ESPN’s award show for jocks airs July 15 and will be surrounded by additional programming on-air and online. This year’s presenting sponsors are Hummer and Under Armour.
Basketball star LeBron James and ABC’s late-night guy Jimmy Kimmel will double-team hosting duties from Hollywood’s Kodak Theater, better known as the place where the Oscars are handed out. The awards ceremony will be taped July 11.
ESPN plans to air a nomination special, which it describes as a debate on the nominees and a breakdown of the categories, as well as a special revisiting stories from the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Also planned: an ESPYs preview show before the awards broadcast and “ESPYs Backstage” following the show.
Fans determine the winners in all categories and can vote online from June 25 through July 10 at espys.tv.
The 2007 ESPYs will include both sport-specific awards, such as best Major League Baseball player and best Women’s National Basketball Association player, and awards that pit athletes in different sports against one another, such as best team or female athlete.
Co-host Mr. James won an ESPY in the category of breakthrough athlete in 2004. The ESPYs will mark the first TV hosting experience for Mr. James, now 22 years old.
Mr. Kimmel has hosted the American Music Awards three times.