HBO is saying no to Bo.
The network is canceling “Game Theory with Bomani Jones,” OutKick reported, after two seasons of low ratings following the sports journalist’s jump from ESPN.
The show, a talk show-style format described on HBO’s website as discussing “timely issues that transcend the world of sports,” premiered in 2022, but struggled to gain viewership.
The second season, which ran earlier in 2023, was also broadcast on sister network TNT as a lead-in to their NBA doubleheader, but still was unable to gain traction.
According to OutKick, each season lost on average of over 80 percent of its lead-in viewership, and both the HBO and TNT broadcasts often failed to register on the top 150 of cable TV shows.
Jones, who began his career as a music critic and radio host, gained a following during his tenure at ESPN for his willingness to discuss political and social issues in the context of sports.
He was a frequent guest on “Highly Questionable” and “Around the Horn,” while also hosting “The Right Time with Bomani Jones” on ESPN Radio, which was eventually turned into a podcast.
Jones was the co-host of “High Noon” with Pablo Torre, which was also canceled.
This was not HBO’s first foray into a sports/culture/politics mashup that has failed.
While “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” has aired for years and been a success, other projects such as “Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons” and “Back on the Record with Bob Costas” have similarly not lasted more than two seasons.
HBO confirmed they were not renewing Jones’ show to Awful Announcing.
Jones continues to host a podcast at ESPN, though sources told OutKick that his contract is not expected to be renewed in August as the network goes through mass layoffs.