ESPN8: The Ocho is back

In a move that would make Patches O'Houlihan proud, ESPN networks are once-again transforming into ESPN8: The Ocho, a group of channels that broadcast competitive activities that are almost sports.

What began in 2017 as ten hours of fun games on TV to fill time—inspired by a gag in the 2004 film Dodgeball—is now a four-day event that kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday. And it’s turned into one of the major sporting draws of the year, with nearly a dozen competitions held at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida in front of real, live fans.

Just how obscure are the games?

• In Slippery Stairs, competitors race to the top of a set of lubricated steps.
• The National Bubble Gum Blowing Championship pits contestants against each other to see who can blow the biggest bubble.
• It’s not so simple to move your knight to E5 in Diving Chess, which matches wits and lung capacity against the clock to crown an aquatic Chess Master.
• More of a cubicle guy? The Microsoft Excel World Championship may be your speed.

A bold strategy, Cotton

As ESPN8: The Ocho kicks off, its parent network is in the midst of a broader programming shuffle. After recently letting the MLB walk and its F1 rights drive away, ESPN is nearing a deal to sell 10% of its company to the NFL, potentially tying together two powerhouse brands in sports.