TNT Tips off the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs with Exclusive Coverage of the Celtics @ Cavaliers

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TNT Tips off the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs with Exclusive Coverage of the Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA TV’s Extended Coverage of the Playoffs Continues

TNT’s coverage of the second round of the NBA Playoffs continues Saturday, May 1 with NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com at 7:30 p.m. (ET).  Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) will preview the night’s action.  The pre-game show will be followed by exclusive coverage of  LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics at 8 p.m. (ET) in Game #1 of their best-of-seven second round series.  Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter) will call the game.  The night will conclude with the Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA with Johnson, Barkley and Smith.

NBA TV will also continue to provide extensive coverage of the Playoffs beginning tonight, April 29 with host Rick Kamla and analysts Dennis Scott and Eric Snow recapping the night’s action beginning at 9:30 p.m. (ET).  The network will continue to air highlights, updates and live press conferences throughout the duration of the NBA Playoffs.

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel offers an all-access pass to the excitement and drama of the NBA Playoffs, with special features and reports being added throughout the postseason.

NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Saturday, May 1
7:30 p.m. NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
8 p.m. Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers (Game #1)

Marv Albert (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge  (reporter)
Post-game Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Friday, April 30

9:30 p.m. – 12 a.m.      NBA GameTime (Hawks/Bucks Game #6 postgame)

Rick Kamla (host), Eric Snow (analyst), Dennis Scott (analyst) and Rashan Ali (NBA.com contributor)

12 – 1 a.m.                   NBA GameTime (Lakers/ Thunder Game #6 postgame)

Rick Kamla (host), Eric Snow (analyst) and Dennis Scott (analyst)

1 – 2 a.m.                     NBA GameTime (Nuggets/Jazz Game #6 postgame)

Rick Kamla (host), Eric Snow (analyst) and Dennis Scott (analyst)

Saturday, May 1

3 – 3:30 p.m.                NBA GameTime

Matt Winer (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)

7:30 – 10 p.m.              NBA GameTime (Spurs/Mavericks #7 postgame – if necessary)

Matt Winer (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)

10 p.m.–12:30 a.m.      NBA GameTime (Celtics/Cavaliers Game #1 postgame)

Matt Winer (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)

12:30 – 2 a.m.              NBA GameTime (Blazers/Suns Game #7 postgame – if necessary)

Matt Winer (host) and Steve Smith (analyst)

Sunday, May 2

12 – 12:30 p.m.            NBA GameTime

Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)

3:30 – 6 p.m.                NBA GameTime Game #1 Postgame

Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)

6 – 10:30 p.m.              NBA GameTime Game #2 Postgame

Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)

10:30 – 11:30 p.m.       NBA GameTime Game #3 Postgame

Rick Kamla (host) and Eric Snow (analyst)

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Filed Under: NBA, TNT

Conference Call Replay with ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr.

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Conference Call Replay with ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr.

ESPN conducted a post NFL Draft media conference call Wednesday, April 27, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., who discussed teams’ picks, winners/losers and draft grades following this year’s NFL player selection meeting. To hear a full replay of the call click here. Select comments from the conference call:

On quarterback Jimmy Clausen picked 48th overall to the Carolina Panthers…

“Reason I like him is because he’s tough, he’s gritty and he competes. He’s 6’, 2.5”, 22 pounds, so he’s got ideal size…Once he gets to 100 percent, and he’s got all the knowledge in the world of a pro-style offense. He’s not going to be a scrambler or always beat you with his legs, but he’s aware in the pocket…I had him as the fourth-best player. That’s my rating. That’s my opinion, and I’ll stand by it. We’ll see what happens three years from now.”

On the Denver Broncos Drafting quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas…

“You’re doing a lot of making up for with unknowns. This is going to be a very interesting team to watch. If (Coach) Josh McDaniels can get this done he’s going to prove a lot of people wrong. Tebow has more doubters than supporters. Coach McDaniels has gone completely against the grain. … He’s shown tremendous guts. … He’s doing it his way. If he fails, he’ll look in the mirror and say, ‘It was my fault.’ If it works, everybody will say Josh McDaniels is a genius…These are tremendously bold moves made by Josh McDaniels and we’re going to find out in the next three years who’s right and who’s wrong.”

On what position typically has the smoothest and most difficult transition from college to pro…

“Nothing’s easy, but the smoothest transition is normally your running back…It’s give me the ball and let me go, its an instinctive position…You can play better your rookie year at running back than you do in your fifth year. It’s the only position you can say that about. You could be at your best as a rookie at running back, better than you’ll ever play your whole career.”

“Wide receiver is very tough. You’re talking about adjusting to pro routes, that route tree NFL is going to throw out at you to reading coverages on the move. Basically having cornerbacks covering you like you’ve never been covered before. You don’t get wide open in the NFL. Wide receivers have a difficult time transitioning to the bump and run, to the in your face, to the cornerbacks that are the best in the business. These are not guys in college that they can school and just eat alive. You’re talking about dealing with catching the ball and getting nailed. In college you catch the ball and run with five yards separation. Wide receiver is very difficult transition for kids coming from the spread offense.”

On which drafted quarterback will make the most immediate impact in the NFL…

“On the surface Clausen had the best opportunity, but he’s coming off an injury. People will say he’s the most NFL ready, he came off Charlie Weis’ pro style offense… He’s not 100 percent as we speak. He was only 60% on pro day, he just came out of the boot. …He only had that one year and then was hurt from Sept. 19 on where he really wasn’t at optimum level.  He was playing through an injury that would have sent a lot of guys into surgery back then…Tebow I don’t think is NFL ready, Bradford I don’t think is NFL ready. Colt McCoy, Mike Holmgren has already said ‘Jake Delhomme is our guy.’…I think the two that are in the best scenario are Colt McCoy and Jimmy Clausen, they are in great spots.”

On Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead going undrafted …

“I thought there was a chance he could go undrafted…Look at this past year, 54 percent was his completion percentage, 20 touchdown passes, 20 interceptions, 39 interceptions over the last two years. Even when he played well two years ago those last five or six games he was only 56 percent on the year. He needed another year. The bad decisions, the inconsistency, he needed another year at Ole Miss. I understand (Dexter) McCluster was going to be gone and last year he lost Mike Wallace and Michael Oher, your offensive tackle and top receiver, but with all that said, you can’t come out when you’re projected to be a late round pick because you could go undrafted…You can either get it done or you can’t. You can’t fool the NFL in terms of thinking one thing or another. They know who can play and who can’t play for the most part…If he thought he was going to be a second, third or fourth round pick he was mis-informed.”

Biggest Winners and Losers of the Draft and why…

The grades I gave the highest to were Baltimore and Seattle… Baltimore got players who went at points in the draft I thought they were supposed to. They filled the majority of needs…When you put together where they were able to buy these kids, the bought at perfect times. …I think what Pete Carroll did was he went with familiarity. He got guys that he recruited or coached against or he coached at USC when he get Anthony McCoy, he got LenDale White, several Pac-10 players. I thought he did a real good job overall of getting what he needed at a variety of positions and adding a couple veteran backs as well.”

Miami a C-…of all the grades I gave, I probably was a little harsh, I admit that…The only team I would have adjusted a bit was Miami and given a C or C+ (versus C-). I probably was a little harsh, I admit that. It was a gut feeling after the draft. If I had a redo one or mulligan, it was Miami.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NFL

World Championship Boxing June 5: Foreman vs. Cotto

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS A JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE SHOWDOWN WHEN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®:  YURI FOREMAN VS. MIGUEL COTTO

AND VANES MARTIROSYAN VS. JOE GREENE

IS SEEN LIVE FROM YANKEE STADIUM, SATURDAY, JUNE 5 ON HBO

Two formidable opponents with intriguing backstories square off in a junior middleweight title clash when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING:  YURI FOREMAN VS. MIGUEL COTTO AND VANES MARTIROSYAN VS. JOE GREENE is presented live SATURDAY, JUNE 5 (10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT) from the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, exclusively on HBO.  The WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING team will be ringside for all the action, presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates:  June 6 (8:30 a.m.) and 7 (12:45 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  June 6 (4:30 p.m.) and 8 (11:00 p.m.)

Undefeated junior middleweight titleholder Yuri Foreman (28-0-0, 8 KOs) defends his crown against former 147-pound champ Miguel Cotto (34-2-0, 27 KOs) in the “Stadium Slugfest.”  The bout is the centerpiece of the first boxing card at the new Yankee Stadium, continuing the former Yankee Stadium’s long and proud tradition as one of the world’s premier boxing venues.  The ring, along with thousands of additional seats, will be set up in right field for what promises to be a memorable night for the sweet science.

A Belarusian-born, Israeli-raised, Orthodox Jew who now makes his home in Brooklyn, the 29-year-old Foreman fights with a compelling combination of heart and determination, delivering in-and-out combinations that often leave opponents frustrated. His formidable stature and enormously long reach allow him to shrink the ring and keep opponents on their heels.  Foreman is coming off a near-perfect fight last November when he defeated reigning 154-pound titleholder Daniel Santos, triggering an outpouring of pride in the Jewish community.  Outside the ring, Foreman is an aspiring rabbi and ardent Yankees fan who enjoys solid support from New York City boxing community.  Unwilling to sit on his title and battle ordinary opponents, Foreman is ready to test his mettle against one of the elite fighters.

The best Puerto Rican boxer since Felix Trinidad, former three-time world champ Cotto wants to bounce back after a tough defeat at the hands of superstar Manny Pacquiao last November.  Cotto, who never ducks a challenge, is a relentless pressure fighter who can fire ferocious body shots and thunderous left hooks, and has defeated such brawlers as Carlos Quintana, Shane Mosley, Joshua Clottey, Paulie Malignaggi and Zab Judah.  Under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, he will feed off the energy of his legions of New York supporters.  Cotto has become enormously popular in New York, as his success at Madison Square Garden and his Puerto Rican heritage have spurred many New York City boxing fans to rally around his events.

The opening bout is a ten-round junior middleweight bout featuring undefeated contenders looking to elevate their national standing, as  Vanes Martirosyan (27-0, 17 KOs) of Glendale, Cal. trades with Brooklyn southpaw Joe Greene (22-0, 14 KOs).

The June 5 Yankee Stadium showdown marks the first pro fight at the Bronx landmark since September 1976, when Muhammad Ali decisioned Ken Norton.  The former Yankee Stadium played host to 30 championship bouts in its 86-year history.

All HBO boxing events are broadcast in HDTV.  HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Marc Payton.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Sixth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Set for Noon Kickoff on ESPN

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sixth Annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney Set for Noon Kickoff on ESPN

ESPN Regional Television announced today that the sixth annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney will air Sunday, Sept. 5, at noon ET on ESPN, live from Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla. This will mark the first time the game, which will be produced in high definition, will be offered on ESPN. This season, the annual event, which features teams from two prominent Historically Black College/University leagues, will present a matchup of the MEAC’s Delaware State Hornets vs. the SWAC’s Southern University Jaguars.

“The MEAC/SWAC Challenge is developing into a premier HBCU football event,” said MEAC/SWAC Challenge Executive Director Nikki Godfrey. “We are eagerly looking forward to bringing the sixth edition of the event to the Orlando community and to a national stage on ESPN. The football game and its many ancillary events showcase the best of the black college football experience.”

Each year, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge features a MEAC team against a SWAC member at a neutral site located within the footprint of one of the conferences. Several ancillary events will take place around the game, highlighted by a high school career panel, the Disney Step Classic and the Halftime Battle of the Bands.

In the Labor Day Weekend event, Delaware State and Southern, which have previously met just twice, will be playing one another for the first time in nearly 25 years. The Hornets lead the series 0-2, winning the meetings in 1985 and 1986.

This is Delaware State’s first appearance in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Southern played in the event in 2007, defeating Florida A&M 33-27 and earning the SWAC’s first MEAC/SWAC Challenge trophy at historic Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

The inaugural MEAC/SWAC Challenge in 2005 showcased the MEAC’s South Carolina State vs. Alabama State of the SWAC, with South Carolina State prevailing, 27-14. In 2006, the contest went into overtime with the MEAC’s Hampton University defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State, 27-26.

In 2008, Hampton defeated Jackson State 17-13 at Citrus Bowl Stadium. MEAC power South Carolina State took earned the trophy in 2009, defeating the SWAC’s Grambling State 34-31. The MEAC leads the series 4-1. Teams for future games are determined on an annual basis.

For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and for access to its Facebook page, please visit the official website: www.meacswacchallenge.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the event via Twitter: www.twitter.com/MEAC_SWAC.

Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

NHL Introduces Its Official App For iPad – NHL Ice Time™ – Playoffs EditionNHL Introduces Its Official App For iPad – NHL Ice Time™ – Playoffs Edition

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
NHL INTRODUCES ITS OFFICIAL APP FOR iPAD ─
NHL ICE TIME™ – PLAYOFFS EDITION
Available for Free During the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs,
the NHL Ice Time – Playoffs Edition App for iPad Gives Users
the Best Way to Experience NHL Hockey

NEW YORK – APRIL 30, 2010 – The National Hockey League today announced NHL Ice Time – Playoffs Edition™, the first official NHL® app for iPad, is available on the App Store.

The app, which was co-developed by the NHL and its strategic partner NeuLion, is available to iPad users for free during the remainder of the 2010 Stanley Cup® Playoffs, and among its many features gives NHL fans access a complete complement of video from the prior night’s games, through both condensed games and highlight packages.

NHL fans are young, affluent and educated, and have more handheld devices, HDTVs and broadband connections than fans of other major sports; this fan demographic has a huge demand for premium content on mobile devices. NHL Ice Time – Playoffs Edition has been specifically designed and developed to meet this significant demand with a suite of video, audio, statistics, content and more, all in one convenient app for the iPad.

“With demand for NHL hockey at an all-time high, we’re taking every opportunity to shorten the distance between the League and our fans,” said John Collins, the NHL’s chief operating officer. “The NHL’s new iPad app extends our reach, enabling us to distribute premium content on a platform that is quickly growing and expertly marketed.”

The features of NHL Ice Time – Playoffs Edition for iPad include:

  • Live Scores;
  • Live in-game stats for every team and player;
  • Condensed (12-minute) versions of every NHL game;
  • Video highlights after each period played;
  • Video highlight reels at the conclusion of each game;
  • A video archive with thousands of current-season highlights
  • Live game radio of every game;
  • Ice Tracker™, which allows fans to see where action took place and then view highlights;
  • Extensive player profiles with video highlights & detailed in-game stats;
  • Game photos;
  • And archived results and stats for the current season.

NHL Ice Time – Playoffs Edition is the latest product in the NHL’s expanding digital portfolio designed to meet the demands of pro sports most tech-savvy fans.  With an emphasis on ease-of-use and access to exclusive content, including live and feature broadband video, the NHL is leveraging digital media as a primary platform to drive audience growth, partner activation and licensee/rightsholder business.  In 2009, the NHL was the only sports league nominated for a prestigious Webby Award for website design, and the League has been recognized as one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company Magazine.

NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and NHL Ice Time and Ice Tracker are trademarks of the National Hockey League.  All Rights Reserved.

Filed Under: NHL

Jimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics Matchups SetJimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics Matchups Set

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Jimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics Matchups Set

Annual Events Benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Close Out Jimmy V Week Initiative Dec. 6 & 7

Matchups for the 2010 Jimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics on Dec. 6 and 7, respectively, have been determined. The women’s game, held at Duke University in Durham, N.C., for the first year, will feature Texas A&M vs. Duke in a showdown between conference champions Monday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The men’s doubleheader, held at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden for the eighth consecutive event, will pit Conference USA power Memphis vs. defending Big 12 regular-season and Tournament champion Kansas on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. and Michigan State, coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances, vs. defending BIG EAST regular-season champion Syracuse at 9 p.m., both on ESPN.

Once again, the two early-season college basketball events that showcase top programs on ESPN and ESPN2 will conclude the fourth annual Jimmy V Week, a weeklong initiative Dec. 1-7 across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research.

Tickets for the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic will go on sale in September via Ticketmaster and at the Madison Square Garden Box Office. Tickets for the Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic will be available at the Duke ticket office (877-375-DUKE (3853) or [email protected]).

Ninth Annual Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic

Highlights:

  • Texas A&M will make its Jimmy V Classic debut against a Duke program that has won its previous three appearances in the event.
  • Defending ACC Tournament champion Duke, coming off an Elite Eight appearance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, will host defending Big 12 Tournament champion Texas A&M, which made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed.
  • Texas A&M has won all three contests against Duke, including a 95-77 victory in their last showdown on No. 15, 2009.
  • Both teams finished the 2009-10 season in the Top 25 (Duke at No. 6 and Texas A&M at No. 14) and are expected to debut in the preseason Top 25 poll this season.

16th Annual Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic

Highlights of the event showcasing four of the nation’s elite programs:

  • All four teams will be making a third appearance in the event; Michigan State is 2-0, Memphis 1-1, and Kansas and Syracuse are 0-2. It will mark the first time any team has played more than twice in the men’s Classic.
  • Memphis and Kansas will meet for the third time in four years. Previous meetings include the 2008 NCAA Championship and the 2009 Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis, both won by Kansas.
  • Syracuse is 9-7 all-time against Michigan State and has won the past three, including a 96-83 victory in the last meeting, Jan. 3, 2004.
  • Three of the four teams finished the past season in the top 10 (Michigan State at No. 4, Kansas at No. 6 and Syracuse at No. 8).
  • Three of the programs each has an incoming recruiting class currently ranked in ESPNU’s latest top 10: Memphis, No. 3, Syracuse, No. 4, and Michigan State, No. 6.

Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic Dinner Oct. 13

The head coaches for all six Classic teams are expected to appear at the 16th Jimmy V Basketball Classic Dinner Auction to be held Wednesday, Oct. 13, at New York’s Chelsea Piers’ PIER SIXTY, presented by ESPN, Madison Square Garden, and The V Foundation. Proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit The V Foundation to fund cancer research. For additional information or to reserve tickets call The V Foundation at 1-800-4JimmyV or log on to www.jimmyv.org.

The V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $95 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received seven consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Basketball

UEFA Champions League Final Features Battle of Perennial European Heavyweights on FOX Sports

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL ON FOX SPORTS

FEATURES BATTLE OF PERENNIAL EUROPEAN HEAVYWEIGHTS

FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano to Clash May 22 in

Network’s First-Ever Soccer Broadcast; All-Star Announcing Team Finalized

New York & Los Angeles – FC Bayern München of Germany and Italy’s FC Internazionale Milano battle for supremacy on Saturday, May 22 in Madrid when FOX Sports airs exclusive live HD coverage of the 2010 UEFA Champions League Final, the culmination of Europe’s most prestigious annual club soccer competition.

This season’s UEFA Champions League Final is being held on a Saturday for the first time in its history, with a 2:30 PM ET FOX on-air time. The event is FOX Sports’ first-ever soccer broadcast and joins a select few major international soccer championships ever to receive broadcast television exposure in the U.S.

The internationally-respected announcing duo of Martin Tyler (play-by-play) and Andy Gray (expert analyst) call the action from Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.  In addition to their work on UEFA Champions League telecasts, Tyler and Gray team for Sky Sports’ coverage of the Barclays Premier League in the United Kingdom.

Curt Menefee, a long-time aficionado of international soccer who since 2006 has co-hosted FOX NFL SUNDAY, anchors the network’s coverage from Madrid beginning with a live 15-minute pregame show.  He is joined by analysts Bruce Arena – head coach of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy and former head coach of the United States Men’s National Team – and Eric Wynalda, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the second-leading goal scorer in U.S. history.  Wynalda retired in 2001 following a lengthy professional career that included time with clubs in Germany, Mexico and the U.S., and currently works as a commentator on several Fox Soccer Channel programs. The trio also provides halftime and postgame coverage.

Menefee, Arena and Wynalda set the stage for a battle between two iconic European clubs who have combined to win 38 titles in their respective domestic leagues. FC Bayern München (known worldwide as Bayern Munich) is making its first appearance in the UEFA Champions League Final since 2001, but is no stranger to Europe’s biggest stage with four continental crowns and three runner-up finishes in its illustrious history.  The Bavarians feature electrifying midfielder Arjen Robben, who also stars for the Dutch National Team.

FC Internazionale Milano (commonly known as Inter Milan) is the four-time defending Italian Serie A champion, and is on track to capture the title again with a world-class lineup including prolific goal scorers Diego Milito of Argentina and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o.  The Nerazzurri took home consecutive European championships in 1964 and 1965, and find themselves in the title match for the first time since 1972.  Meanwhile, Inter’s colorful coach José Mourinho won the 2004 UEFA Champions League while in charge of Portuguese club FC Porto.

Fox Soccer Channel bookends FOX Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League Final on May 22 with a live, one-hour preview show from Madrid beginning at 1 PM ET and a half-hour postgame show, both available in HD.  Beginning Monday, May 17, America’s premier television destination for the “beautiful game” showcases expanded UEFA Champions League coverage during Champions Week on FSC, presented by Gillette.  Fox Soccer Channel viewers are set to enjoy top matches and highlights from each round of the 2009/10 tournament, as well as feature programs tracing Munich and Inter’s road to European soccer’s biggest event.

UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League – formerly known as the European Cup – was first staged in 1955 and features the reigning champion and other top-of-table finishers from each of Europe’s domestic competitions, historically including elite clubs such as Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern München. FC Barcelona is the current defending champion, while Real Madrid has won a record nine titles. The 2009 Champions League Final was watched live by over 145.2 million people worldwide. For more information log onto www.championsonfox.com.

Filed Under: FOX, Soccer

Best NHL 1st Round on U.S. TV in 10 Years

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ON-ICE DRAMA FOR STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS DRIVES HUGE GAINS IN FAN ENGAGEMENT

U.S. TV Sees Best First-Round Viewership in 10 Years

NHL.com Sets Monthly Traffic Record

NHL Leads VERSUS to Best Primetime April Performance in History

“…this first round might be one of the most entertaining first rounds in NHL history.” – USA Today

“The sport is enjoying a resurgence.” — Mediaweek

NEW YORK (April 30, 2010) – By all accounts, the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs was one of the most compelling, exciting and unpredictable in the sport’s history. Goal scoring was up significantly (most since 1996), 12 games were decided in overtime (most since 2001) and the road team compiled a record 27 victories. The drama on the ice fueled substantial business success off the ice, highlighted by VERSUS seeing the most-watched first-round on cable in nine years, NBC earning its best ratings in four years, the Canadian television partners all seeing significant increases and NHL.com setting a monthly traffic record. NBC and VERSUS also combined for the highest average viewership in the U.S. in 10 years.
“The first round of the playoffs was dramatic and exciting, and our passionate fans consumed the game on television, online and in arena in a big way,” said NHL COO John Collins. “Fans are enjoying the playoffs and we are now uniquely positioned to engage and serve them in ways we never have before, especially through our digital platforms.”
VERSUS EARNS BEST NHL POSTSEASON START ON CABLE SINCE 2001
VERSUS’ average viewership of 595,000 for the first round of the playoffs was the best for the NHL on U.S. cable in nine years (ESPN/ESPN 2, 608,000 in 2001) and 35 percent higher than last year (442,000), leading VERSUS to its best April prime time performance in network history.

VERSUS’ first-round coverage averaged a .7 HH rating, up 75 percent compared to last year’s Conference Quarterfinals (.4).

In addition, VERSUS earned the best first-round cable viewership in the key Men 18-49 demo since 2001 (ESPN/ESPN2) and the best in the Men 25-54 demo since 2000 (ESPN/ESPN2). The Men 18-34, Men 18-49 and Men 25-54 demo ratings all were record highs for VERSUS for the Conference Quarterfinal round.

This overall success is highlighted by the Montreal-Washington Game 7, which garnered a 1.2 household rating and averaged 1,151,000 viewers, making it VERSUS’ highest-rated and most-watched first-round game in network history.

NHL ON NBC VIEWERSHIP UP 18%
Viewership for NBC Sports’ four Conference Quarterfinal broadcasts (1.72 million viewers) was up 18 percent compared to 2009 (1.46 million) and the highest since 2006. The household rating of a 1.1 for the four games also is the best since 2006 and up 10 percent over last year (1.0). Last Sunday’s Phoenix-Detroit game (1.1) was up 57 percent vs. last year’s Washington-New York Rangers game (0.7).

COMBINED U.S. VIEWERSHIP HIGHEST IN A DECADE
Combined NBC and VERSUS averaged 742,000 viewers per telecast, the most since ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 averaged 750,000 viewers in 2000 and a 24 percent increase over last year.  The combined average viewership was the highest among females since 2000, the highest among Men 18-49 since 2001 and the most among Men 25-54 since 2000.

TSN VIEWERSHIP UP 89%
In the first round of the playoffs, TSN averaged 1.07 million viewers, 89 percent higher than its average audience in the first round of the playoffs last season 567,000.

CBC VIEWERSHIP UP 50%
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada had the program’s highest overall average audience for Round One since 2004. Audiences to Round One in 2010 averaged 1.422 million. In 2009, Round One on CBC had an average audience of 951,000.

NHL ON RDS UP 12%
RDS averaged 1.34 million viewers for the Montreal-Washington series, 12 percent higher than Canadiens playoff games on RDS last season.

FIRST ROUND TV MILESTONES
The Washington-Montreal Game 7 was the highest-rated (1.2 HH rating) and most-watched (1.2 million viewers) NHL Conference Quarterfinals game ever on VERSUS and the most-watched NHL Conference Quarterfinals game on U.S. cable since Minnesota-Colorado in 2003 on ESPN.
TSN’s audience of 2.8 million for the Washington-Montreal Game 7 was the highest audience ever recorded for an NHL game on TSN and was the most-watched program on Canadian television Wednesday night in all key demographics.
The Montreal-Washington series ranks as the most-watched playoff series ever on TSN (any rounds) with an average audience of 1.8 million viewers over seven games.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS
The ratings across four Comcast SportsNets [Chicago, Mid-Atlantic (Capitals), Philadelphia and California (Sharks)] were up 30 percent over last season.

DIGITAL STRATEGY PAYS DIVIDENDS
The NHL is engaging and connecting with more fans than ever on its digital platforms and the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs has continued that trend. Some highlights from the Conference Quarterfinals:

  • April was the most-trafficked month in the history of NHL.com in terms of unique visitors, surpassing 17 million
  • Video starts on NHL.com increased by 170 percent over the Conference Quarterfinal Round last  year
  • Unique visitors to NHL.com were up 43 percent
  • Page views on NHL.com were up 53 percent
  • Mobile page views were up 200 percent

SUPPORT THE TEAM
In-venue merchandise sales volume for the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs increased by 14 percent compared to the first round in 2009.

FULL HOUSES
Averaging 18,670 fans per game, these NHL Playoffs are playing to 101.4 percent capacity.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE NHL & THE PLAYOFFS
“The National Hockey League has firmed up its relationship with the ad community and viewing audience.” – Variety

“The sport is enjoying a resurgence.” – Mediaweek

“…this first round might be one of the most entertaining first rounds in NHL history.” – USA Today

“Enthralling” – NY Times

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NHL’S RECORD-BREAKING BUSINESS SUCCESS IN 2009-10

  • Corporate sponsorship was up 20 percent
  • New League partners this season include Geico, Starwood Hotels, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, LG Electronics and Hershey’s Canada
  • Ad spending on NHL® media increased by 37 percent over last season
  • NHL.com ad revenue is up 50 percent over last year
  • Revenue from big event platforms, led by the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, are up 22 percent over last season
  • Unique visitors to NHL.com surpassed last year’s record by 32 percent
  • NHL Game Center Live™ subscriptions were up 25 percent
  • NHL Network subscribers have increased by 104 percent
  • Sales at SHOP.NHL.com were up 12 percent from last year’s record
  • Viewership for NBC’s Game of the Week telecasts were up 13 percent
  • Ratings for exclusive telecasts on Versus were up 20 percent
  • NHL Mobile™ reached 1.6 million page views, an increase of 233 percent over last season
### (4/30/10)
Filed Under: NBC, NBC Sports Network, NHL

ESPN Adds Three-Time FIFA World Cup Player and Former German National Team Coach Jürgen Klinsmann to South Africa 2010 Roster

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ESPN Adds Three-Time FIFA World Cup Player and Former German National Team Coach Jürgen Klinsmann to South Africa 2010 Roster

Former South African National Team Player Shaun Bartlett and Former Middlesbrough Midfielder Robbie Mustoe Also Named ESPN Analysts

Jürgen Klinsmann, the accomplished striker who won the 1990 FIFA World Cup with Germany and returned to coach the national team to a third-place finish in 2006, will join ESPN as a studio analyst for the 2010 FIFA World Cup (June 11 – July 11).  Klinsmann will contribute to ESPN and ABC’s studio coverage of the tournament in the United States, appearing on pre-match, halftime and post-match shows from South Africa, including the nightly World Cup Live news and information program and SportsCenter.

Recognized as one of the world’s top strikers during his 16 seasons of top-tier professional soccer in Germany, Italy and England, Klinsmann played in three FIFA World Cups – 1990, 1994 and 1998.  He was the first player to score at least three goals in three World Cup events and remains Germany’s second all-time World Cup goal scorer with 11.  In 2004, Klinsmann returned to coach the German national team, a position he vacated after a successful 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign in which Germany was the host nation.

In addition to Klinsmann, former South African national team player Shaun Bartlett, who played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and Robbie Mustoe, Middlesbrough’s longest serving player, will both serve as television analysts for ESPN during the FIFA World Cup.  With Klinsmann (1990, ’94, ’98) and Bartlett (1998), ESPN’s English-language coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. will feature analysts with combined experience of 11 FIFA World Cup tournaments.  Others:  Efan Ekoku (1994), Ruud Gullit (1990), John Harkes (1990, ’94), Alexi Lalas (1994, ’98) and Steve McManaman (1998).

“Very few people in the world possess the first-hand knowledge and experience of playing and coaching in a FIFA World Cup match, and Jürgen is one of them” said Jed Drake, ESPN executive producer, 2010 FIFA World Cup.  “The addition of Jürgen, Shaun and Robbie to our team will enhance our presentation of this seminal sports event to fans in the United States.”

Klinsmann added: “I’m extremely happy to be part of the ESPN FIFA World Cup team, and I hope that I can give American viewers insight into the world’s greatest game.  Living in the U.S for more than 10 years, I’ve seen soccer grow incrementally and I think ESPN’s coverage of this exciting World Cup will take it to a new level.”

Assignments for other ESPN commentators for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be announced at a later date.  Biographical highlights:

Jürgen Klinsmann

One of Germany’s all-time greatest soccer players, Klinsmann started his professional career at the age of seventeen at Stuttgarter Kickers, a second division club at the time.  In 1984 he joined VfB Stuttgart of the German first division team. Klinsmann also played for Inter Milan (1989-1992) in the Italian Serie A, AS Monaco (1992-‘94) in France, Barclays Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur (1994-’95, 1997-’98), and Germany’s Bayern Munich (1995-’97).

On July 2004, Klinsmann returned to Germany as the new coach of the national team.  He aggressively revamped the squad, establishing a youth movement by replacing aging players with younger ones and instituting a national team selection policy that was solely based on performance.

Leading up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Klinsmann’s coaching was widely panned by critics who questioned his personnel moves, coaching tactics and his decision to commute to Germany from his home in the United States, where he still lives with his family.  Once the event began, the host nation’s team performances silenced the critics.  The team’s spirit, creative and attacking style of play and eventual third-place finish renewed national pride and restored Germany’s reputation as a top soccer nation.

Due to his team’s performance in the FIFA World Cup, Klinsmann was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany), and has been called “Kaiser,” German for “Emperor,” a term reserved for the nation’s elite group of soccer minds/players.  He has also served as a consultant with the Los Angeles Galaxy, a Major League Soccer club.

Shaun Bartlett

Bartlett’s professional soccer career started in 1992 in his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, where he played for the Cape Town Spurs.  Bartlett then went on to play for the Colorado Rapids and the New York MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in Major League Soccer.  Other stops in his career include FC Zurich, Charlton Athletic, Kaizer Chiefs, and Bloemfontein Celtic.

He is currently the second all-time leading scorer for the South African national team with 28 goals in 74 appearances.  Bartlett helped his country to the 1996 African Cup of Nations title, barely five years after the ban on South Africa’s participation in international sports was lifted.  He played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring two goals.

Robbie Mustoe

Mustoe began his soccer career as a junior with Oxford United.  He made his Football League debut in the 1986–87 season, and played nearly 100 league matches for the club.  He joined Middlesbrough FC in 1990 and became a consistent player for the team for 12 years. After his last year in 2002, Mustoe had played in over 450 games for Middlesbrough. He played a season at Charlton Athletic before ending his professional career in League One with Sheffield Wednesday.

Mustoe began his ESPN television career in January 2008, and has provided analysis for ESPN International’s coverage of UEFA Champions League matches.  He also serves as studio analyst for ESPN2’s coverage of the Barclays Premier League.

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Filed Under: ESPN, FIFA, Soccer

“Of the 20 horses, I could make a strong case for about 16 of them in this race.” – NBC’s Gary Stevens on the Kentucky Derby Field

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS UNPRECEDENTED COVERAGE OF THE 136th RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY THIS SATURDAY AT 4 PM ET

“It’s an incredible piece of Americana.” – NBC’s Costas

“Of the 20 horses, I could make a strong case for about 16 of them in this race.” – NBC’s Stevens

“We could be primed for another huge upset.” – NBC’s Battaglia

“There is already a lot of drama involved in this years Derby.” – NBC’s Hammond

LOUISVILLE, KY – April 29, 2010 – NBC Sports broadcasts exclusive coverage of the 136th Kentucky Derby this Saturday starting at 4 p.m. ET. NBC Sports’ broadcast will bring the spectacle of the Kentucky Derby, the oldest continuous sporting event in the U.S. which has been contested annually since 1875, home to viewers with behind-the-scenes access, celebrities and fashion surrounding the legendary Run for the Roses. A Red Carpet will feature celebrity interviews as the stars arrive to Churchill Downs to enjoy the greatest day in horse racing.

Costas, who this week won his 21st Emmy Award, and Hammond co-host the Derby alongside Stevens, a three-time Derby winner.  NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Tom Durkin; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.  The Kentucky Derby on NBC Sports is produced by Sam Flood and directed by David Michaels.  Additionally, the TODAY Show’s Natalie Morales will contribute reports and interview celebrities as they arrive on the red carpet.  Derby weekend coverage begins Friday with Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby at 5 p.m. ET/PT.

NBC Sports conducted a conference call today with Costas, Hammond, Stevens, Neumeier, Battaglia, Flood and Michaels.  For a complete replay of the call dial 719-457-0820 and enter passcode 4281972.  Below are quotes from NBC’s talent and production staff about the Kentucky Derby and NBC’s coverage:

COSTAS ON THE BIG EVENT FEEL OF THE DERBY: “As always it’s my job to set the stage in broad strokes, do a few interviews and then turn things over to Tom Hammond and the rest of the crew which have more expertise about horse racing than I do. I’ve grown to love this event since I’ve started to be a part of our coverage in 2002. It’s an incredible piece of Americana. I don’t know what the weather is going to be on Saturday, but generally speaking it’s a beautiful piece of panorama. It’s just a magnificent piece of television even more so these days if you have HD.

STEVENS ON THIS YEAR’S DERBY: “This is one of the most wide-open Kentucky Derbys I’ve not only covered, but witnessed.  It’s my job to tear this race apart, analyze it, prior to the gates opening and it’s a difficult job to do this year. It’s going to be just as difficult for the jockeys that are involved in this race.  Of the 20 horses, I could make a strong case for about 16 of them in this race.  With Lookin at Lucky drawing down on the inside, (jockey) Derek Gomez, who is as good a tactician in the game as there is, has got his work cut out for him.  This race is really going to turn into a jockey’s race.”

BATTAGLIA ON DERBY FIELD: “Lookin at Lucky threw the rail and I do think it changed the complexion of the whole race, although there is still a lot of early speed in here.  A lot of horses want to get out there and go on that front end. The pace is going to be very quick.  I don’t think we’re going to be able to see a horse go out there in front and steal this race.  Now, it’s going to really set up for the stalkers and for the closers.  So I’m kind of looking forward to it.  The favorite down the rail, the second choice on the outside, we could be primed for another huge upset.”

HAMMOND ON LONG SHOTS WINNING THE DERBY: “When the 50-1 shot wins, like Mine that Bird did last year, it encourages everyone to take a shot at the Kentucky Derby. What that means is sometimes the best horse doesn’t win because you have to be able to overcome adversity with so many horses in a race. It seems like every year we say it’s wide open. This year it seemed like it was going to be different because Eskendereya was going to be a solid favorite and then was injured last week and taken out of the Derby so it opens it up again.  This will be our tenth Kentucky Derby broadcast.  It’s one of the greatest sporting events in the country and it’s one we look forward to every year.”

FLOOD ON THE BROAD AUDIENCE THAT WATCHES THE DERBY: “The Derby is it’s much more than a horse race.  It’s the biggest event to kickoff spring and we are going to capture all of the elements to make this such a special day that draws 150 plus thousand people to this racetrack and millions more to the television.  It was interesting for me to learn that the Derby is one of only three major sporting events that draws more female viewers than men.  The Winter Olympics and Summer Olympics are the other two.  So we’re making sure we cater to a broader audience.”

FLOOD ON THE DERBY BROADCAST: “When we come on the air at 4 p.m. we’re going to be capturing all of the blend of racing, the spectacle, the pageantry and, as we get closer to race time, we transition more into traditional horse stories.  There are plenty of stories of owners and trainers that will make you care beyond just the horses on the track, and we’ll take advantage of that.”

COSTAS ON INTERVIEW WITH JOE TORRE: “One thing that will be an element of the telecast that I’ll be involved in is we’ll do an interview with Joe Torre, who owns a piece of Homeboykris. He’ll be in the Dodger clubhouse around 2:30 PT and we’ll hook up with him and talk about his love of horse racing. Even though Homeboykris is a long shot, Mine that Bird and Giacomo are a part of recent history and long shots have come in at Churchill Downs so you never know.”

HAMMOND ON FAVORITE LOOKIN AT LUCKY IN NO. 1 POST: “Lookin at Lucky drew the No. 1 post position, which is a tough post position to go a mile and a quarter in the Kentucky Derby if you don’t break out of the gate with some alacrity you’re going to get shut off and maybe lose all chance to win the race. On the other bookend, Sidney’s Candy, one of the favorites, one of the front-runners, is on the outside No. 20 post position. There is already a lot of drama involved in this years Derby. You can bet the opinions of who will win are going to be widely dispersed between maybe 15 or 16 of the 20 horses. Only a couple horses seem to be ranked outsiders.”

NEUMEIER ON THE FILLY DEVIL MAY CARE: “We have a filly in this year, called Devil May Care, that I rank in my top 5 selections and would not be particularly surprised if she won this race, essentially repeating what Rachel Alexandra did.  Meaning a filly beating the boys, which happens very rarely.  Now, Gary Stevens knows very well because he rode one in Winning Colors.  His trainer that year was D. Wayne Lukas and he’s in the race as well with Dublin.  The irony of that would be that Todd Pletcher, who is 0 for 24 and has been preeminent trainer in the country in the last five years, still looking for his first Derby win, saddles Devil May Care.  She wouldn’t have been in if Eskendereya had been in the race.  So imagine that scenario, if she had won, and Pletcher’s first Derby winner would be a filly, that wouldn’t have entered the race had Eskendereya been injured.”

NEUMEIER ON HIS CONVERSATION WITH BOB BAFFERT ON THE TRACK SURFACES: “Something I asked Bob Baffert the other day because I grew up, like most of us, on dirt and turf in following racing. I asked him flat out, ‘Do you know when you make the transition from synthetic to dirt that your horse will run as good or better’ and he looked at me and said ‘I’m just guessing. We’re all just guessing.’ That was his response to the question and that’s Bob Baffert who has won three Kentucky Derbys.”

STEVENS ON ALTERING THE NUMBER OF HORSES ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO THE DERBY: “I’m a purist when it comes to the Kentucky Derby. If you change it, you’re changing history. There have been suggestions that the race should be shortened up. The Kentucky Derby cannot be touched.”

HAMMOND ON ALTERING THE NUMBER OF HORSES ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO THE DERBY: “You might want to tweak the graded earnings part. A lot of times two-year-old graded earnings factor into it and some horses get into the race that perhaps haven’t done much lately. Perhaps make it a three-year-old graded earnings and tweak the criteria. So many people want to run their horse in the Kentucky Derby. It’s such a great event. It’s America’s race. It’s produced so many great upset stories that you should leave it at 20.”

STEVENS ON THE JOCKEYS AND A MUDDY TRACK: “Realistically you can see these jockey’s wearing up to 10 pairs of goggles. When you’ve got that many layers of goggles stacked up, everything becomes very distorted. Your vision is impaired significantly. Front-runners are definitely going to have an advantage with a sloppy type of racetrack and there is already an over abundance of speed in this race. There are six or seven horses that are confirmed front-runners but some of these horses are going to be taking mud for the first time and kick back for the first time.”

FLOOD ON POSSIBLE WEATHER PROBLEMS: “The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore has been called out of the bullpen.  It looks to be coming into the area for Saturday, so Mr. Cantore will make sure we have the right knowledge on what might happen weather-wise. Some are saying that 3-5 inches of rain might come on Saturday but these horses run on the mud and it could make for an interesting spectacle if it all comes down that way.  The weather does add some production challenges.  In fact, we’ve put an airplane on hold for the blimp.  Normally the blimp is above us.  Last year at the Preakness we had some weather and they scrambled an airplane up for us for the overhead shot so we’ve got that plan B in place.”

MICHAELS ON THE WEATHER CHALLENGES: “It’ll be unique if the lightning comes and it kind of harkens back to what happened in 2004, when I was producing the event. My No. 1 memory was Tom Hammond jumping off the announce platform and taking shelter underneath while the rain and lightning came.  We took the format for that show and basically ripped it up and just moved into a sports news operation. You have animals running on dirt, you have mud everywhere, you have cameramen who are holding pointers to the sky that are nothing more than high-tech lightening rods, so the potential for chaos is there and we run through a lot of scenarios.  We have all kinds of contingency plans and one of the interesting things was the fact that now that they have the lights here at Churchill Downs they could run a race at any time, so the track assures us that the Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday.  That we know.”

*  *  *

KENTUCKY DERBY DREAM BET

If you had the chance to make a $100,000 wager on one horse to win the 136th Kentucky Derby, who would you pick?  That’s the lucky dilemma facing Glen Fullerton of the Houston, Texas, area, as the winner of the first-ever $100,000 Derby DreamBet Sweepstakes sponsored by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) and presented in partnership with CNBC.  For the first time ever, a national television audience will watch Fullerton make his selection and have his $100,000 DreamBet placed on one horse to win in the Derby during NBC Sports’ live coverage of Kentucky Derby 136.

Fullerton’s name was drawn from more than 67,000 entries.  He won a VIP trip to Kentucky Derby 136, including the opportunity for a free $100,000 “win” wager on one horse in the Kentucky Derby race.

Fullerton was ecstatic when told he was coming to Kentucky with the chance to make a life-changing wager on America’s premier horse race. “This VIP trip to the Kentucky Derby is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me,” said Fullerton. “Everybody keeps asking me who I’m going to bet on, long-shot or favorite. I’m just thrilled to be heading to Louisville where my mom lives, and while I haven’t made up my mind yet about which horse to bet the $100,000 on, I’m sure I’ll get lots of advice.”

The CNBC “Call the Close” $100,000 Derby DreamBet Sweepstakes was the featured wagering promotion within Churchill Downs Incorporated’s and NBC Universal’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby” television series.  The three-part series provided live coverage of six important Kentucky Derby prep races where the equine winners earned a coveted spot in the Derby’s 20-horse starting gate. During each telecast, a DreamBet winner selected at the broadcast host site and was given the chance for a free $10,000 “win” wager on the featured Derby prep race of the telecast.

Based on final odds for Kentucky Derby 135 on May 2, 2009, a $100,000 DreamBet placed on 2009 winner Mine That Bird would have returned more than $5 million.

LADIES FIRST: BRAVO AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY

Bravo celebrates the Kentucky Derby with the second annual “Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby” special live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., airing this Friday, 5 p.m. ET/PT. This one-hour special, produced by NBC Sports and hosted by Bravo’s Andy Cohen, celebrates the very best in food, fashion and the celebrity experience associated with the 136th running of the Kentucky Oaks. Dina Manzo from ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” and Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos from “Flipping Out” join Andy to celebrate a day for women and to give viewers a history on the fashion and festivities before and after the Oaks race. Isaac Mizrahi, renowned designer and host of Bravo’s “The Fashion Show” will dress “Today” show correspondent Natalie Morales for the festivities, and “Top Chef” stars Michael Voltaggio, Jennifer Carroll and Eli Kirshtein will be cooking from the Infield Club.

Kentucky Oaks 136, the companion event to the annual Kentucky Derby, will feature a day of events to raise money and awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, which leads the global movement for breast cancer research, education, advocacy and community support. Churchill Downs Racetrack, host of the Kentucky Derby® and the Kentucky Oaks®, and Komen, formed a partnership to raise funds to aid in breast cancer awareness and research.

NBC SPORTS DIGITAL AT THE DERBY

PLAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE DERBY DREAMTRIP:  Viewers at home can pick a horse they think will win and be entered for a chance at the Derby DreamTrip, including $10,000 and a VIP trip to the 2011 Kentucky Derby.  Fans can play online at NBCSports.com or text their vote during the broadcast on Saturday.

SEE THE DERBY ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE: Users on the go can watch the Kentucky Derby live on their mobile phones exclusively through NBC Sports Mobile and NBC 2Go.  Plus, fans can watch exclusive video and race highlights on NBC Sports Mobile (http://m.nbcsports.com).

KENTUCKY DERBY A RATINGS SUCCESS

The shared vision of Churchill Downs and NBC Sports’ successful ‘Big Event Strategy’ to assemble the broadest possible audience led to the 2009 Kentucky Derby being the most-watched Kentucky Derby in 20 years.  Last year’s Derby averaged 16.3 million viewers, two million more than 2008’s 14.2 million (up 15 percent) and the most since 1989 when Sunday Silence won the Derby (18.5 million).  NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby now reaches seven million more viewers than the last Kentucky Derby broadcast by ABC in 2000 (16.3 million vs. 9.1 million, up 51 percent).

Filed Under: Horse Racing, NBC
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