O.J. Simpson, born Orenthal James Simpson, is scheduled to go up for parole on Thursday, July 20. ESPN's "Outside the Lines" will air a special. The 90-minute broadcast will start at 1 p.m. and will cover the hearing in Carson City, Nevada as it happens in real time. If the hearing goes longer than expected, ESPN has the capability to go longer if necessary.

ESPN admitted that the hearing is taking place at a time when the sports calendar is not full at all. Therefore, this is an ideal time for ESPN to air the hearing.

The special

Several anchors and commentators are involved in covering the hearing.

The special itself will be anchored by Jeremy Schaap from the network's headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. The anchors in the studio will be ABC legal analyst Ryan Smith along with Jason Reid. There will be reporters in Carson City at the Nevada Board of Parole where the hearing will be. Reporters will also be at Nevada's Lovelock Correctional Center where Simpson will appear through video conferencing.

Simpson, who just turned 70 on July 9, has served eight years of his 33-year sentence that was handed down to him in 2008. He is in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping and other charges after an altercation that took place in September 2007 with sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room in a Las Vegas casino.

The media

According to USA Today, more than 240 credentials have been approved for the media. The Nevada Department of Corrections and about a dozen satellite trucks are expected to be at both sites in Carson City and Lovelock. There will be all kinds of ways to get the live feed to the public from inside the hearing.

If all goes the way Simpson is hoping, he could be released as early as October 1.

It is entirely up to what the parole board decides. The decision will be made the same day. Even though the media will have a heavy presence, the parole board will not give interviews concerning its decision.

People's interest

There will be much media attention surrounding Simpson's hearing because the public still has an interest in him.

This is evident from the ratings of “American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson" that aired on FX from February 2 to April 5, 2016, winning nine Primetime Emmy awards.

The other five-part mini-series “O.J.: Made in America” was widely viewed in 2016 on ESPN and racked up awards. The public should keep in mind, though, that the documentaries were not related to the crime for which Simpson is currently serving time and going before the parole board about.

Simpson has reportedly been an ideal prisoner, and his chances are very good for being released. Whether he is released or not, there will be a lot of news coverage about his hearing.