Two ESPN Press Releases

I have a couple of releases for you from the ESPN World Headquarters in Bristol, CT. Both are quite interesting.

First, ESPN has signed a rights deal with the US Golf Association for ESPN Radio to provide play-by-play coverage of the US Open as well as provide audio coverage for fans attending the tournament.

ESPN AUDIO, USGA AGREE ON BROADCAST RIGHTS FOR 2010, 2011 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Far Hills, N.J., & Bristol, Conn. (March 11) – ESPN Audio and the United States Golf Association have announced an agreement granting ESPN Audio exclusive rights to present play-by-play coverage of the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Open Championships on its various media platforms.

The deal provides ESPN Audio live hole-by-hole coverage rights for the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada, as well as the right to distribute content via any and all means of audio distribution, including terrestrial radio, satellite radio, HD radio, broadband and wireless audio platforms.

The 2010 U.S. Open Championship will be played June 17-20 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and marks ESPN Audio’s initial foray into golf play-by-play. The 2011 U.S. Open Championship will be played June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

“We are so pleased to partner with ESPN Radio in connection with our efforts to bring the U.S. Open to as many fans of the game as possible and in as many ways as possible,” said Peter Bevacqua, chief business officer of the USGA. “We are also looking forward to working with ESPN to provide on-site radio coverage that will benefit and improve the overall experience of our championship spectators.”

“We look forward to presenting the U.S. Open to our fans, affiliates and advertisers, and to adding one of golf’s majors to our other top-shelf event programming, including the NBA and The Finals, MLB and the World Series, and the BCS and its championship,” said Mo Davenport, senior vice president of ESPN Audio. “ESPN Audio will utilize its expertise across all of our platforms, from the standard terrestrial broadcast to podcast offerings, allowing fans to enjoy the U.S. Open wherever and whenever they want.”

ESPN Radio will broadcast six hours each of Thursday’s and Friday’s rounds, and a minimum of four-and-a-half hours each of Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds, including complete 18-hole coverage of each weekend day’s final group. If a playoff is needed, ESPN Radio will also broadcast the entire 18 holes on Monday.

Additionally, ESPN Radio will produce a preview special and post-championship studio programs, and present live updates on its SportsCenter reports, which air three times per hour. ESPNRadio.com will feature the U.S. Open Championship leader board.

Championship updates, player interviews and the leader board will be featured on ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPNDeportes.com.

U.S. Open Championship play-by-play and studio content will also be simulcast on ESPNRadio.com and other digital audio platforms, with some content available in podcast form.

Spectators attending the U.S. Open will be able to hear ESPN Audio’s coverage via devices distributed by the USGA.

And the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series goes on sale on DVD soon.

Critically Acclaimed ‘30 for 30’ Series Premieres

Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks on Sunday, March 14

Film Available March 15 on DVD and Movie Download

ESPN’s “30 for 30” series premieres Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks Sunday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Directed by Peabody Award-winning director Dan Klores, the documentary explores how Reggie Miller single-handedly crushed the hearts of Knick fans multiple times and proudly built his legend as the Big Apple’s Public Enemy #1 to become the king of the New York streets.  On Monday, March 15, the film will debut on DVD (SRP $14.99) on Amazon.com, and as a digital download on iTunes.  Sixteen of the films in ESPN’s “30 for 30” series are available on DVD for purchase or pre-order at www.amazon.com/30for30. 

Televised in the fall of 2009, these films were produced and directed by some of Hollywood’s titans, including:

• Kings Ransom (Peter B
  erg)

•        The Band That Wouldn’t Die (Barry Levinson)

• Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (Mike Tollin)
• Muhammad and Larry (Albert Maysles)
• Without Bias (Kirk Fraser)
• The Legend of Jimmy The Greek (Fritz Mitchell)

To date, ESPN Films’ “30 for 30” has focused on some of the most compelling stories of the past 30 years in sports: the demise of the USFL; the epic title fight between Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes; and the saga of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band that continued to march even after the Colts had moved to Indianapolis.

“30 for 30”

Other previously announced “30 for 30” projects are: Reggie Rock Bythewood (One Night in Vegas), Academy Award winner Bill Couturié (Guru of Go), Academy Award winner Alex Gibney (Steve Bartman: Catching Hell), Jonathan Hock (The Best That Never Was), Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine (Birth of Big Air), two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple (The House That George Built), Academy Award nominee Frank Marshall (Right to Play), Steve Michaels, Joel Surnow and Jonathan Koch (Charismatic), two-time NBA MVP and first-time filmmaker Steve Nash (Into the Wind), Academy Award nominee Ron Shelton (Jordan Rides the Bus) and two-time Academy Award nominee John Singleton (Marion Jones: Press Pause).

CreateSpace

Films in ESPN’s“30 for 30” series are available through CreateSpace DVD on Demand, part of the Amazon.com group of companies and a cutting-edge platform providing a highly cost-efficient and fast-to-market way for networks to release their content solely in response to customer demand. 

For information about the “30 for 30” project and ESPN Films, visit: ESPN Films.

That’s it. Links coming up. I’m going to eat lunch first.