Scarborough, Ontario

At 1:30 a.m. on a recent night at a television studio just outside Toronto, The Sports Network's "SportsCentre" was midway through its nightly broadcast.

A baby-faced video editor donned a yellow dress for a cameo appearance. On other nights, producers have sent a man in a chicken costume running across the set. A fake bat has attacked one of the show's anchors.

During last month's Euro 2012 soccer coverage, the show's two most popular co-hosts often broke into dance on air, as European techno pop thumped.

ESPN's "SportsCenter," which debuted some three decades ago, grew into a cultural icon in the U.S., spawning network superstars and sister broadcasts around the world. Its theme music is instantly recognizable to millions of sports fans.