WXIA TV’s late-night sports show has called full-time after more than two decades.
11 Alive Sports Extra, the 30-minute program launched in 2002, ended production after tonight’s broadcast. The show will be replaced with an extra half hour of news, where sports coverage will be included.
11 Alive lead sports anchor/reporter Maria Martin and fellow sports anchor, Reggie Chatman Jr., have interviewed Atlanta sports athletes and drawn opinions and analysis of the week’s sports news from local journalists such as Tori McElhaney, Sarah K. Spencer, Lauren Williams, Jarvis Davis, Chris Dimino, Grant McCauley, Tenitra Batiste, and more. The show was produced by Martin, Ric Garni, and Megan Smedley.
“Thank you to everyone who made this show incredible, past & present,” Martin said on social media. “I’m a better broadcaster because of this show. I’ll remain hopeful for what’s next for our department. ♥️”
The show aired montages and tributes to the past moments of the 24-year-old Emmy-nominated and GABBY-winning show. Before Martin and Chatman Jr., Sam Crenshaw (now on CBS Atlanta News) and David Wilkinson were also hosts of Sports Extra. 11 Alive was still in its old facility off Peachtree Street when Sports Extra debuted. (It’s now owned by the Savannah College of Art and Design; 11 Alive is now located on Monroe Place near Buckhead.)
Sunday night sports wrap-up shows have been a staple on local Atlanta TV for years. WSB-TV and WANF both have week-ending sports programs. WAGA airs sports shows centered on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday nights during the regular season.
