.html |access-date=2020-03-19 |website=AL.com |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320112315/https://www.al.com/sports/2020/03/espn8-the-ocho-is-back-normally-you-have-to-pay-double-for-that-kind-of-action-cotton.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It did it on May 2, 2020, on ESPN, and then August 8, 2020, on ESPN2 as well as the Big Screen in ''[[Fortnite Party Royale]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2020/08/espn-celebrates-four-years-of-espn-8-the-ocho-by-streaming-in-fortnites-party-royale-on-august-8/|title=ESPN Celebrates Four Years of ESPN 8: The Ocho by Streaming in Fortnite’s Party Royale on August 8|date=August 4, 2020|website=}}</ref> A collection of sports that were featured on ESPN8, as well as the ESPN8 broadcast on these said networks, were available on the ESPN app.
Beginning in 2022, the majority of "OCHO Day" programming are events broadcast live from two venues in [[Rock Hill, South Carolina]] – The Rock Hill Sports & Event Center and Manchester Meadows.<ref>{{cite web |last1=City of Rock Hill, South Carolina |title=City Calendar - ESPN8: The Ocho |url=https://www.cityofrockhill.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/51195/20 |website=cityofrockhill.com |publisher=Granicus |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pascucci |first1=Robert |title=Exploring the wacky world of ESPN's OCHO day in Rock Hill |url=https://www.scetv.org/stories/2023/exploring-wacky-world-espns-ocho-day-rock-hill |website=South Carolina Educational Television |publisher=South Carolina ETV Commission |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref> Rock Hill is a suburb of [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], where ESPN has production facilities for [[ESPNU]] and the [[SEC Network]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Amanda |title=Go (Day) Long With Alyssa Lang In ESPN’s Buzzing Charlotte Studios |url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2019/12/go-day-long-with-alyssa-lang-in-espns-buzzing-charlotte-studios/ |website=ESPN Front Row |publisher=ESPN |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spotlight on ESPN's Charlotte Office |url=https://sites.disney.com/lifeatdisney/disney-programs/2018/07/05/spotlight-on-espns-charlotte-office/ |website=Life at Disney (powered by Disney Careers) |publisher=Disney.com |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref>
The event was held again on ESPN2 on August 3, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/media/2023/08/03/espn8-the-ocho-seldom-seen-sports-how-watch-times/70488436007/|title='ESPN8: The Ocho' bringing back 'seldom seen sports': How to watch cornhole, corgi races|website=USA TODAY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/action/story/_/id/38121363/ocho-2023-edition|title=How to watch ESPN8: The Ocho, 2023 edition|date=August 2, 2023|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> For 2024, to celebrate "ocho years of The Ocho," the block expanded to four days, with the [[Savannah Bananas]] as the [[tent-pole programming|tent-pole]]; all three games of the team's [[Louisville, Kentucky]] series were telecast live in prime time, including the second game on ESPN's flagship channel, the first time the ESPN8 brand has expanded there.<ref name=2024sked>{{Cite web |last=Blum |first=Lily |date=2024-07-18 |title=Ocho Years of the Ocho! ESPN8: The Ocho Returns as the Number One Destination for Seldom-Seen Sports |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/07/ocho-years-of-the-ocho-espn8-the-ocho-returns-as-the-number-one-destination-for-seldom-seen-sports/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2023, ESPN launched an ESPN8 [[free ad-supported streaming television]] (FAST) channel on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC.com]] and the ABC app.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucia |first=Joe |date=2023-12-20 |title=ESPN8: The Ocho is now live as ESPN's first FAST channel |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/streaming/espn8-the-ocho-now-live-espn-fast-channel.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2024, the FAST channel launched in Canada under the name '''[[The Sports Network|TSN]] The Ocho'''.
==Impact==
The tongue-in-cheek inclusion of such sports on ESPN's schedule has led to increased exposure opportunities for those sports, which have performed well for ESPN. ESPN added a [[cornhole]] tournament airing in July 2018 outside the block, which it noted outdrew the [[WNBA All-Star Game]], regular season [[Major League Baseball]] games and the final stage of the [[Tour de France]] among the [[key demographic]] of men age 18 to 49.<ref name=ifonlyforaday/> The inclusion of the Excel World Championships, an [[Esports|eSport]] that involves using spreadsheet programs in a competition to solve a series of problems, helped give the contest mainstream attention and credibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |date=2023-08-03 |title=Excel’s esports revolution is coming back to ESPN this week |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/3/23817220/excel-esports-espn-the-ocho-championship-start-time-watch |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
ESPN8 appeared in the 2024 TV series ''[[Knuckles (TV_series)|Knuckles]]'' as the in-universe broadcaster of a [[bowling]] tournament, with commentators played by [[Rob Huebel]] and [[Paul Scheer]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Knight |first=Rosie |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Knuckles Pays Homage to Hollywood Comedies Throughout the Ages |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/knuckles-pays-homage-to-hollywood-comedies-throughout-the-ages |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref>
==Scheduling==
===2024===
====August 1====
*7:00 p.m. [[Savannah Bananas]] v. [[Savannah Party Animals|The Party Animals]] at Louisville, KY (Game 1)
*9:00 p.m. ''[[Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story]]''
*11:00 p.m. NHRL Teams Robot Fighting Championship
*11:30 p.m. World Juggling Federation Ultimate Overall Championship
====August 2====
*12:30 a.m. Red Bull Gameball Royale
*1:30 a.m. Ultimate Ninja World Series Finals
*2:00 a.m. Three Rivers Waitstaff Competition
*2:30 a.m. Sasquatch Uncut Beard and Mustache Competition
*''3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. encore programming from previous ESPN8 years''
*6:00 a.m. Origins Gaming Tournament of Pieces Speed Puzzling
*6:30 a.m. Competitive [[Speedcubing|Speed Cubing]]
*7:00 a.m. International Jump Rope Union World Championship
*7:30 a.m. Freestyle Trampoline Association World Championship
*8:00 a.m. Blade Masters: Axe and Knife Throwing
*9:00 a.m. FlingGolf All Star Skills Challenge
*10:00 a.m. BullShooter Invitational Shootout (electronic [[darts]])
*11:00 a.m. [[OmegaBall]]
*12:00 noon [[Pop-a-Shot]] National Championship
*1:00 p.m. Viii Sports
*2:00 p.m. ''The Ocho Show'' (studio program)
*3:00 p.m. American [[Wiffleball]] Association All-Star Game
*4:00 p.m. USA Dodgeball All-Star Showcase
*5:00 p.m. TurfWars Adult [[Kickball]] Championship
*6:00 p.m. Major League [[Table tennis|Table Tennis]] Showcase
*7:00 p.m. Slippery Stairs
*8:00 p.m. [[American Cornhole League]] Armed Forces Event
*10:00 p.m. Silverback [[Breakdancing|Breaking]] Invitational
Game 2 of the Savannah Bananas/Party Animals Louisville series aired on ESPN under the ESPN8 brand.
====August 3====
*1:30 a.m. [[Emerald Downs]] Corgi Races
*2:00 a.m. World Dog Surfing Championships: Best Waves
*''2:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. encore programming from previous ESPN8 years''
*6:00 a.m [[ZoneBall]] Clash
*6:30 a.m. [[Speed chess|Speed Chess]] Championship Final (from 2022)
*7:00 a.m. [[Microsoft Excel]] World Championship Finals
*7:30 a.m. [[ProSayulita]] SUP Open
*8:00 a.m. Battle of the Buoy 2
*8:30 a.m. National Putting Tour Final (from 2023)
*9:00 a.m. Forehand Strike U.S. Open
*9:30 a.m. SXY National Beach Tennis Invitational
(break in programming)
*7:00 p.m. [[Savannah Bananas]] v. The Party Animals at Louisville, KY (Game 3)
====August 4====
*12:00 midnight [[Carjitsu]] Championship
*12:30 a.m. Ultimate Tire Wrestling
*1:00 a.m. Major League [[Paintball]] Atlantic City Open
*1:30 a.m. OneWheel World Championship Race for the Rail (from 2023)
*''2:00 to 6:30 a.m. encore programming from previous ESPN8 years''
*6:30 a.m. Teqball World Series from Tulsa, Oklahoma
*7:30 a.m. Roofball World Championships
*8:00 a.m. Hamlin Adult Big Wheel Races
*8:30 a.m. ''ESPN Presents: Never Tell Me the Odds'' "Top Sports Seen in ''[[Star Wars]]''"
Source: <ref name=2024sked/>
== See also ==
*[[ESPN]]
*[[Wide World of Sports (American TV program)|ABC's Wide World of Sports]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{ESPN}}
[[Category:ESPN]]
[[Category:Television programming blocks in the United States]]