AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST SKIP BAYLESS JOINS FOX SPORTS

New Original Program Premieres Next Month on FS1

Los Angeles - Award-winning journalist, author and TV personality Skip Bayless joins FOX Sports as host of a new sports talk show on FS1 premiering Tuesday, Sept. 6 (10:00 AM ET). The announcement was made today by Jamie Horowitz, President, FOX Sports National Networks.

"Skip Bayless is one of the most incisive opinionists in all of media," Horowitz said. "He's equal parts fearless and relentless, and his rebellious spirit is a tremendous addition to the lineup of talent and shows that we are building for FS1."

"To have the opportunity to do this show, at this network, with this team, is a dream come true," said Bayless. "I will always appreciate my time at my former employer, but this new FS1 show will truly let me be me. I am ready to unleash with FOX attitude."

Additional details on the new show will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bayless has enjoyed a long and storied journalism career and has worked with FOX Sports in the past. In 2001 and 2002, Bayless appeared regularly on Jim Rome's show THE LAST WORD on FOX Sports Net and also made frequent appearances on FOX Sports' THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD.

Most recently, Bayless hosted FIRST TAKE on ESPN2 and started his tenure at ESPN in 2004.

Bayless began his career writing for newspapers, including as the lead sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune. He also spent time at The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Times Herald, The Miami Herald and Los Angeles Times.

He won numerous awards for his journalism. While at the Chicago Tribune, Bayless was voted Illinois Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2000. Bayless was voted Texas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association three times (1979, 1984 and 1986) and won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Newspaper Writing in 1977 for his coverage of Seattle Slew's Triple Crown victory while at the Los Angeles Times.

Bayless has written for various national sports publications, including Sports Illustrated. He's also worked in sports radio and television over the years, and has authored three books.

Bayless attended Vanderbilt University, where he majored in English and history, and graduated cum laude in 1974. He was the sports editor of The Hustler, the university's student newspaper, and spent the summer of 1969 interning under sports editor Frank Boggs at The Daily Oklahoman. Bayless grew up in Oklahoma City, Okla.