It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for them.

As always, ESPN8 will add a “weird” factor to the worldwide leader in sports moniker, broadcasting for 24 hours straight the sporting events that normally would not get much run time on TV.

You know, programming such as slippery stairs, death diving, OmegaBall and, of course, dodgeball. And if you can’t find yourself to be interested in those kinds of events, then can you even call yourself a true sports fan?

MORE: Watch ESPN8: The Ocho live with fuboTV

Here’s everything you need to know about ESPN8, including programming notes and especially how to tune in and watch:

How to watch ESPN8

When: Friday, Aug. 5 Channel: ESPN2 (rebranded as ESPN8)

To be clear: ESPN8 is not a real channel. So if you look for it on your cable guide or DVR, you won’t find it. The channel you’re looking for is ESPN2, which for a solid 24 hours will be rebranded as ESPN8: The Ocho.

What is ESPN8: The Ocho?

ESPN8: The Ocho first appeared in the 2004 movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” — a story about how Peter La Fleur (played by Vince Vaughn) saves his gym from White Goodman (Ben Stiller) by winning the prize money at a dodgeball tournament.

Naturally, only a (fictional) station as distinguished as The Ocho could broadcast the dodgeball championship match where (spoiler), La Fleur’s Average Joe’s team beat Goodman’s heavily favored Globo Gym.

The movie spawned the real-world debut of ESPN8: The Ocho in 2017. Similar to its cinematic counterpart, The Ocho is the “No. 1 destination for ‘seldom seen sports.’”

ESPN8: The Ocho schedule 2022

ESPN8 returns Friday, Aug. 8 with a few days of additional programming both before and after ESPN2’s 24-hour run as The Ocho.

This year also includes a 14 1/2-hour run of live sporting events from the The Rock Hill Sports & Event Center and Manchester Meadows, both in Rock Hill, S.C.

Here’s a full rundown of programming for Friday, Aug. 5:

*Live from Rock Hill, S.C. **Broadcast on ESPN Deportes

Live events from ESPN8 2022

Here are some of the live events from this year’s running of ESPN8: The Ocho:

World Axe Throwing League AWA Wiffle Ball 2022 BullShooter Invitational Shootout 2022 Pro Breaking Tour Invitational Pogopalooza Cup 2022 OmegaBall Invitational USA Dodgeball All-Star Showcase Slippery Stairs Turf Wars Kickball Invitational US Quadball Invitational ACL SuperHole III Quarterfinals ACL SuperHole III Finals US Air Guitar All-Star Air-off