May 17, 2012

Sport Science Special on ESPN Kicks off Big Game Weekend

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sport Science Special on ESPN Kicks off Big Game Weekend

Super Bowl weekend gets started on ESPN with a 30-minute Sport Science special featuring NFL players and four football-based experiments. The show, set for Friday, Feb 5, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, stars Santonio Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marshawn Lynch of the Buffalo Bills and Matt Willig, who recently retired from the NFL.

The three-time Emmy Award-winning unscripted Sport Science hosted by John Brenkus brings the world’s top professional athletes together with cutting-edge technology in state-of-the-art scientific facilities to test the limits of human athletic abilities and challenge popular assumptions about athletes.

Performed in the Sport Science Laboratory, led by Dr. Cindy Bir of Wayne State University and Brenkus, the special is comprised of these experiments:

  • Two great catches in Super Bowl history – made by Holmes in last year’s game — are analyzed and compared to uncover the differences in “circus” vs. “textbook” – the catch that can’t be practiced, and the one a player practices for every day of his career.
  • Can a running back generate as much power as a diesel engine? Lynch participates in a one-of-a-kind test of man vs. machine to find out.
  • Viewers will get an eye-opening statistical analysis of the differences between champion quarterbacks and the guys who never quite made it to the top. The goal is to identify the determining factor in who wins it all and who doesn’t. A study of quarterbacks is shown in a way never before imagined, culminating with a prediction of the winner of the big game Sunday, Feb. 7.
  • Football referees have a dangerous job. Positioned right behind the linebackers, the umpire works in the middle of the world’s scariest mosh pit. To demonstrate what happens when an unpadded referee accidentally gets hit, 14-year NFL veteran Willig joins the Sport Science lab to test impact forces on a state-of-the-art crash-test dummy, and on a live dummy: host John Brenkus.

About Sport Science

In addition to 30-minute Sport Science specials, ESPN runs Sport Science-branded segments in its highest-profile productions, including signature series such as SportsCenter, College GameDay, the Winter X Games and other programs tied to top sporting events. Host John Brenkus will also make special appearances on ESPN programming to discuss timely Sport Science segments.

Sport Science is produced by BASE Productions. John Brenkus and Mickey Stern are executive producers for BASE. Joan Lynch, Ron Wechsler and Lee Fitting are executives in charge of production for ESPN.

Sport Science images

http://twitter.com/sport_science

-30-

Filed Under: ESPN

NBC Universal Unveils Extensive Research Effort Around 2010 Vancouver Olympics

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NBC UNIVERSAL UNVEILS EXTENSIVE RESEARCH EFFORT AROUND 2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPICS

Groundbreaking Data to Provide Unprecedented Insight into Consumer Cross-Platform Behavior and Advertising Effectiveness

Company Will Again Issue Daily TAMi to Measure Total Olympic Exposure

NEW YORK – January 28, 2010 Building on the pioneering research effort conducted during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, NBC Universal will launch its second Olympic research lab during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games that will provide unprecedented insight into consumer cross-platform behavior.  NBCU will partner with some of the country’s most innovative research providers to develop state of the art media measurement techniques, including the first-ever statistically projectable single source measurement of television and Internet use.  In addition, NBCU will again issue a daily TAMi (Total Audience Measurement Index) to measure total Olympic exposure across all media platforms throughout the 17 days of coverage.

The announcement was made today by Alan Wurtzel, President of Research, NBC Universal and Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics.

“The unique scope and duration of the Olympics provides us with the opportunity to see consumer behavior at warp speed,” said Wurtzel. “No other media event gives us such an enormous amount of content that is consumed by so many people, across so many different platforms, for such a long period of time. From a research perspective, it’s a fast-forward two or three years ahead in furthering our understanding of media behavior, allowing us to see the future today.”

Research Initiatives
The company will build on the findings from its “billion-dollar” Beijing research lab and conduct a new series of studies to take its understanding of cross-platform media use to the next level.  In addition to tracking consumer behavior, the research will incorporate various methodologies to demonstrate to advertisers the effectiveness of their Olympics buy.  The projects include:

Quantifiable Single Source Cross Platform Measurement: This groundbreaking study will provide the industry with the first-ever projectable electronic measurement of single source television and Internet use.  Using data from the Arbitron (NYSE: ARB) Portable People Meter  media measurement service and Internet data from comScore (SCOR) and Omniture, NBCU will measure TV and Internet use from the same person and project those numbers to a broad population.  Data will include simultaneous online and TV viewing and differentiate video viewed for the first time vs. repeat viewing to something seen on TV.

Social Media and Viral Communication Analysis: NBCU will use Keller Fay’s TalkTrack to measure all forms of Olympic “word of mouth,” including face-to-face, phone and Internet communication. It will utilize 8000 consumer interviews conducted before and during the Olympics. The study will help the company analyze the role of social networking and its impact on the Olympic experience. The word of mouth component will also be used to research Olympic advertising effectiveness.

Set Top Box Data Study: Through its research partnership with TiVO, NBCU will use second-by-second set top box data to measure audience retention for both Olympic programming and commercials over the course of the Games, including data on the impact of Olympic-themed advertising vs. general commercial messaging.  The TiVO data will also provide extensive information on the demographic and psychographic drivers of Olympic viewing.

Three Screen Qualitative Study: NBCU will once again partner with iMMi to track a single consumer’s Olympic exposure across all media platforms.  Panelists will carry a sophisticated iMMi phone that will measure their Olympic viewing on television, online and on their mobile devices.  The iMMi study can now measure viewing across all NBCU properties, exposure to nearly 100 different Olympic sites, and provide detailed information on the particular video being viewed.  This more granular data will provide an even greater understanding of what consumers are watching, when they’re watching it and why they chose to watch on a particular device.

TAMi Returns for Vancouver
NBCU will again issue a daily TAMi during the Vancouver Games, measuring total Olympic exposure across the multiple media platforms airing Olympic content – network and cable television, online, video on demand (VOD) and mobile.  The TAMi will provide information on total exposure to the Olympics each day, as well as indicate trends that develop on any one particular platform over the course of the Games.

About NBC Universal:
NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

Filed Under: NBC, Olympics

Episode 2, 24/7 Jimmie Johnson on HBO

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA

FEB. 2 EPISODE

HBO Sports®’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise presents episode No. 2 of the all-access show 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA.  Debuting TUESDAY, FEB. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the four-week series spotlights one of racing’s biggest stars, reigning four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, and gives viewers an inside look at the driver and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team as they prepare for the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of auto racing.

Episode #2

Debut:  TUESDAY, FEB. 2 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO® playdates:  Feb. 2 (2:10 a.m.), 3 (3:30 p.m., 11:00 p.m.), 6 (9:30 a.m., 1:40 a.m.), 7 (8:00 a.m.), 8 (10:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.), 13 (11:00 a.m., 11:30 p.m.) and 14 (8:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Feb. 4 (10:00 p.m.), 7 (1:00 p.m.) and 11 (10:00 p.m., 12:55 a.m.)

HBO On Demand availability begins:   Feb. 8

Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson takes to the track for the “24 hours of Daytona” endurance race, while crew chief Chad Knaus prepares the No. 48 car for the fast-approaching Daytona 500, set for Feb. 14 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Additional episodes of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA debut on subsequent Tuesdays – Feb. 9 and 16 – in prime time at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT).  The Feb. 16 series finale debuts two days after the race, with cameras tracking all the drama and excitement surrounding Johnson and his team on race day.  All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.

The executive producers of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Scott Boggins; producer, Bentley Weiner; writer, Peter Nelson.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

Filed Under: HBO, NASCAR

“I want to be in Philly … it’s the city that has adopted me. It’s my home.” –Eagles QB Donovan McNabb — Quotes & Video Highlights From Day 1 Of NFL Network’s Coverage Of 2010 Pro Bowl Practice

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In Case You Missed It…

Video Highlights from Day 1 of NFL Network’s Coverage of the 2010 Pro Bowl

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb talks with Rich Eisen and Deion Sanders after the NFC Pro Bowl practice:

“I want to be in Philly … it’s the city that has adopted me. It’s my home.” – McNabb on his plans for next year.

Ø  To watch entire interview of McNabb at the NFC Pro Bowl Practice, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d816006de/McNabb-on-set

Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco talks about his game and playing against Jets CB Darrelle Revis:

“We have a guy who’s had one great season and we want to label him a shutdown corner.” – Ochocinco on perceptions of Revis after the season.

Ø  To watch entire video of Ochocinco talking about Revis, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d81600157/Ochocinco-on-set

Broncos S Brian Dawkins stops by the NFL Total Access set after the AFC Pro Bowl practice:

“It really hurt to know that I was leaving the organization. I poured myself out to my teammates, to the fans and to the organization.” – Dawkins on being released from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ø  To watch the entire interview of Dawkins, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d815fff48/Brian-Dawkins-on-set

Chad Ochocinco interviews Eagles Asante Samuel and asked the CB how he will stop 85.

Ø  To watch entire interview of Samuel with Ochocinco, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d816004a6/Chad-with-Asante-Samuel

Chad Ochocinco is a man of many talents and showcases them at the NFL Pro Bowl Practice.

Ø  To watch entire interview of Ochocinco, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d81600586/Girl-you-trippin

Cowboys QB Tony Romo is missing and field reporter Chad Ochocinco is on the case.

Ø  To watch entire video of Ochocinco looking for Romo, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d816003a9/Where-s-Romo

Deion Sanders catches up with CBs Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Ø  To watch the entire interview of the AFC defensive backs, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d815ffe5e/Deion-and-the-AFC-DBs

Deion Sanders catches up with Ravens LB Ray Lewis at the AFC Pro Bowl practice.

Ø  To watch the entire interview of Ray Lewis, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-pro-bowl/09000d5d815ffe40/Ray-Lewis-at-Pro-Bowl-Pract

**NFL Network’s Day 2 coverage from the 2010 Pro Bowl practices includes interviews with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Titans QB Vince Young and Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew.**

NFL Network and NFL.com are home to complete coverage of the 2010 Pro Bowl with Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin anchoring both AFC and NFC team practices Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29 from 9:00-Noon ET and Saturday, January 30 from 9:00-11:00 AM ET. On game day, Sunday, January 31, the trio teams up with Marshall Faulk and Stacey Dales for a 2 ½ hour NFL Total Access Pro Bowl Pregame Show at 5:00 PM ET, followed by a one-hour postgame show after the game.

– NFL Network –

Filed Under: NFL, NFLN

U.S. Olympic Team Members Lysacek, Weir, Nagasu, Belbin & Agosto This Sunday In Skate For The Heart On NBC

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM MEMBERS LYSACEK, WEIR, NAGASU, BELBIN & AGOSTO THIS SUNDAY IN SKATE FOR THE HEART ON NBC

Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn White Featured In World of Adventures Sports

NEW YORK- Jan. 28, 2010 – NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the Silk Soy Milk Skate for the Heart this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET from the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

This event is packed with skating powerhouses and current U.S. Olympic Team members including 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, three-time National Champion Johnny Weir and current U.S. silver medalist and 2008 National Champion Mirai Nagasu.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks headlines an evening of contemporary music with Olympic and world-class skaters in a show that provides awareness for the prevention of heart disease. Also providing music is 16-year-old singing sensation Charice Pempengco and pop groups Honor Society and KSM.

WORLD OF ADVENTURE SPORTS, SATURDAY, 2 PM ET
The new season of the World of Adventure Sports will kick off this Saturday on NBC Sports with Red Bull Project X, one of the most progressive snowboard sessions in history. In preparation for the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, Olympic gold medalist Shaun White teamed up with Red Bull to create a private halfpipe nestled in the backcountry of Silverton Mountain, Colo. It was there that Shaun would create a series of new tricks that would change the sport forever.

Pat Parnell hosts.

PBR, SATURDAY, 4:30 PM ET
NBC Sports presents taped coverage of the Professional Bull Riders’ Tecate Light Invitational on Saturday from Anaheim, Calif. The event will feature experienced riders including reigning World Champion Kody Lostroh (Longmont,Colo.), Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil), LJ Jenkins (Texico, N.M.), and Josh Koschel (Greely, Colo.).

NBC’s Craig Hummer, Justin McKee, Ty Murray, Donna Brothers and Justin McBride call the action.

INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW, SUNDAY, 3 PM ET
NBC Sports will present a one-hour broadcast of the International Auto Show this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The show will give you a look at some of the most intriguing new vehicles that were on display at the NAIAS 2010 in Detroit. Coverage features the finest production and concept vehicles with a focus on smaller fuel efficient vehicles and automotive design, as well as technical advancements for vehicles of the future.

NBC Sports Commentators Bill Weber, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, and Phil LeBeau will give you a close up look at some of the world’s most incredible vehicles.

Filed Under: NBC, Skating

San Jose Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson is Today’s Guest on “NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman”

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

– MEDIA ADVISORY –

SAN JOSE SHARKS GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON IS TODAY’S GUESTS ON “NHL HOUR WITH COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN”

NEW YORK (January 28, 2010) – San Jose Sharks executive vice president and general manager Doug Wilson is today’s guest on NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio at 6 p.m. ET.

Wilson’s Sharks, whose 78 points lead the National Hockey League, are pursuing their third straight Pacific Division title and second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy.  They will face the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at HP Pavilion in a game that will be carried in HD to a nationwide audience on NHL Network™ U.S. beginning at 10:30 p.m., ET.

Wilson knows the Sharks-Blackhawks rivalry from both sides, as he played 938 games for the Blackhawks before being traded to the Sharks for that team’s inaugural season, 1991.  Since 2003, when Wilson was named San Jose’s general manager, the Sharks have appeared in nine Stanley Cup playoff rounds — second only to the Detroit Red Wings (10).

NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman now broadcasts live on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET on NHL Home Ice (XM Channel 204 and on SIRIUS Channel 208 as part of the “Best of XM” programming package) and NHL.com. The show will re-air on SIRIUS XM Radio, with archived shows available for download via podcast on NHL.com.

The show encourages fans to call in with questions for the Commissioner. To submit questions to NHL Hour call 1-877-645-6696.

NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman is a production of NHL Radio.

### (1/28/10)
Filed Under: NHL, Sirius/XM

NBA Commissioner David Stern Joins NBA TV for Exclusive Interview

January 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

NBA Commissioner David Stern Joins NBA TV for Exclusive Interview

NBA Commissioner David Stern was interviewed by NBA TV host Matt Winer in an exclusive television interview following the suspensions of Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.

Clips of Commissioner Stern

Stern on whether he was more concerned with the violation of DC law or NBA policy.

Stern on the players’ sincerity in their contrition.

The full interview is available on NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2010/01/27/20100127_STERN_INT.nba

Matt Winer: “How did you arrive at the suspension for the rest of the season for (Gilbert) Arenas and (Javaris) Crittenton’s punishment?”

David Stern: “I just do what I do, which is consider the facts here, which is they had an argument, they followed through on that argument, each appearing with a weapon in an NBA locker room.  That violates our collective bargaining agreement.  They’d been warned about that at the beginning of each season in writing and with a visit from team security to team meetings.  I decided that it just can’t be tolerated and each of them was suspended for the rest of the year.”

Winer: “Which was more significant in your mind?  The violation of (Washington) DC law or NBA policy?”

Stern: “NBA policy.  It’s not that the other isn’t significant, but it doesn’t concern me at the moment.  At the moment, what I was dealing with was players who violated a specific prohibition agreed to by their union and the NBA that there will not be guns in any NBA facilities.  They violated that, put themselves in potential danger and they put their teammates in potential danger.  It’s nothing that we’re going to tolerate.”

Winer: “Shortly after the incident became public, you expressed some concern that Gilbert Arenas didn’t grasp the gravity of his actions.  After meeting with both players this week, how convinced are you now that they both understand the severity of their mistake?”

Stern: “I believe that they are sincere in their contrition and their determination to make sure that their example is used in a positive way to teach lessons about this.  I wouldn’t have done what I did here, I would’ve done more if I didn’t believe their contrition and their sincerity.”

Winer: “You touched on this a little bit with regard to policy versus statute in Washington DC, but Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony. Why the same punishment for both players?”

Stern: “It turns out actually that Gilbert is being penalized 50 games and Javaris is being penalized 38 games.  Their penalty is not the same.”

Winer: “Are there conditions for their return?  Will they have to clear some sort of hurdle to return or do you anticipate both players will be active next season?”

Stern: “I have imposed no conditions.  The only thing I did was suspend them for the remainder of this season and the rest will play out.”

Winer: “Based on your conversations with Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, is it your understanding that there won’t be an appeal in terms of the player’s union?”

Stern: “I don’t have any understanding.  Although I did agree with Billy Hunter that we will sit down and talk about, even apart from collective bargaining, how we can deliver the message even stronger than we do today that guns will not be tolerated in NBA facilities.  It’s not just about what goes on in the facilities, what my concern as I look back at this incident, is that press coverage would suggest that this represents our players.  And I know, because I’ve been involved with our players for years, that this doesn’t represent the over 430 players who do extraordinary things, not only on the court, but off the court, with the most recent example of their humanitarian efforts with regards to Haiti.  I’m hoping that this will be put behind us and we’ll move on, (that) Javaris and Gilbert will move on and the union will move on.  We’ll go about having what is a very successful season with exciting teams and exciting young stars.”

-30-

Filed Under: NBA, NBA TV

ESPN, Inc. 2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule

January 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ESPN, Inc.  2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule

All 64 Matches Live and in HD; Mobile and Digital Coverage; Nightly Reairs

ESPN will present comprehensive coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup June 11, through July 11, from 10 stadiums in nine cities across South Africa.  All 64 matches will be aired live and in high definition on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, and extensive coverage on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV.  In addition, 2010 FIFA World Cup studio programs, including prematch, halftime and postmatch segments, will be presented in high definition.

ESPN will air 44 FIFA World Cup matches from South Africa – the most ever for the network in one tournament.  ESPN2 will feature 10 matches.  ABC will broadcast 10, beginning with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s tournament opener vs. England on Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. ET in Rustenburg.  The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 11, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Coverage will begin Friday, June 11, on ESPN, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV, with the tournament’s opening match at 9:30 a.m. from the Soccer City in Johannesburg, host country South Africa versus Mexico.

PREMATCH, HALFTIME AND POSTMATCH SEGMENTS

For the first time in ESPN’s 28-year history of covering the FIFA World Cup, all match telecasts will include prematch, halftime and postmatch studio segments originating live from the host nation.  The prematch segment will include the teams walking onto the pitch, the national anthems and ceremonial handshakes – all symbolic FIFA World Cup traditions.

ESPN360.COM

ESPN’s signature broadband network will provide live online simulcasts of the 54 ESPN and ESPN2 matches.  The service will also feature ESPN and ESPN2’s live prematch, halftime and postmatch segments.

Additionally, all 64 matches will be archived and accessible to fans on ESPN360.com through the end of the calendar year.  All matches will be available for replay on ESPN360.com shortly after the completion.

ESPN360.com is one of the premier broadband destinations for live soccer events featuring Spain’s La Liga, German Bundesliga, Dutch Erepisie, The Football League and the Carling Cup (UK), Italian soccer (Serie A, Coppa Italia), Russian Premier League, Chinese Premiere League and more

ESPN MOBILE TV

ESPN Mobile TV — ESPN’s 24/7 mobile sports television network available through an agreement with Sprint and on the FLO TV and MobiTV platforms via AT&T and Verizon — will feature live coverage of 46 matches from ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts except the eight on concurrent match windows, June 22-25.

MATCH REAIRS ON ESPN CLASSIC AND ESPN2

ESPN Classic will reair all 64 FIFA World Cup matches.  Each matchday, between at 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., the network will present all the matches played earlier that day.

ESPN and ESPN2 will air the best match of the day on select nights throughout the tournament.

THE U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

The U.S. Men’s National Team, currently ranked No. 14 in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will kickoff its 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign against England (ranked No. 9) live on ABC HD Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m., from the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg.  Other U.S. first round matches:

Fri 6/18         ESPN/ESPN360.com at 9:30 a.m.

Slovenia vs. USA

Wed 6/23        ESPN/ESPN360.com at 9:30 a.m.

USA vs. Algeria

2010 FIFA World Cup Groupings (Team Rankings – December 2009)

Group A Group B Group C Group D
1  South Africa (85) 1  Argentina (8) 1  England (9) 1  Germany (6)
2  Mexico  (17) 2  Nigeria (22) 2  USA (14) 2  Australia (21)
3  Uruguay (20) 3  Korea Republic (52) 3  Algeria (26) 3  Serbia (19)
4  France (7) 4  Greece (13) 4  Slovenia (31) 4  Ghana (34)
Group E Group F Group G Group H
1  Netherlands (3) 1  Italy (4) 1  Brazil (2) 1  Spain (1)
2  Denmark (28) 2  Paraguay (29) 2  Korea DPR (86) 2  Switzerland (18)
3  Japan (43) 3  New Zealand (82) 3  Cote d’Ivoire (16) 3  Honduras (37)
4  Cameroon (11) 4  Slovakia (33) 4  Portugal (5) 4  Chile (15)

2010 WORLD CUP TV SCHEDULE – ESPN, ESPN2, ABC AND ESPN360.COM

u All times EASTERN u Schedule is subject to change

u All matches in high definition u ABC Sports broadcasts in italics

Date Time (ET) Network Match Group Site Match #
Fri 6/11 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com South Africa vs. Mexico A Johannesburg 1
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Uruguay vs. France A Cape Town 2
Sat 6/12 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Korea Republic vs. Greece B Port Elizabeth 3
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Argentina vs. Nigeria B Johannesburg 4
2 p.m. ABC England vs. USA C Rustenburg 5
Sun 6/13 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Algeria vs. Slovenia C Polokwane 6
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Serbia vs. Ghana D Pretoria 7
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Germany vs. Australia D Durban 8
Mon 6/14 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Netherlands vs. Denmark E Johannesburg 9
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Japan vs. Cameroon E Bloemfontein 10
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Italy vs. Paraguay F Cape Town 11
Tue 6/15 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com New Zealand vs. Slovakia F Rustenburg 12
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ivory Coast vs. Portugal G Port Elizabeth 13
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Brazil vs. Korea DPR G Johannesburg 14
Wed 6/16 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Honduras vs. Chile H Nelspruit 15
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Spain vs. Switzerland H Durban 16
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com South Africa vs. Uruguay A Pretoria 17
Thu 6/17 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Argentina vs. Korea Rep. B Johannesburg 18
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Greece vs. Nigeria B Bloemfontein 19
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com France vs. Mexico A Polokwane 20
Fri 6/18 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Germany vs. Serbia D Port Elizabeth 21
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovenia vs. USA C Johannesburg 22
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com England vs. Algeria C Cape Town 23
Sat 6/19 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Netherlands vs. Japan E Durban 24
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ghana vs. Australia D Rustenburg 25
2 p.m. ABC Cameroon vs. Denmark E Pretoria 26
Sun 6/20 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovakia vs. Paraguay F Bloemfontein 27
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Italy vs. New Zealand F Nelspruit 28
2 p.m. ABC Brazil vs. Ivory Coast G Johannesburg 29
Mon 6/21 7 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Portugal vs. Korea DPR G Cape Town 30
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Chile vs. Switzerland H Port Elizabeth 31
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Spain vs. Honduras H Johannesburg 32
Tue 6/22 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Mexico vs. Uruguay A Rustenburg 33
9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com France vs. South Africa A Bloemfontein 34
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Nigeria vs. Korea Republic B Durban 35
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Greece vs. Argentina B Polokwane 36
Wed 6/23 9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Slovenia vs. England C Port Elizabeth 37
9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com USA vs. Algeria C Pretoria 38
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Ghana vs. Germany D Johannesburg 39
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Australia vs. Serbia D Nelspruit 40
Thu 6/24 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Slovakia vs. Italy E Johannesburg 41
9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Paraguay vs. New Zealand E Polokwane 42
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Denmark vs. Japan F Rustenburg 43
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Cameroon vs. Netherlands F Cape Town 44
Fri 6/25 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Portugal vs. Brazil G Durban 45
9:30 a.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Ivory Coast vs. Korea DPR G Nelspruit 46
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Chile vs. Spain H Pretoria 47
2 p.m. ESPN2/ESPN360.com Switzerland vs. Honduras H Bloemfontein 48

2nd Stage – Round of 16

Date Time (ET) Network Matchup Site Match #
Sat 6/26 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st A vs. 2nd B Port Elizabeth 49
2 p.m. ABC 1st C vs. 2nd D Rustenburg 50
Sun 6/27 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st D vs. 2nd C Bloemfontein 51
2 p.m. ABC 1st B vs. 2nd A Johannesburg 52
Mon 6/28 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st E vs. 2nd F Durban 53
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st G vs. 2nd H Johannesburg 54
Tue 6/29 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st F vs. 2nd E Pretoria 55
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com 1st H vs. 2nd G Cape Town 56

2nd Stage — Quarterfinals

Date Time (ET) Network Matchup Site Match #
Fri 7/2 9:30 a.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 53 vs. 54 A Port Elizabeth 57
2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners 49 vs. 50 B Johannesburg 58
Sat 7/3 9:30 a.m. ABC Winners 52 vs. 51 C Cape Town 59
2 p.m. ABC Winners 55 vs. 56 D Johannesburg 60

2nd Stage — Semifinals

Date Time (ET) Network Matchup Site Match #
Tue 7/6 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners A vs. C Cape Town 61
Wed 7/7 2 p.m. ESPN/ESPN360.com Winners B vs. D Durban 62

Third Place Match

Sat 7/10 2 p.m. ABC Losers – 61 vs. 62 Port Elizabeth 63

2010 FIFA World Cup Title Match

Sun 7/11 1:30 p.m. ABC Winners – 61 vs. 62 Johannesburg 64

ESPN Inc.’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Coverage in the United States

South Africa 2010 will be ESPN’s eighth FIFA World Cup and coverage of the event promises to be the most comprehensive in company history.  ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will air all 64 matches live and in high definition.  ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband network available in 41 million homes, will feature live English-language simulcasts of matches on ESPN and ESPN2.  ESPN Mobile TV will show 46 matches.  ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language all sports network, will air up to 40 matches in Portuguese live in the U.S.

Additionally, ESPN will present 2010 FIFA World Cup television studio programming from site in South Africa, offering U.S. sports fans the most comprehensive news and information coverage throughout the month-long soccer showcase.  Studio coverage of the quadrennial global event will include SportsCenter segments, a nightly World Cup Live program, and prematch, halftime and postmatch shows, with additional studio programming and World Cup-branded segments, totaling more than 65 hours of coverage, originating from two sets in and around Johannesburg.

ESPN Coverage of Past FIFA World Cup Events:

Germany 2006 – All 64 matches live and in high definition

Korea/Japan 2002 – 58 ESPN and ESPN2 matches live (6 tape-delayed broadcasts on ABC)

France 1998 – All 64 matches live on ESPN (27), ESPN2 (23) and ABC Sports (14)

USA 1994 – All 52 matches – ESPN (41) and ABC (11)

Mexico 1986 – 15 matches on ESPN (U.S. cable television rights)

Spain 1982 – 7 matches on ESPN

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Filed Under: ESPN, Soccer

United States Olympic Committee Media Site Shines With Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010

January 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The U.S. Olympic Committee re-designed its Web site for the press corps using Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.
The U.S. Olympic Committee re-designed its Web site for the press corps using Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.
Click for hi-res version.

REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 27, 2010 — Microsoft Corp., the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Slalom Consulting have teamed up to build a refreshed Web site for media during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. The site makes it easy for reporters covering the Games to collaborate with colleagues, share information, and access breaking news, photos, images, events, Twitter feeds from USOC and Team USA athletes, live streaming video, and other Olympic information.

The USOC PressBox Web site was redesigned by Slalom Consulting, a national business and technology consulting company with expertise in advanced user interface design. Using the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 beta platform and Microsoft Silverlight technologies, the site’s new features include easier search, better graphic design, and intuitive site navigation to help press find information about the Olympics before, during and after the 2010 Winter Games.

Timely Update

Joseph Davey, solution director for portals and eXtended Relationship Management at Slalom Consulting, says a main goal of the new site was to put up-to-date information at reporters’ fingertips. “Before the redesign, the USOC PressBox site was short of several of the features essential to reporters today,” Davey says. “Reporters depend on instantaneous access to information that is literally updated by the second, so we created the site with this requirement at the forefront.”

Using the new site, journalists can easily search for information about specific athletes.
Using the new site, journalists can easily search for information about specific athletes.
Click for hi-res version.

Slalom Consulting knew media representatives would also require more intuitive functionality to help them quickly find press releases and breaking news stories. And the USOC wanted to give the Olympic press corps a “place to call their own” during the Olympics, with ways to share, publish and manage information directly from PressBox. While delivering on these goals, Slalom also gave the site an improved look and employed the latest Web technologies.

“We had to capture and reflect the spirit of the United States Olympic Committee, the Olympic athletes, and the dynamic energy surrounding the Games with the new PressBox site,” says Davey.

Slalom Consulting worked with USOC and Microsoft to unveil the new PressBox to select media in September 2009, demonstrating some of the site’s new features. These include a dynamic user interface that uses Silverlight technology to display athlete profile cards, which enable members of the media to take a closer look at news about an athlete. With a click on the card, reporters can see an athlete’s recent tweets, news and photos. Journalists can access a specific card quickly via keyword search by subject, sport, breaking news or other criteria.

* We had to capture and reflect the spirit of the United States Olympic Committee, the Olympic athletes, and the dynamic energy surrounding the Games with the new PressBox site. *
Joseph Davey, solution director for portals and eXtended Relationship Management for Slalom Consulting.

Reporters can also use the site to search, filter, view, download and share images easily; access Olympic live streaming video; flip through article photos; download attachments; print and post to popular social networking sites with one click; read more about an athlete or find similar stories by clicking on a category, article author, or sport to link directly to the information they want; and more.

Key Benefits From SharePoint

“The new generation of PressBox is one element of the USOC’s digital media strategy designed to motivate Olympic fans and media to engage in the Olympic Movement online,” says Trevor Miller, USOC managing director of Information Technology. “Using Microsoft technology, this redesigned site showcases our commitment to innovation and captures the power of new media technologies and audiences to enable journalists to bring the best stories of Team USA to Americans.”

SharePoint 2010 makes the performance of the PressBox site scalable, allowing the USOC to deploy and manage the site efficiently in times of both high- or low-volume use — for example, during or after the 2010 Games.

“SharePoint 2010 represents a huge leap forward for collaboration,” says Davey. “In combination with Silverlight, PressBox now ultimately allows the media to interact with a story long before it’s published, giving them time to gather additional information and report the news with rich, vibrant detail.”

“The feedback we’ve received from the media to date has been great, and we’re glad we chose the SharePoint 2010 platform to make the PressBox site come alive,” he adds.

Visit http://pressbox.teamusa.org/Pages/HOME.aspx to experience the excitement of the 2010 Games. Microsoft SharePoint 2010 will be available in June 2010; for more information visit http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint.

Filed Under: Olympics

ESPN2′s NASCAR Now Returns Feb. 1

January 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Daily NASCAR News Program Originating from Daytona Feb. 8-14

ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now returns for its fourth season on Monday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. ET, to coincide with the beginning of the 2010 NASCAR season. The program includes highlights, opinion, debate, analysis and the latest news from drivers, crew chiefs and insiders.

With hosts Nicole Briscoe, Mike Massaro and Allen Bestwick, NASCAR Now originates from ESPN’s high definition studios in Bristol, Conn., with reporters and analysts checking in from locations around the country wherever NASCAR news is happening. In addition to reports from races, NASCAR Now reporters also visit race shops and special events.

The program regularly airs at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with all weekday programs 30 minutes except for a one-hour Monday roundtable discussion edition with ESPN analysts and reporters. ESPN2 also airs an hour-long edition at 9 a.m. on the morning of each NASCAR Sprint Cup race, and a weekend wrap-up edition will begin in July.

NASCAR Now will originate from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., site of the NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500, with special hour-long programs Feb. 8-14. Massaro will host the first week of episodes beginning Feb. 1, with Briscoe reporting from Daytona starting Feb. 4.

The first two weeks of the program will include a focus on the top 10 teams in the sport, looking back at the 2009 season and looking ahead to 2010 with predictions from ESPN analysts. In addition, the first week of the program will feature drivers of the decades, starting on Feb. 1 with drivers from the 1960s.

The NASCAR Now team also includes Terry Blount, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; analyst Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief; reporter Angelique Chengelis, Detroit News writer and columnist; D.J. Copp, tire changer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; analyst Ricky Craven, a former winning driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series; and analyst Brad Daugherty, five-time NBA All-Star and NASCAR team owner.

Others are analyst Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR Cup champion crew chief; Ed Hinton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; analyst Randy LaJoie, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion; Ryan McGee, motorsports writer for ESPN the Magazine; David Newton, motorsports writer for ESPN.com; and NASCAR Now lead reporter and ESPN Insider Marty Smith.

Shannon Spake, a pit reporter on ESPN’s NASCAR race coverage, will report for NASCAR Now this season and occasionally host while also reporting for SportsCenter and other ESPN platforms covering NASCAR.

NASCAR Now viewers also will see analysis and reports from the NASCAR on ESPN race coverage team including analysts Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree and pit reporters Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.

Live NASCAR racing returns to the ESPN networks for the 2010 season when ESPN2 airs flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series 300-mile from Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 13. NASCAR Countdown airs at noon ET, with the race’s green flag at 1:34 p.m.

Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

About NASCAR on ESPN:

ESPN produces comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All television programming is produced in high definition. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, SportsCenter, ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network’s award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN has been honored with 19 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NASCAR
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