ESPN related Press Releases

ESPN Logs Best Month Ever Across Multiple Platforms In September

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:25:09 -0400

September was a big month for ESPN with milestones across multiple platforms. In the month that ESPN turned 30, sports fans tuned in, logged on and listened to content from television, online, mobile and digital audio at record levels.

The cross-platform growth momentum continued into early October, when ESPN’s Monday Night Football between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers delivered the biggest audience in the history of cable television (over 15 million homes) and the highest rating (15.3) in ESPN’s 30-year history. Online, ESPN.com had more than 110 million page views to NFL content accessed via computers and mobile devices for Monday through Tuesday at noon – up 47 percent from the comparable time period last year. Specifically, page views for the NFL section on computers and mobile were up 44 percent from last year. Additionally, ESPN.com streamed 3.7 million NFL related videos.

Highlights from ESPN’s record September:

Television

September was the most-viewed month in the history of both ESPN and ESPN2, helping lift the combined audience for those nets plus ESPNEWS and ESPN Classic to new highs on a total day basis for the month. The networks set a mark for September with 1,654,000 homes, up 12 percent from the previous high, 1,481,000 in 2008. Other highlights:

In September, ESPN averaged an all-time high for any month (1,164,000 HHs). The audience was 7 percent larger than last year, a then-record 1,092,000 households.
ESPN2 averaged 33 percent more homes for the month than a year ago (396,000 HHs, up from 298,000), its best ever, breaking the record for the month set in 2007 (343,000 HHs) and the record for any month set in June 2006 (358,000 HHs).
ESPNEWS averaged 65,000 homes in September, up 12 percent from 2008 (58,000).

ESPN360.com

ESPN360.com's rapid distribution growth – which has doubled in the past year to more than 50 million households nationwide – is being outpaced by its usage growth, setting records in the process. According to Move Analytics, ESPN360.com had its most viewed month ever in September, with more than 250 percent growth in total hours of viewing and more than 180 percent increase in viewers, compared to 2008.

ESPN.com

ESPN.com also logged its best month ever in September. According to comScore, ESPN.com generated nearly 2.2 billion total minutes and 28.8 million unique visitors, up 54 percent and 21 percent respectively compared to the same month last year and surpassing their previous all-time highs by 52 percent and 19 percent.

ESPN.com remained number one in category share of minutes for the tenth consecutive month with more than a quarter of total minutes in the sports category. The site also topped all others in average minutes per visitor with 75.5 minutes.

Additionally, ESPN.com had more viewers of online video in September than ever, with 9.3 million viewers logging nearly 196 million minutes of video viewing, making it top among sports sites, accounting for nearly 34 percent of all time spent with sports video online.

ESPN Mobile

Visits in September on the ESPN mobile Web site were up 82 percent compared to last year, according to Omniture measurments. Additionally, ESPN's mobile Web site logged its then-record day with 8.1 million visits. That record has sense been broken (on October 11 the site logged 8.5 million visits).

Additionally, ESPN's ScoreCenter application for the iPhone and iPod has now been downloaded more than 3 million times and in September logged more than 2 million unique users, with more than 50 percent of the app users using it at least weekly.

ESPN Digital Audio

Streaming audio on ESPNRadio.com reached an all-time high in September. Sports fans listened to nearly 8 million total hours, up nearly 61 percent compared to the same month in 2008 and beating its previous record set in May 2009 by nearly 40 percent. Sessions were also up to nearly 4.8 million, an increase of over 128 percent compared to the same month last year and more than double its previous all-time record in May 2009.

ESPN Radio Launches App in Apple iTunes Store

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:27:01 -0400

ESPN today launches its newest application to the Apple iTunes App Store for ESPN Radio. The app gives millions of ESPN Radio listeners access to live, crystal clear radio streams, fan favorite shows, the latest SportsCenter updates every 20 minutes, popular podcasts, play-by-play broadcasts, live scores, newsfeeds and text messaging and call-in capabilities directly to ESPN Radio and ESPN affiliate stations.

“Our mission is to serve sports fans the best audio wherever they are and whenever they want it on any device,” said Marc Horine, vice president of digital partnerships and sales development for ESPN. “The ESPN Radio app delivers that same great content to mobile listeners through a seamless audio experience while also allowing complete control to choose from their favorite stations, shows and podcasts.”

The ESPN Radio app is available on iTunes for $2.99 and includes:

· Popular ESPN Radio Shows: Access to live audio from fan favorite shows like Mike & Mike in the Morning, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Scott Van Pelt Show, The Michael Kay Show, The Michael Irvin Show and many more.

· Live Radio Station Streams: Over 15 ESPN Radio stations, including ESPN 1050 New York, ESPN 1250 Pittsburgh, ESPN 1000 Chicago, ESPN 103.3 Dallas and ESPN 710 Los Angeles.

· Podcasts: Over 35 ESPN Radio podcasts available including The BS Report with Bill Simmons, Pardon The Interruption, Around The Horn and Fantasy Focus.

· Live Play-by-Play Broadcasts: Listen in on ESPN Radio play-by-play for college football games in real-time.

· SportsCenter Updates: The latest news from SportsCenter updated every 20 minutes.

· Live Scores & Newsfeeds: Access to NFL, MLB, NHL, college and professional sports teams scores and news.

· Text Messaging: User can send a message directly to the studio of an ESPN Radio show.

See a short demo video of the ESPN Radio mobile app HERE.

The ESPN Radio app adds another platform to access audio from ESPNRadio.com, the world’s most listened-to online audience stream of any terrestrial broadcaster in the world. It reaches more than 420,000 unique listeners per month according to Ando Media, which measures nearly 7,000 global streams of audio worldwide. Additionally, ESPNRadio.com is the largest, most listened to talk format stream, both terrestrially and via Internet-only streaming. It generates 1.9 million total sessions per month (an increase of 25 percent compared to last year) and the average session in ESPNRadio.com’s audio stream lasts 2.5 hours.

The app is the latest from ESPN, following the recent release of ESPN Fantasy Football, the hugely successful ESPN ScoreCenter, ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit and the photo matching game ESPN Freeze Frame (formerly ESPN Cameraman). ESPN ScoreCenter launched in June to more than 75 countries, supporting 6 languages, and has been downloaded more than 2.2 million times. The ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit was launched August 1 and in just 4 weeks has been downloaded more than 350,000 times. ESPN Zoom originally launched as ESPN Cameraman in October 2008. Through several versions, it has been downloaded nearly 2 million times.

Verizon Teams Up With ESPN to Offer Ultimate Fantasy Football Experience

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:56:37 -0400

Verizon and Verizon Wireless have teamed up with ESPN to give football fans the ultimate fantasy football experience and a competitive edge with three ways to select, manage and keep up with their teams.

Fans joining ESPN’s Fantasy Football leagues at ESPN.com, can participate in those leagues through a FiOS TV widget, their Verizon Online broadband account or with their Verizon Wireless phone -- or all three.

“Only Verizon gives football fans this level of enhanced access to their fantasy teams and leagues across so many different platforms,” said John Williamson, vice president for Verizon corporate marketing. “The enormous popularity of fantasy football is reflected in the millions of Americans competing with friends, family and co-workers, and now Verizon is giving them an edge with unmatched access to live updates and team development online, on TV and through their wireless phone.”

In addition, Verizon and ESPN are sponsoring a number of fantasy football events in different cities that will allow sports fans to meet and discuss their fantasy leagues and teams with ESPN commentator Molly Qerim, as well as participate in demonstrations of how to use Verizon FiOS TV, Verizon Internet and Verizon Wireless phones to access the Fantasy Football programs.

The events, which begin at noon each day, will be held at the Verizon store at 264 First Ave. on Sept. 19; the Verizon store at Jordan’s Furniture, Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, Mass., on Sept. 26; and the Verizon Wireless Communications store at Stacks at the Waterfront, East Bridge Street, Homestead, Pa., on Oct. 3.

“Verizon knows how to maximize the customer experience for their Fantasy Football fans,” said Matt Murphy, ESPN senior vice president, digital video distribution. “They’ve created a truly seamless experience for users who want to be able to access their teams and leagues at all times, on the best available screen to the consumer, whether that be on their computer, wireless phone or TV.”

(Note: Videos and images related to this announcement are available at http://verizon.mediaseed.tv/Story.aspx?story=36987.)

After Fantasy Football fans register online at ESPN.com, the three ways they can stay on top of their leagues and teams with Verizon are:

Verizon FiOS TV Fantasy Football Widget – Provides instant on-screen access to personalized ESPN Fantasy Football points and football statistics, including rosters, box scores, scoring leaders and player information. All the information is available, at no additional charge, for FiOS TV customers who are registered ESPN Fantasy Football players.
ESPN Online Fantasy Football Widget – Available at Verizon.net, the online option provides expert analysis and predictions, as well as features like LiveDraft and mock drafts, and information participants can use to dominate the competition.
ESPN MVP – The most in-depth sports content over the best wireless network -- including Gamecast, Video Alerts and ESPN Radio Clips -- allows Fantasy Football fans to track their teams and manage rosters directly on their Verizon Wireless phones. V CAST Video on Demand has the latest game action and updates, as well as news and analysis.

Further details are available at www.verizon.com/espn or www.espn.com/fantasy.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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COMING TO A VERIZON WIRELESS PHONE THIS FALL: LIVE ESPN MOBILE TV GAME COVERAGE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES

Jason Ankeny — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:50 -0400

For college football fanatics, this is the time of year they look forward to: Their teams are taking the field at the start of a new season. Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, along with ESPN Mobile TV, today announced that customers can watch every nail-biting minute of a slate of college football live on V CAST Video on their Verizon Wireless phones.

ESPN Mobile TV will stream select college football games live straight to Verizon Wireless customers’ mobile phones for sports fans during the regular season from conferences that include the ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC. This month’s coverage will include match-ups between UCLA vs. Tennessee this Saturday, Sept. 12 and Utah vs. Oregon next Saturday, Sept. 19. In addition to live game coverage, fans will be able to access highlights, news and updates with V CAST Video, giving them the luxury of catching up on games at their own convenience.

Terry Denson, vice president, content strategy and acquisition at Verizon, said, “Verizon is every football fan’s best play for on-the-go action. Live games on V CAST Video, shown in their entirety, make watching Saturday’s biggest and best match-ups easier than ever wherever you go.”

John Zehr, senior vice president of digital video and mobile productions for ESPN, said, “We’re excited for college football season and understand the passion for watching games live, no matter where you are. Our goal is to serve sports fans on the best available screen, whether at home, on your computer or on your cell phone to catch all the action.”

New customers with V CAST-enabled feature phones can check out V CAST Video for a $10.00 monthly subscription, which includes access to full-length television shows plus news, sports, weather and live entertainment and access to the Verizon Wireless ESPN MVP service. There are no megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription; however, new customers must also subscribe to a data package for a data usage allowance. The new V CAST Video on Demand plan replaces the $15.00 V CAST VPak. These changes will not impact existing customers.

For more information about video content from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About ESPN Mobile

ESPN Mobile is comprised of multiple mobile products and services including the mobile Web, mobile video, mobile television, mobile applications, mobile games and mobile alerts. On the mobile Web it operates the leading mobile Web site, averaging more than 8 million unique users per month and accounting for more than 60 percent of the sports audience on the mobile Web. It also delivers on-demand video across nearly all mobile platforms and carriers, operates ESPN Mobile TV – the 24/7 mobile television network on the FLO TV and MobiTV platforms, and licenses content to multiple mobile video platforms such as Quickplay’s PrimeTime2Go. ESPN Mobile has also developed some of the leading applications in the mobile space including ESPN ScoreCenter and the signature ESPN MVP application. Each month, ESPN delivers more than 60 million alerts to fans.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

ESPN Fantasy Football Launches in Apple App Store

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:23:49 -0400

ESPN Mobile launched its latest application to the Apple iTunes App Store today, when it debuted ESPN Fantasy Football. The app provides millions of ESPN Fantasy Football players full control and management of their ESPN teams and leagues, live scores and stats, personalized alerts and exclusive editorial -- all from their iPhone or iPod Touch device.

“Anybody that plays fantasy football knows that every Sunday is a multi-screen football day – and ESPN Mobile is a big part to that,” said Oke Okaro, vice president, ESPN Mobile. “The ESPN Fantasy Football app brings players all the functionality of our award-winning game and access to exclusive content, regardless of where they are, right through their iPhone or iPod Touch.”

The ESPN Fantasy Football app is available in the Apple iTunes app store for $4.99.

The app is the latest from ESPN, following the hugely successful ESPN ScoreCenter, ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit, and the game ESPN Freeze Frame (formerly ESPN Cameraman). ESPN ScoreCenter launched in June to more than 75 countries, supporting 6 languages, and has been downloaded more than 2.2 million times. The ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Kit was launched August 1 and in just 4 weeks has been downloaded more than 350,000 times. ESPN Zoom originally launched as ESPN Cameraman in October 2008. Through several versions, it has been downloaded nearly 2 million times.

The ESPN Fantasy Football app includes:

· Live Scores & Stats: Players can follow how your teams perform, including head-to-head weekly matchups.

· Personalized Alerts: Utilizing the push notification in the latest iPhone operating system, ESPN Fantasy Football will alert fantasy players about last minute injury updates, starting lineup changes, scoring and more. Fantasy players can customize their alerts to receive the information they want most.

· Multiple Team Management: Manage multiple ESPN Fantasy Football teams easily and quickly, including executing trades, free agent and waiver wire pickups, roster control and more. Fans can even input non-ESPN leagues and teams and follow their players’ performance.

· ESPN BottomLine: Fans can get the latest headlines and news in realtime through the on-screen ticker in the app.

DISNEY/ABC TELEVISION GROUP AND ESPN EXTEND AGREEMENT WITH VERIZON TO OFFER ENTERTAINMENT, KIDS, SPORTS AND NEWS PROGRAMMING

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:36:43 -0500

The Disney/ABC Television Group, ESPN and Verizon announced today that a comprehensive portfolio of news, entertainment and sports video programming, including full-length episodes of shows from ABC Entertainment, ABC News and Disney Channel, as well as content from ESPN, will be available to Verizon Wireless V CAST Video and Mobile Web customers.

The agreement covers mobile distribution of on-demand, full-length episodes to V CAST Video, complementing existing short-form content currently available from ABC and ESPN. Full-length programs will include:

· ABC Entertainment: "Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Ugly Betty"

· ABC News: "Nightline," "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," "World News with Charles Gibson" and "20/20"

· Disney Channel: "Hannah Montana," "The Suite Life on Deck" and "Phineas and Ferb"

Full episodes of these programs will be available on demand on V CAST Video the day following their television premiere.

Verizon Wireless customers will now also be able to access and view expanded programming from ESPN, including short news clips and other sports-related content.

"We are excited to team with Verizon to bring an even more extensive, comprehensive array of multi-brand, world-class programming to V CAST customers," said Matt Murphy, senior vice president of digital video distribution, Disney and ESPN Media Networks. "As we continue expanding the ways viewers can connect to the content they want and brands they love on the platforms they choose, Verizon has been a true ally. In the past year, we've not only teamed to offer full episodes on wireless, but have also worked together to bring ESPN Deportes to more Verizon FiOS customers, to make popular ABC series available via fast-forward disabled VOD and to launch new iTV applications like ESPN's Fantasy Football."

"Mobile customers with active lifestyles like the convenience of watching their favorite TV programs when they are on the go or away from their homes," said Terry Denson, vice president, content strategy and acquisition at Verizon. "We're excited to add so many hit shows from ABC and the Disney Channel to the V CAST Video lineup, providing fresh and familiar favorites that are easy to find for our customers."

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to Verizon Wireless' ESPN MVP, Get It Now® and Mobile Web services. V CAST subscribers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.

As part of this agreement, Verizon customers will also have easy access to a variety of ESPN's and Disney/ABC Television Group's mobile Web sites.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Disney/ABC Television Group

The Disney/ABC Television Group is home to all of The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE: DIS) worldwide entertainment and news television properties. The Group includes the ABC Television Network (including ABC Daytime, ABC Entertainment and ABC News divisions); the Disney Channels Worldwide global kids' TV business, ABC Family and SOAPnet; as well as television production and syndication divisions ABC Studios, Stage 9 Digital Media, Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Disney-ABC-ESPN Television. The Disney/ABC Television Group also manages the Radio Disney Network, general interest and non-fiction book imprint Hyperion, as well the Company's equity interest in Lifetime Entertainment Services and A&E Television Networks.

About ESPN

ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU), ESPN and ESPN2 HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (32 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

Monday Night Football: Most-Watched Series on Cable

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:14:56 -0500

ESPN's third season of Monday Night Football was the most-watched series on cable television in 2008, set an all-time cable viewership record for the third straight year and drew the year's three biggest cable household audiences and 13 of the top 15. In three seasons on ESPN, Monday Night Football has registered seven of the top 10 all-time biggest household audiences in cable history, led by the Eagles-Cowboys telecast on September 15, which attracted cable's largest household audience ever (an average of 12,953,000 million homes).

ESPN's 17 Monday Night Football telecasts in 2008 averaged a 8.9 rating, representing an average of 8,679,000 households (11,962,000 viewers - P2+), increases of 3%, 5% and 7%, respectively, vs. 2007 (8.6; 8,277,000 and 11,230,000). MNF ended on a particularly strong note with last night's Chicago Bears' 20-17 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers delivering a 9.8 rating, representing an average of 9,582,000 households (13,803,000 viewers - P2+). The game ranks as the third-largest household audience on cable this year.

For the season, the accompanying "Monday Night Surround" content on ESPN.com sparked an increase of Monday (through Tuesday at noon ET) traffic to the site of 51% with an average 68.1 million page views per week.

"ESPN's Monday Night Football was a resounding success this season with ratings and viewership increases from a year ago and an overwhelmingly positive response from fans to our new approach highlighting technology and X's and O's analysis," said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, program acquisitions & strategy. "By offering quality football content across many platforms, we are proud to continue the tradition of this great franchise which is so revered by fans, players and coaches, and we are already looking forward to MNF's 40th season in 2009."

MNF on TV

MNF occupies seven of the top 10 spots on the list of cable's biggest household audiences ever (excludes breaking news), including the new #1, the September 15 Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys game with an average of 12,953,000 homes (18,608,000 total viewers, based on a 13.3 rating).

ESPN's NFL games account for 13 of the top 15 biggest household audiences (and eight of the top 10) for any basic cable television program in 2008. They rank first, second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th.

Other highlights for the 2008 NFL season:

* ESPN led all networks - cable or broadcast - in delivery of all key male demos (men 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54) and adults 18-34 every Monday in primetime this season.
* ESPN led all networks - cable or broadcast - in delivery of adults 18-49 on 15 of 16 Mondays in primetime.
* Four times, ESPN was the most-watched network - cable or broadcast - in primetime on Monday.
* Since the start of the NFL season, ESPN has led all cable networks in overall household delivery in primetime (an average of 2,335,000 households throughout the week).
* For the past 9 consecutive weeks, ESPN has led all cable networks in delivery of adult men on a total-day basis, as well as men 18-54. ESPN has been #1 among M18+ and M18-54 for 13 of the past 15 weeks.

"Monday Night Surround" on ESPN.com

NFL content on ESPN.com, including "Monday Night Surround," accessed via computers and mobile devices generated an average 68.1 million page views and 9.5 million visits from Monday through Tuesday at noon, up 51% and 19%, respectively, over 2007, according to Web measurement tool Omniture/Hitbox. Specifically, NFL content on mobile averaged 11.1 million page views and 1.5 million visits for Monday through Tuesday at noon for the season. In addition, pro football-related video on ESPN.com averaged more than 2.5 million views per week and SportsCenter Right Now averaged 1.5 million views. ESPN football-related podcasts were downloaded an average of more than 641,000 per week since the season kicked off.

ESPN and ABC Media Platforms See College Football Audience Growth

Jason Ankeny — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:43:33 -0500

The 2008 college football regular season audience grew across ESPN media platforms, including on ABC, ESPN.com, ESPN Mobile properties and ESPN360.com, the broadband television network.

Television:

ABC's college football games enjoyed audience increases over last year, led by a significant 22% growth in viewership for the Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines series, the only weekly primetime college football series on broadcast television.

The 13 Saturday night telecasts on ABC -- the highest rated and most-viewed college football window on television -- averaged a 4.9 rating, 5,651,000 households and 8,001,000 total viewers for increases of 20 percent (vs. 4.1), 22 percent (vs. 4,644,000) and 24 percent (vs. 6,442,000), respectively, compared to last year. Additional highlights of the Saturday primetime window include:

* ABC was the number one network for the night nine times among households and total viewers. ABC was also the leader on most nights among key demographics: 10 times in adults 18-49 and 25-54; 11 in adults 18-34 and men 18-34 and 18-49; and 12 among men 25-54.
* The Saturday Night Football telecast of Texas Tech's 39-33 victory over then-#1 Texas averaged 8,590,000 households based on a 7.5 rating, making it the network's fifth-most viewed regular-season college football game (and the seventh-highest rated) ever. It was the most-viewed and highest-rated game of the year on ABC.

Overall, college coverage on ABC averaged a 4.0 rating, 4,598,000 households and 6,274,000 total viewers, marking increases of 3 percent (vs. 3.9), 5 percent (vs. 4,364,000) and 7 percent (vs. 5,860,000), respectively, compared to last year.

ESPN.com, Online Video and ESPN Mobile:

During the 2008-09 college football regular season, ESPN.com and the ESPN Mobile Web site recorded their most-trafficked year ever for college football content, and fans viewed more college football-related videos on ESPN.com than ever before.

ESPN.com's College Football content outpaced last season's record-setting traffic, including a 6 percent growth in page views (nearly 885 million) and 5 percent growth in visits (232 million) compared to 2007. Other traffic highlights include:

* ESPN.com had the leading share (25%) of average visits on Saturdays to college football content online according to Hitwise;
* Fans spent an average of nearly 5 minutes per visit with college football content;
* The 2008-09 Bowl Schedule was the most viewed single page registering more than 2.2 million page views, while the December 2 story "USC willing to give up timeout to wear red at UCLA" was the most read single story, generating more than 1 million page views.

ESPN online video continues to engage college football fans, with more than 101 million streams of college football features and highlights on ESPN.com. Highlights from the Oklahoma v. Oklahoma State (11/29) game were the most viewed highlight of the season, followed by Penn State v. Ohio State (10/25) and Texas v. Texas Tech (11/01). Each accounted for more than 1.1 million streams.

Traffic to college football content on ESPN Mobile Web exploded during the college football regular season, with 59.9 million visits and 185 percent growth in page views (639 million) compared to last year. Other traffic highlights include:

* Fans spent more than 7 minutes per visit on average with college football content;
* Top games included the SEC Championship game (Alabama v. Florida) with 7.5mm page views and Texas v. Texas Tech with 6.7mm page views.

ESPN360:

ESPN360.com, ESPN's signature 24/7 broadband sports television network, saw tremendous growth during the college football season with nearly 2 million hours consumed, up 236 percent compared to 2007. Additionally, marquee college football matchups continued to see average viewing times of more than an hour per user.

ESPN360.com will provide live broadband coverage of 25 college bowl games from Dec. 20 - Jan. 6. For the full ESPN360.com bowl season schedule, please visit here.

ESPN and BCS Reach Four-Year Agreement

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:31:22 -0500

ESPN has reached an extensive agreement with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), granting exclusive TV, radio, digital, international and marketing rights for 15 BCS games from January 2011 through January 2014. It includes the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls each season and the BCS National Championship Game in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The announcement was made by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, and John Swofford, BCS Coordinator and ACC Commissioner.

"The BCS will thrive on ESPN," Bodenheimer said. "Our slogan is ‘College Football Lives Here' and the BCS will now top college football's best regular-season and studio coverage, the sport's top awards shows, Bowl Week and other national championships all carried on our family of networks. This is a proud day for ESPN and an exceptional day for this great sport and its passionate fans."

Swofford added, "We are tremendously pleased to reach an agreement with ESPN and feel that the BCS games from 2011-14 will be in good hands. With the continued growth of technology and the depth of coverage that ESPN gives to the college football fan on all its platforms during the regular-season, this post-season partnership is a natural fit."

ESPN (TV)

ESPN, currently available in 98 million homes, will televise these BCS bowls (Fiesta, Orange, Sugar and National Championship Game) in primetime each January. The official BCS schedule for 2011 and beyond will be released at a later date. Also, when weekly BCS standings begin, they will be unveiled on ESPN each Sunday (show and time TBD).

ESPN RADIO

ESPN Radio, which has broadcast all BCS games since 2000, gains exclusive national radio rights for the length of the deal (2011-2014). ESPN Radio is in the midst of a sub-license agreement (expires in 2010) with current BCS rightsholder Fox to broadcast the games. ESPN Radio currently has 750 affiliates that carry content, including more than 335 full-time affiliates. In addition, ESPN Deportes Radio has exclusive Spanish-language rights.

DIGITAL MEDIA

Digital media is another major part of the new ESPN-BCS arrangement. ESPN.com, the leading sports website, receives significant content rights, and will operate the official BCS website (bcsfootball.org), which features standings, updates, history, news and more. In addition, games may be simulcast online through ESPN360.com, ESPN's signature 24/7 broadband sports network; and on mobile devices through ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN's first 24/7 channel for wireless.

ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS

ESPN International will distribute and televise the BCS matchups around the world through networks and syndication, including on the re-branded ESPN America (known as NASN until Feb. 2009), the only network in Europe completely dedicated to North American sports. In addition, ESPN has the right to televise BCS games on ESPN Deportes, the U.S. Spanish-language sports network.

Marketing Rights: ESPN has secured marketing rights to the BCS games, including the BCS National Championship Game. Among these rights will be the ability to sell bowl entitlements and title sponsorships, which will create season-long (opening kickoff through National Championship Game) opportunities for ESPN college football advertisers.

Exclusive BCS-branded programming: Exclusive BCS-branded programming (including BCS standings announcements) will be presented on the ESPN networks throughout the season and year round.

ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, can feature encore presentations of current and past BCS games, and will present extensive BCS-related programming leading up to and surrounding the games.

ESPN Classic can also present encore presentations of current and past BCS games, including "Instant Classics."

ESPN's Video On Demand (VOD) will make BCS games available after the fact by distributing through affiliates' VOD platforms and through audio and video podcasts.

MAJOR SPORTS ON CABLE

This will mark the first time BCS bowls will be featured on cable television, joining other major events with a cable home such as the NBA Conference Finals, British Open (all four rounds), Monday Night Football, MLB League Championship Series, Breeders' Cup, Stanley Cup Finals and many more.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON ESPN

ESPN offers the most extensive coverage of college football across numerous platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN GamePlan pay-per-view service, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN International. Coverage features more than 400 regular- and post-season games involving numerous conferences, including nearly 30 bowl games, and the NCAA Football Championship Sub-Division, Division II and Division III playoffs culminating with the championship of each; the Heisman Trophy Presentation and The Home Depot College Football Awards; the popular road show College GameDay Built by The Home Depot; the year-round daily College Football Live; the weekly College Football Final and College Football Countdown; and news and features throughout the year on SportsCenter, First Take, PTI and Outside the Lines.

BCS

The BCS is a five-game arrangement for post-season college football that is managed by the 11 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame. Its purpose is to match the two top-ranked teams in the final BCS standings in a national championship game and to create competitive match-ups in the four other BCS bowl games. For more information, visit http://www.bcsfootball.org.

The agreement is subject to approvals.

ESPN to Offer Multimedia Coverage of 2009 World Baseball Classic

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:43:51 -0400

ESPN will present multimedia coverage
of the 2009 World Baseball Classic including coverage across ESPN, ESPN HD,
ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPNEWS, ESPNEWS HD,
ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile
Properties and more.

World Baseball Classic coverage highlights include:

-- Up to 39 games via ESPN International distribution;
-- ESPN and ESPN2 combining to televise 23 games in the U.S. beginning
March 5, 2009;
-- The semifinals - Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22 - and final,
Monday, March 23, from Dodger Stadium;
-- All ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts simulcast via ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile
TV;
-- ESPN Deportes, ESPN's Spanish-language network in the U.S.,
televising 23 games;
-- 23 games (ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts) available in Puerto Rico, Guam and
the U.S. Virgin Islands; 23 games available on ESPN Deportes in Puerto
Rico.
"ESPN looks forward to working with the World Baseball Classic to build
on what we started in 2006," said Len DeLuca, ESPN Senior Vice President,
Programming and Acquisitions. "We have more games for ESPN, a deeper
multimedia offering, and wider international rights. We look forward to
collaborating to make this the best global championship in March."

"ESPN has the proven ability to convey the excitement and national
pride that the World Baseball Classic generates among the players and
fans," said Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating
Officer.

"'Baseball Spoken Here' is our motto, and so we're delighted that once
again we are partnering with ESPN to bring the world the games, and the
thrills, of the second World Baseball Classic," said Gene Orza, MLBPA Chief
Operating Officer. "No one 'speaks baseball' better than ESPN."

Additional World Baseball Classic coverage will include:

-- ESPN Radio broadcasting the semifinals and final, along with three
additional games;
-- Comprehensive highlights within SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and
ESPNEWS;
-- Extensive ESPN.com content featuring highlights, news and information.
ESPN International will televise up to 39 games in Africa, Australia,
Europe (via NASN, which will become ESPN America on Feb. 1), Latin America,
the Middle East and New Zealand.

About World Baseball Classic, Inc.

World Baseball Classic, Inc. is a company created at the direction of
Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players
Association (MLBPA) to operate the World Baseball Classic tournament. The
tournament, which is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation
(IBAF), is supported by MLB, the MLBPA, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB),
the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), their respective players
associations and other leagues and players from around the world.

About the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball
tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and
features the best players in the world competing for their home countries
and territories. In March 2006, 486 players -- 235 of them from MLB
organizations -- representing 16 teams from across the globe competed in
the inaugural event. More than 740,000 fans from 48 states and 15 countries
attended games -- 16 of which sold out -- and millions more watched on TV
as Team Japan was crowned the first-ever World Baseball Classic Champion.
Broadcast by 48 media outlets in 10 languages to 205 countries and
territories around the world, the inaugural tournament had 50 official
sponsors and 21 official licensees. Media members representing 25 different
nations attended the 39 games in seven host venues across three
countries/territories. The next tournament will be held in March 2009 and
will again feature 16 of the greatest baseball-playing nations in the
world. The tournament will be held every four years thereafter, with plans
in place to expand the participant field beginning in 2013.

ESPN and MLB

ESPN is the home of the Sunday Night Baseball franchise -- the only
exclusive, national game of the week -- along with weekly Monday and
Wednesday Night Baseball telecasts and Baseball Tonight. ESPN Radio
continues to exclusively broadcast Sunday night games, along with select
games throughout the season, MLB All-Star festivities and every post-season
game through the World Series. ESPN Deportes televises all Sunday Night
Baseball games. ESPN networks televised the inaugural World Baseball
Classic in 2006.