ESPN ‘SportsCenter’ gets into the early morning game

ESPN is preparing to start its evening news program in the first quarter of the daytime.

“SportsCenter,” the network’s series that wraps up the sports events of the day, will have a morning edition starting in February with two hours of live programming starting at 7 a.m. EST.

The plan was announced at ESPN’s annual Upfront presentation in New York City.

Aimed at viewers getting ready to start their day, the new live show will take the popular “SportsCenter” Top 10 franchise and integrated it into a show with the previous night’s top plays, storyline, quotes, blunders and more.

“SportCenter AM” will work closely with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” which also airs at 7 a.m., and “Mike & Mike,” which airs on ESPN Radio and ESPN2from 6 to 10 a.m.