\'60 Minutes\' to Produce a Monthly Sports Show for Showtime

By BRIAN STELTER

“60 Minutes” is extending itself to another network, Showtime, for a monthly newsmagazine called “60 Minutes of Sports.”

CBS News and Showtime said Thursday that the new program would begin in November.

It's a cooperative effort between corporate siblings, as the premium cable channel Showtime is owned by the CBS Corporation, just as CBS News is. Each episode of “60 Minutes of Sports” will include two new stories, along with one old (but updated) story from the “60 Minutes” archive; and one in-studio interview. “60 Minutes” correspondents and CBS Sports reporters will both contribute to the newsmagazine.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at '60 Minutes,' ” Jeff Fager, the show's executive producer, said in a statement. “Our Showtime edition will offer the same high-quality, original reporting and great storytelling our viewers have come to expect every Sunday night on CBS.†

CBS already repurposes old stories from “60 Minutes” for themed editions on the cable channels VH1 and CNBC. But “60 Minutes of Sports” will include new stories specifically for the Showtime audience.

The new program may be a sign of Showtime's eagerness to challenge its bigger rival HBO in the category of sports. For many years HBO has televised a monthly sports newsmagazine, “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.”

Showtime already televises “Inside the NFL” - which began on HBO - “Inside NASCAR” and some mixed martial arts events.

The last time “60 Minutes” tried a spin-off was about a decade ago; “60 Minutes II,” which was shown on Wednesday nights on CBS, also included new stories and updates on old stories.

“60 Minutes of Sports” will be co-executive produced by Mr. Fager, who is also the chairman of CBS News, and Bill Owens, the executive editor of “60 Minutes.”