ESPN & the 2010 US Open: Multi-Platform, Worldwide Coverage

Brackets Announced on ESPN2 August 26; 100 Hours on ESPN2 HD, Nearly 400 on ESPN3.com

’30 for 30’ Documentary Unmatched Sept. 14 – Intimate Portrait of Evert-Navratilova Rivalry

ESPN will present unprecedented multi-platform and worldwide coverage throughout the entire two weeks of tennis’ final Grand Slam event of 2010, the US Open from New York August 30 – September 12.  Fans will enjoy 100 hours in high definition on ESPN2 HD, nearly 400 hours on ESPN3.com’s multi-court offering plus coverage across ESPN’s platforms in the U.S. and around the world.

ESPN’s multimedia coverage will begin Thursday, Aug. 26, with the live, exclusive announcement of the tournament’s men’s and women’s singles brackets on ESPN2 with the 2010 US Open Draw Announcement Special at noon ET.  Chris McKendry will host the one-hour show, with Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert and Patrick McEnroe.  The program will also be available on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV.

During the first week of the tournament, ESPN2’s coverage will start at 1 p.m. each weekday and will continue non stop for at least 10 hours through both the day and evening sessions.  The latter, Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM, will begin at 7 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m. or when play is concluded, whichever is later. On opening night, Monday, August 30, a ceremony celebrating those who “Dream, Succeed and Inspire” will precede the action.  Four-time US Open champion Martina Navratilova, fan-favorite James Blake and reigning US Open Wheelchair singles and doubles champion Esther Vergeer will be honored.  The ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium will be hosted by ABC News’ Christiane Amanpour and will feature a special musical performance by Grammy winner Gloria Estefan.

The second week, ESPN2 will have Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM at 7 p.m. on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 6, followed by day-long windows Tuesday – Thursday starting at 11 a.m.  (There is a two-hour gap on Thursday, Sept. 9 from 6-8 p.m.)

While ESPN2 is on the air, SportsCenter will have the right to cut-in live for updates and key moments.  SportsCenter’s daytime edition is on ESPN until 3 p.m. with later editions from 6-7 p.m. and 11 p.m.-midnight.  In addition, as of Monday, August 30, it is also on ESPNEWS 3-6 p.m. and 7-11 p.m.

On the final day of the tournament, Sunday, Sept. 12, ESPN2 will televise live the women’s doubles championship at 1 p.m., and will review all the action at 9 p.m. with a special two-hour edition of SportsCenter at the US Open. As with the other three Grand Slams, ESPN2 will work with Tennis Channel to bring fans virtually round-the-clock coverage during the US Open, each utilizing its own commentators.

Fans will enjoy a new view of the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium on ESPN2 HD.  In a first for any Grand Slam event in tennis, a camera will fly over the court on a four-point aerial system.  The angle should be both dramatic for walk-ons, ceremonies and walk-offs and incisive for replays.

ESPN2’s Commentator Lineup

The dean of ESPN’s tennis team is Cliff Drysdale, a former US Open finalist who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast September 14, 1979, exactly one week after the network launched, making him second in ESPN tenure among commentators behind only Bob Ley. Chris Fowler, ESPN’s lead studio anchor for Grand Slam tennis since 2003, will serve as a host and call matches. Mike Tirico of Monday Night Football, Hannah Storm and Chris McKendry will also serve as hosts.  John and Patrick McEnroe will again often be paired in the booth, and the rest of the ESPN tennis team returns:  Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert and Pam Shriver.  In addition, Rick Reilly and Tom Rinaldi will contribute features and essays during the first week of action.

More US Open from ESPN, Inc.

ESPN3.com, the company’s signature live sports broadband network, will cover the action from five courts beginning at 1 p.m. the first five days. ESPN3.com will also simulcast ESPN2 for the full tournament, select additional court coverage and a simulcast of the Women’s Doubles final for a total of approximately 375 hours of US Open tennis on the web.

ESPN3.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 3,500 live, global sports events annually. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider, and is currently available in more than 53 million homes – a majority of U.S. broadband homes.  It is available via dozens of Internet Service Providers of all sizes nationwide, including Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Cox, Charter, Windstream, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

ESPN.com

• US Open Central:  ESPN.com will again feature US Open Central, a dynamic content application that will feature the official live scoring for all matches throughout the tournament. Additionally, US Open Central will be available for the first time on the ESPN Mobile Web site.
• The Pulse: A multi-tool application with all-court scoring, match stats, Cover It Live conversations, poll questions, rolling Twitter feeds and scrolling bottom line.
• Digital Serve: Exclusive daily dotcom video segment previewing the next day’s action.
• Slam Central: A daily destination for all US Open fixtures.
• Open Notebook: An aggregation of what the latest happenings are on the grounds of Flushing Meadows. From interviews, latest results, and even vetting the food, fans will get a taste of everything.

ESPN Interactive TV will be presented on DIRECTV. During the ESPN2 telecast windows for the first five days, a six-screen mosaic will include the ESPN2 program, along with matches with commentary from five other courts. In total, viewers will have access to more than 435 hours of live tennis action and 140 extra matches.  Production will be enhanced with press conferences, interviews and features that will be added during court changeovers and between matches.  All six screens can be expanded to full screen or picture-in-picture at the touch of the remote button.  In addition, DIRECTV will offer “Matches On Now,” a graphic across the bottom with scores from each of the matches currently on the court channels, with the ability to tune directly to the match, and “Results,” an instant look at real-time scores and schedule info for matches ahead – all without leaving the match the viewer is watching.

ESPN International will offer 140 hours of live coverage on nine networks covering Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean and in high definition in Latin America. Coverage to Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America will be anchored by Luis Alvarez and Eduardo Varela with analysts Javier Frana and Jose Luis Clerc and reporters Sophie Cortina and Miguel Simon. Sam Gore and Mark Brown will handle English play-by-play with analyst Kathy Rinaldi. Latin America’s ESPN Play will feature over 300 hours of live streaming coverage which will include up to four tennis courts in separate windows. Additional Spanish content will be available on ESPN360.com, ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN Mobile, featuring daily webisodes of “ESPNiando” hosted by Varela, access to reports from New York and daily highlights.

ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language U.S. network, will present 15 hours of live action during the first week of the US Open. Luis Alvarez and Eduardo Varela will handle the play-by-play with the analysis of Argentinean former tennis players Javier Frana and Jose Luis Clerc. Sophie Cortina will serve as reporter. ESPNdeportes.com will also serve U.S. Hispanic fans featuring daily webisodes of “ESPNiando” with the latest news and information. In addition, the site will offer special daily reports, highlights from New York and updates on Twitter by Varela, Cortina, and Alvarez.  ESPN Deportes Radio will feature daily segments during the morning drive show Al Amanecer.

ESPN Mobile TV will present 74 live hours of live action, including men’s and women’s quarterfinals and the women’s doubles final, in addition the one-hour 2010 US Open Draw Announcement Special on Thursday, Aug. 26 at noon.

‘30 for 30’ Documentary Unmatched

Even after the championships are awarded, tennis fans will be able to continue to enjoy the sport with a unique and personal look at the rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with Unmatched on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.  Directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters, and produced by ESPN’s own Hannah Storm, and part of ESPN’s acclaimed “30 for 30” series of 30 documentaries, Unmatched tells the story of one of the greatest rivalries in sports and captures these two extraordinary athletes’ views on tennis and an ever-changing world.  Filmed over the course of a few days in a variety of settings – relaxing, jogging, driving, hitting on the court and more – and without narration or host, the two reflect upon their differences and similarities and public personas.

ESPN Classic:  Great US Open Matches from the Past

All this week and during the tournament, ESPN Classic will present great US Open matches from the past.  They range from the 1974 Women’s Final between Billie Jean King and Evonne Goolagong (won by King 3–6, 6–3, 7–5, airing Sunday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.) to last year’s dramatic five-set men’s final in which Juan Martin del Potro upset Roger Federer (Sunday, Aug. 29 at 11 p.m.).

Of special note are showings of two particularly noteworthy matches upon significant anniversaries:

• the 1980 Men’s Final – 30 years ago – when John McEnroe defeated Bjorn Borg 7-6, 6-1, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4 for his second of four US Open titles (Aug. 29 at 9 p.m. and Sept. 7 at 9 a.m.),
• and a 20^th anniversary look back at the 1990 Men’s Final, in which Pete Sampras won the first of his 14 major titles, downing Andre Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to become the youngest US Open men’s champion (Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. and Sept. 9 at 9 a.m.)

Two more Evert-Navratilova matches will lead into Unmatched on Tues., Sept 14.  The ESPN Classic schedule:

ESPN – All Four Slams, All In One Place

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has ever done, let alone in one year.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call and John McEnroe playing.

ESPN has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986 – 1993) and Wimbledon since 2003.

ESPN2 & the 2010 US Open

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A Big First Week at Wimbledon for ESPN

It was a week like none other in the long and storied history of The Championships: Wimbledon and through it all, fans enjoyed the action from the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.  ESPN2’s  audience is up 14% over last year, and hours watched on broadband ESPN3.com are up nearly four-fold.

The week was marked by the longest day in Wimbledon history (Monday, June 21, extending ESPN2’s telecast to 5:59 p.m. ET, thanks to the roof on Centre Court, ending one minute before the 11 p.m. local curfew), the longest match in tennis history (Isner-Mahut, 11 hours, 5 minutes and 183 games), the first visit in 33 years by Queen Elizabeth II and five-set scares for the last two champions and top seeds, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

ESPN2

Through five days, the audience is up 14% vs. 2009, from an average of 408,000 homes to 466,000.  The average rating has grown from 0.4 to 0.5, highlighted by the second-most watched Wimbledon telecast in ESPN2 history.  On Wednesday, June 23, the noon – 2:26 p.m. telecast with part of the fifth set between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut was seen by average of 814,000 homes, based on a 0.8 rating.  The only ESPN2 Wimbledon telecast with a larger audience was July 4, 2008 – 971,000 homes, based on a 1.0 rating.

ESPN3.com

Through six days, ESPN3.com has generated more than 742,300 hours consumed, nearly four times last year – a 286% increase.

The Rest of the Week

Play continues on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com, highlighted by one Ladies’ and one Gentlemen’s semifinal, Thursday, July 1, and Friday, July 2, respectively. Cliff Drysdale and Dick Enberg lead the ESPN tennis team, working with Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Luke Jensen, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver.  Hannah Storm hosts while Tom Rinaldi is on hand for essays and features.

ESPN3.com will offer replays on demand of all four semifinals and both finals.  The semifinals will be available at 8 p.m. the day they are contested; the finals will both be available beginning late Sunday, July 4, at midnight (9 p.m. PT).

All live except as noted

* – Alternate programming from 1 – 4 p.m. ET in Pacific Time Zone (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT)

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Wimbledon & ESPN, Inc. – TV, Online, Mobile & More

ESPN will once again provide the most extensive coverage of The Championships: Wimbledon across its media platforms – led by more than 100 hours on television and 600-plus on broadband ESPN3.com.  Fans can follow the live action on their favorite or most-convenient screen beginning Monday, June 21, with daylong weekday coverage throughout the fortnight from the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

U.S. Television

ESPN2 will begin daylong live weekday programming in high definition when the first ball goes into the air Monday, June 21, continuing daily through Friday, July 2, sharing coverage during the first week with ESPNU (now seen in more than 72 million homes and being utilized while FIFA World Cup games are aired on ESPN and ESPN2).  The schedule is again highlighted by one Ladies’ and one Gentlemen’s semifinal, Thursday, July 1, and Friday, July 2, respectively.

Cliff Drysdale and Dick Enberg lead the ESPN tennis team, working with Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Luke Jensen, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver.  Hannah Storm will host while Tom Rinaldi will be on hand for essays and features.

Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ First Round commences Monday, June 20, on ESPN2 from 6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. with the following matches:

(8) Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs Maria Elena Camerin (ITA)

(1) Roger Federer (SUI) vs Alejandro Falla (COL)

(5) Andy Roddick (USA) vs Rajeev Ram (USA)

Mardy Fish (USA) vs Bernard Tomic (AUS)

(3) Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Olivier Rochus (BEL)

(2) Venus Williams (USA) vs Rossana De Los Rios (PAR)

(33) Melanie Oudin (USA) vs Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)

Notes:

• On Monday, June 28 – Wednesday, June 30, ESPN2 will provide alternate programming in the Pacific Time Zone from 1 – 4 p.m. ET (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT).
• ESPN’s live match coverage will be supplemented by Tennis Channel’s evening program, with highlights, interviews and features Monday, June 21 – Wednesday, June 30, from 7 – 11 p.m.

ESPN3.com

ESPN3.com will provide a multi-court offering with play from all nine TV courts and press conferences totaling more than 600 hours of live action.  In addition, the broadband service – which reaches more than 50 million U.S. homes – will offer replays on demand of all four semifinals and both finals.  The semifinals will be available at 8 p.m. the day they are contested; the finals will both be available beginning late Sunday, July 4, at midnight (9 p.m. PT).

ESPN3.com, the company’s signature live sports broadband network, is a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 4,000 live, global sports events annually. It is the only broadband outlet with all four of tennis’ Grand Slam events, totaling 1,600 hours of action, and also carries nine ATP 500 tournaments and other tennis throughout the year.

ESPN3.com is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated provider.  ESPN3.com is currently available in more than 50 million homes.  It is also available at no cost to 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).

More Wimbledon from ESPN, Inc.

ESPN.com

• Wimbledon Central:  ESPN.com will again feature Wimbledon Central, a dynamic content application that will feature the official live scoring for all matches throughout the tournament. Additionally, Wimbledon Central will be available for the first time on the ESPN Mobile Web site.
• The Pulse: A multi-tool application with all-court scoring, match stats, Cover It Live conversations, poll questions, rolling Twitter feeds and scrolling bottom line;
• Slam Central: A daily destination for all Wimbledon fixtures.

ESPN Interactive TV will be enjoyed exclusively on DIRECTV during the first six days of competition.  A six-screen mosaic will include the ESPN2/ESPNU match and feeds from five individual courts. Production will be enhanced with press conferences, interviews and features elements that will be added during court changeovers and between matches.  All six screens can be expanded to full screen mode or picture-in-picture at the touch of the remote button.  In addition, DIRECTV will offer “Matches On Now,” a graphic across the bottom of the screen with scores from each of the matches currently on the court channels, with the ability to tune directly to the match, and “Results,” an instant look at real-time scores and schedule info for matches ahead – all without leaving the match the viewer is watching. In total, ESPN will provide more than 300 hours of coverage that is exclusive to interactive TV.

ESPN Mobile

ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN MVP will have 30 hours of live coverage, including the Women’s and Men’s quarterfinals and coverage of a Women’s and Men’s semifinal via ESPN’s industry-leading mobile Web site and through the signature ESPN MVP application.

ESPN Video-On-Demand will carry the historic championship match between Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe from 1980 in recognition of its 30th anniversary.

ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language network in the U.S. will offer five hours of Wimbledon programming.  Coverage for ESPN Deportes, as well as ESPN International, will be handled by Luis Alfredo Alvarez and Eduardo Varela alongside former tennis players Javier Frana and Jose Luis Clerc as analysis.  Tennis reporter Pablo Stecco will report from Wimbledon for ESPN Deportes and ESPN International’s  SportsCenter editions around the world.

ESPN International will reach 30 million viewers outside the U.S with 70+ live hours pan-regionally in Latin America on ESPN Latin America and on ESPN Caribbean, in addition to daily primetime highlight programs.  ESPN+ in the Southern Cone and ESPN Dos in the Northern Cone will supplement the coverage on ESPN Latin America with an additional 50+ live hours. In addition, ESPN 360.com in Argentina (branded ESPNPlay) Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Venezuela (branded ESPNPlay) will offer 550 hours of live coverage.

ESPN – All Four Grand Slams.  All in One Place.

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and has provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other network has ever done.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call. 

Almost all the tennis is found on ESPN2, giving the network the identity as the destination for tennis fans and giving the sport a home that is flexible enough to carry extensive live programming – and adding to the schedule as storylines dictate. ESPN and ESPN2 both reach 99 million households nationwide.  Also, ESPN Classic shows great matches from the past and the sport receives extensive coverage on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, broadband ESPN3.com, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.

ESPN & WIMBLEDON 2010

All live except as noted

* – Alternate programming from 1 – 4 p.m. ET in Pacific Time Zone (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT)

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French Open on ESPN2 & ESPN3.com

Action Starts Sunday, May 23; Women’s Semis Live June 3

Fans Can Follow the Action Wherever They Are via ESPN Platforms

The best players in tennis will gather for the second Grand Slam tournament of the year on the red clay of Paris – Roland Garros, the 2010 French Open presented by BRP – beginning on ESPN2 when the event begins on Sunday, May 23.  The network will present more than 56 hours, culminating with the women’s semifinals live Thursday, June 3.  In addition, ESPN3.com will have more than 270 live hours of a multi-court offering, also starting May 23, and continuing all days ESPN2 is on the air.

ESPN networks present all four Grand Slam events – and ESPN3.com delivers unmatched broadband coverage of the sport’s biggest events and more tournaments throughout the year – and have televised the French Open 1986 – 1993 and since 2002.

After the opening day, ESPN2’s schedule will continue Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28, and resume on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, and continue to June 3.  ESPN2 will begin each day at noon – directly following Tennis Channel’s morning programming – except for June 3 with the women’s semifinals starting at 8 a.m. ET – and will generally continue until 6:30 p.m. (See schedule below.)  For the fourth consecutive year, ESPN2 is working with Tennis Channel to bring viewers an almost around-the-clock tournament experience, with each channel cross-promoting the other’s schedule.  Tennis Channel will produce all coverage for both channels, with each making use of its own on-air team.

In addition, ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language U.S. sports network, will televise 25 hours from Paris starting Tuesday, May 25, and culminating with the women’s semifinals live Thursday, June 3.  Luis Alfredo Alvarez, Javier Frana, and Jose Luis Clerc will call the matches, which will be chosen specifically for the network’s audience.

Cliff Drysdale, the dean of ESPN’s tennis team, will be joined by Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. Chris Fowler will host and call matches for the first week (before leaving for South Africa and ESPN’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup). Chris McKendry will also serve as an on-site host and Tom Rinaldi will provide features and reporting.

ESPN3.com

ESPN3.com – formerly called ESPN360.com until this past April – will deliver more than 270 hours live from the three primary courts at Roland Garros on the days ESPN2 is televising — Sunday, May 23, plus Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 31 – Thursday, June 3.  Live action will start early in the morning with the first ball in the air and continue to the last shot of the day.  ESPN3.com will show matches from a number of courts not televised on ESPN2, as well as the ESPN2’s programming, either live or later that day.  Matches will also be available after they take place via VOD.  The same service – still called ESPN360.com – is also available in Latin America with the same programming as in the U.S. and Spanish commentary.

ESPN3.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 4,000 live, global sports events annually. It is the only broadband outlet with all four of tennis’ Grand Slam events, totaling 1,600 hours of action, and also carries nine ATP 500 tournaments and other tennis throughout the year.

ESPN3.com is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated provider.  ESPN3.com is currently available in more than 52 million homes.  It is also available at no cost to 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).

Other ESPN Platforms

Fans will have a variety of ways to follow the French Open with live action and updates on an array of ESPN platforms wherever they are and regardless of whether there is live television offered.

ESPN.com will provide comprehensive coverage before, during and after the French Open, highlighted by an enhanced Pulse section – real-time scoring from all courts, plus continuous live polling with results revealed immediately in ESPN2’s telecasts.  In addition to all the results, news, analysis, schedules and more, ESPN.com will provide live blogging throughout the tournament so fans can follow the action even when there is no live television coverage.  Also, fans can watch “Digital Serve” with ESPN2 commentators discussing the latest action and previewing key matches on the days ESPN2 is on the air.

ESPN Interactive TV, exclusive to DIRECTV, will present the French Open showing ESPN2 or Tennis Channel’s live coverage along with five other courts available with commentary.  Other features include interactive data, the tournament draw, up-to-date scores, and daily order of play.

ESPN Mobile TV, a 24/7 channel for wireless on FLO TV and MobiTV platforms, will provide 31 hours of live coverage, simulcasting most of ESPN2’s live programming, highlighted by the women’s semifinals Thursday, June 3.

ESPN’s SportsCenter – in particular the live editions from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET – will follow the action closely with frequent updates, highlights and reports from Paris, as will ESPNEWS, the 24/7 all-sports news network.  This will include live look-ins during SportsCenter and on ESPNEWS when ESPN2 is on the air.

ESPN International

ESPN International will present up to 130 hours of the French Open to 63 countries in Latin America and the Carribbean on a variety of regional networks.  Matches will be chosen based on local interest and commentary will be offered in Spanish, Portuguese and English.

Previewing the Action

For the first time, Roger Federer comes to Paris as defending champion, having completed a career Grand Slam with his win last year.  He followed that by breaking the record for career major titles by capturing his 15^th at Wimbledon, and started 2010 in similar form with his 16^th at the Australian Open.  He has reached the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slam events.  Rafael Nadal will be looking to reclaim the French title he had won the previous four years.  Other contenders include Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling, who defeated Nadal in Paris last year on his way to the final.

On the women’s side, Svetlana Kuznetsova will defend her crown against a field led by Serena Williams, winner of this year’s first Grand Slam title, in Australia, her 12^th career major title.  Willliams is the top-ranked women’s player, with her sister Venus ranked second as of May 17.  It is the first time they have been ranked 1-2 since May 2003.  Other top challengers include 2009 US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic.

ESPN – All Four Grand Slams.  All in One Place.

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and has provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other network has ever done.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call. 

Almost all the tennis is found on ESPN2, giving the network the identity as the destination for tennis fans and giving the sport a home that is flexible enough to carry extensive live programming – and adding to the schedule as storylines dictate. ESPN and ESPN2 both reach 99 million households nationwide.  Also, ESPN Classic shows great matches from the past and the sport receives extensive coverage on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, broadband ESPN3.com, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.

2010 French Open on ESPN2

2010 French Open on ESPN3.com

2010 French Open on ESPN Deportes

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MSG PLUS AND ESPN2 TO TELEVISE THE BNP PARIBAS SHOWDOWN FOR THE BILLIE JEAN CUP ON MARCH 1

Ana Ivanovic Faces Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams Takes On Svetlana Kuznetsova at MSG

New York, February 22, 2010 – Madison Square Garden and StarGames announced today that MSG Plus and ESPN2 will televise the 2010 BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean Cup on Monday, March 1, live with MSG Plus showing the semifinals and ESPN2 presenting the finals. The one-day, single-elimination tournament will include four of the world’s top female tennis players – Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters and Ana Ivanovic – at Madison Square Garden.

Starting at 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus will televise two semifinal matches with World No. 17 Clijsters facing No. 23 Ivanovic and No. 4 Kuznetsova taking on No. 5 Williams. At 9 p.m. ESPN2 will air the final match. All three matches will also be available on broadband ESPN360.com.

“It is exciting for us to have the BNP Paribas Showdown carried live by two prestigious networks,” said Jerry Solomon, President & CEO, StarGames Inc.  “The combination of MSG Plus and ESPN2 gives us wall-to-wall coverage and ensures that fans all over the country who are celebrating Tennis Night in America with us, will have the opportunity to see these great players square off for the Billie Jean King Cup.”

For the second year in a row, the BNP Paribas Showdown will feature four of the top women in tennis. The four participants have a combined career record of 1630-493 and have won a total of 12 Grand Slams and 98 WTA titles. Three of the four women have been ranked No. 1 at least once in their careers; Kuznetsova reached the No. 2 ranking in 2007.

Both MSG Plus and ESPN2 will showcase leading on-air commentators during the event. One of the most respected broadcasters in sports, Ted Robinson, will call play-by play for the semifinals while former World No. 1 player and three-time Grand Slam winner, Lindsay Davenport, will serve as analyst. MSG’s Scott Lasky will handle reporter duties for the semifinal matches. ESPN2’s coverage of the final will feature two prominent tennis commentators: Chris Fowler, host of the network’s coverage of all four Grand Slam events, alongside seven-time WTA Tour winner Mary Joe Fernandez.

The BNP Paribas Showdown features a unique set of rules. The semifinal matches will consist of only one set while the final match will be best of three. There will be no ad scoring in either round. The four participants will compete for a $1.2 million prize pool.

The “BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup” is the featured element of the national “Tennis Night in America” promotion. Through “Tennis Night in America”, the USTA will continue its efforts to grow youth participation in the sport of tennis. “Tennis Night in America” is among the sports largest ever grass roots initiatives. The USTA has made this event a major component for its Youth Registration Night, where youth from all over the country can begin signing up for spring and summer league play beginning on Friday, February 26^th through March 1^st.  To find a sign-up location please go to www.tennisnight.com.

Title partner BNP Paribas has returned for a second year, continuing their strong commitment to support the sport of tennis. BNP Paribas will be joined by Official Partners Caesars Atlantic City, Delta Air Lines, FIJI Water, Fila, FXDD, Jumeirah Essex House, Lexus, NASDAQ OMX, Optimum, Rums of Puerto Rico, Sportime Tennis Clubs, Steuben Glass, Tennis.com, Travelers Insurance, Ubisoft and Wilson.

At the 2009 event, Venus Williams defeated Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams defeated Ana Ivanovic in the semifinal matches. Serena then defeated her sister 6-4, 6-3 for the inaugural championship.

About Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden is a fully-integrated sports, entertainment and media business. The company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive its overall business, and built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that MSG creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League). MSG Entertainment is a leader in managing and creating concerts and events at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the legendary Chicago Theatre, the Wang Theatre in Boston, and produces the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Media is comprised of leading television networks MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD, as well as MSG Interactive, which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives, and Fuse and Fuse HD, the national television network dedicated exclusively to music. The company owns and operates the Madison Square Garden arena complex located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.  More information is available at www.msg.com.

ESPN – All Four Grand Slams.  All in One Place.

Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and has provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other network has ever done.

ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call. 

Almost all the tennis is found on ESPN2, giving the network the identity as the destination for tennis fans and giving the sport a home that is flexible enough to carry extensive live programming – and adding to the schedule as storylines dictate. ESPN and ESPN2 both reach 99 million households nationwide.  Also, ESPN Classic shows great matches from the past and the sport receives extensive coverage on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, broadband ESPN360.com, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.

# # #

Serena vs. Henin in Australian Open Final on ESPN2

Fernandez & Shriver Preview the Match Between Top Two Players of Last 10 Years

Serena Williams and Justine Henin – very different athletes who nevertheless have been the top two players in women’s tennis for a decade with 18 major titles between them – will meet in a Grand Slam event final for the first time at the Australian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments on ESPN2 late Friday night, Jan. 29, at 3:30 a.m. ET (half past midnight PT).

The powerful 28-year-old Williams, the no. 1 seed of the tournament and defending champion, will attempt to win her fifth title Down Under and 12^th major victory overall.  The slightly built unseeded Henin – 27 and playing in only her second event after a 20-month retirement suddenly announced in May 2008 – is seeking her second win in Melbourne (she has seven major titles) and has looked impressive along the way, like she was never away from the game. The Belgian Henin and American Williams have met 13 times before with Henin winning seven. The two have played six times in Grand Slam evens and Henin has a 4-2 advantage. They have never played in the Grand Slam event final.

ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez and Pam Shriver preview the match:

Fernandez:  “They both have been playing aggressively but in different ways.  Serena is more straight forward – strong serves and blasting returns.  She’s more about hitting through people.  Justine is more aggressive than she used to be, but by using variety – more spin, more slices and coming to the net. All along, I’ve thought Serena was the favorite to win, but now she’s coming off two long matches in the quarters and semifinal.  I’m not sure if she’s completely healthy.  She’s all wrapped up and not moving well, so now I’m inclined to give Justine the edge.  But Serena continues to play doubles so she can’t be feeling that bad, and she certainly knows how to dig deep in big matches.  It may come down to Serena’s serve.  She’ll want short points.  On the other hand, Justine will want to get into long rallies and slowly construct points.  It’s a fascinating matchup of contrasting styles.”

Shriver:  “This match up should be the best rivalry for the next two years as they are the best players at the majors where the pressure is greatest.  Three years ago when Justine defeated Serena in the quarters of three straight majors (French Open, Wimbledon, US Open), Serena was just not physically or mentally good enough.  I feel in the last three years Serena has toughened up – especially at the majors – and is committed to being the best.  If Serena is not physically close to 100 per cent, then Justine will win, but Serena has been devastating Down Under since dropping the opening set in the 2005 Australian Open final to Lindsay Davenport, winning that match and in 2007 and ‘09.  If she is fully healthy, I give Serena a slight edge.  But Justine will be ready to take it if Serena is not playing at her best level. I can’t wait.”

The remaining Australian Open coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com:

2010 AUSTRALIAN OPEN on ESPN2

(For these charts, all times are Eastern, and each day “begins” at 6 a.m. ET.

Therefore, the listing for Sat., Jan. 30 at 3:30 a.m. ET is very late on Saturday night/Sunday morning.)

2010 AUSTRALIAN OPEN on ESPN360.com

-30-

Two-Week Australian Open Begins Sunday; First Time in High Def

Biggest-Ever Schedules on ESPN2 & ESPN360.com as Nadal & Serena Defend Titles

ESPN will again begin its presentation of tennis’ Grand Slam events with daily marathon late-night telecasts from the Australian summer downunder with the 2010 Australian Open presented by Franklin Templeton Investments starting Sunday, Jan. 17. ESPN2 will increase its programming to 113 live hours, plus more in afternoon reairs, the most in ESPN’s 26-year history with the event. In addition, the event will be in high definition for the first time on ESPN2 HD. Broadband ESPN360.com will also increase programming, to a most-ever 600 hours – all live from Melbourne, with users choosing between action on seven courts.

Play begins with the first match of the tournament on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET and will continue through the women’s and men’s finals live in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 30, and Sunday, Jan. 31, respectively (very late on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively). ESPN has televised the Australian Open since 1984 (there was no event in 1986), the French Open since 2002 (and 1986 – 1993), Wimbledon since 2003 and added the US Open last year.

In addition, where appropriate ESPN’s SportsCenter – including the live weekday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. editions – and ESPNEWS will endeavor live look-ins to the action. Also, ESPN Deportes will present Spanish-language coverage in the U.S. and ESPN International will bring the event to viewers around the world.

TV: IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD

Cliff Drysdale – who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast in 1979 – and sportscasting legend Dick Enberg lead the ESPN2 team. Chris Fowler will again host and call select matches, with Chris McKendry also hosting. Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert and Patrick McEnroe return as analysts, as does Pam Shriver, who will primarily serve as a courtside and studio reporter. Tom Rinaldi will contribute features, news and interviews during event coverage and on SportsCenter.

ESPN2’s Australian Open programming will generally consist of three shows each day: live coverage in the evening starting Sunday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m., live matches at 3 a.m., and at least three hours of same-day action the next afternoon at 3 p.m. The tournament is part of ESPN’s ongoing Grand Slam alliance with Tennis Channel, which offers audiences a near round-the-clock tournament experience at tennis’ major events. ESPN is producing all Australian Open coverage for both networks, which will cross-promote each other with each channel utilizing its own commentators.

ESPN Deportes – the fulltime Spanish-language U.S. network – will televise 56 hours (including re-airs), January 18 through the finals. The commentators will be Luis Alfredo Alvarez, Eduardo Varela and former professional tennis players Jose Luis Clerc, Javier Frana, and Jimmy Arias.

ESPN Interactive TV, exclusive to DIRECTV, will present the Australian Open with a six-screen “mix channel.” For 7-8 hours per night during the first eight days of the tournament, viewers will be able to watch the ESPN2 feed or one of five other courts, all with commentary. Other features include interactive data, the tournament draw, up-to-date scores, and daily order of play.

ESPN VOD (Video On Demand) will offer a variety of programming before, during and after the 2010 Australian Open, starting with the 2010 Australian Open Preview Show up to the beginning of the tournament. Highlights of last year’s final are available through March 3 (men’s – 57 minutes, women’s – 34 minutes). A recap of each of this year’s Women’s and Men’s Finals will be offered February 3 – March 3 (10 minutes each).

In Latin America, ESPN International will provide two weeks of extensive live coverage over three different networks. The pan-regional ESPN networks in Latin America (in South and Central America) will showcase the biggest names in tennis along with players of local relevance in 100 hours, including the women’s and men’s finals. In the Southern Cone, ESPN+ (pronounced “mas”) will air a minimum of 20 hours of complementary coverage in primetime throughout the early rounds. Additionally, ESPN Brasil will also show 30+ hours of live coverage in the early morning hours and ESPN Brasil HD will simulcast ESPN2’s 100+ hours.

GREAT MATCHES FROM THE PAST ON ESPN CLASSIC & ESPN2

Starting Saturday, Jan. 16, the day before the tournament starts, at 7 a.m., ESPN Classic will get fans ready with a 23-hour marathon covering seven memorable Australian Open matches. The marathon climaxes with Rafael Nadal’s pair of marathon victories in last year’s semifinal and final. However, that match will air again later in the day, Sunday, Jan. 17, on ESPN2, from noon – 5 p.m.

ESPN Classic

7 – 9 a.m. ET: 1995 Australian Open Quarterfinal, Pete Sampras vs. Jim Courier

Defending champion Pete Sampras, troubled by the health problems of his coach Tim Gullickson, wept in the middle of his Australian Open match with Jim Courier. Sampras would come back from two sets down for the second straight match and win 6-7 (7-4), 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in a four-hour marathon to reach the semifinals.

9 – 11 a.m.: 1995 Australian Open Final, Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi

Agassi absorbed a 28-ace barrage by top-seeded Pete Sampras, but wore him down from the baseline and won the Australian Open title in a spectacular match, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 2000 Australian Open Semifinal, Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras

Agassi and Sampras put on a show for the film archives, Agassi winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5), 6-1 to become the first man to reach four straight Grand Slam finals since Rod Laver swept them all in 1969.

1 – 3 p.m.: 2002 Australian Open Women’s Final: Jennifer Capriati vs. Martina Hingis

In extreme heat that tested both players to their limit, Jennifer Capriati came back from a set and 0-4 down, saving four match points, to defeat Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

3 – 8 p.m.: 2005 Australian Open Men’s Semifinal: Roger Federer vs. Marat Safin

Safin advanced to his third Australian Open final by ending Federer’s 26-match winning streak in a 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(6), 9-7 thriller.

8 p.m. – 1 a.m.: 2009 Australian Open Men’s Semifinal: Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco

In the longest match in Australian Open history, top-ranked Rafael Nadal finally vanquished fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, winning 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 in 5 hours and 14 minutes.

1 – 6 a.m.: 2009 Australian Open Men’s Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer

With Federer gunning for a record-tying 14^th Grand Slam victory, Nadal held on in a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 momentum-swinging, 4-hour, 22-minute match that left the vanquished Swiss star in tears.

ESPN2

Noon – 5 p.m.: 2009 Australian Open Men’s Final: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer

DIGITAL MEDIA, AT HOME AND ABROAD

ESPN360.com will expand its broadband coverage to include no fewer than seven live feeds from various courts – including the women’s and men’s semifinals and finals – totaling 600 hours (including a simulcast of ESPN2’s live coverage), up from 430. For the first 10 days (Sun., Jan. 17 – Tues., Jan. 26), coverage will commence at 7 p.m. (11 a.m. in Melbourne, when play begins) and continue for at least seven hours. The courts to be included are the “TV courts,” the ones most likely to have top matches: Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena, Margaret Court Arena, plus Courts 2, 3, 6 and 8. For the remainder of the tournament, ESPN360.com will continue the ESPN2 simulcast, including the women’s (Jan. 31) and men’s (Feb. 1) finals, plus exclusive coverage of select men’s, women’s and mixed doubles play and the boys’ and girls’ finals.

Each window of coverage will be available for on-demand replay following its completion. With ESPN360.com’s dynamic interface, tennis fans will be able to fast-forward, rewind and pause action – during both on-demand replay and live action coverage.

ESPN360.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 3,500 live, global sports events annually. Dozens of content agreements have bolstered ESPN360.com’s lineup, including MLB, SEC football and basketball, US Open tennis, The Masters, plus top international soccer, rugby and cricket. It is available at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN360.com is currently available in more than 50 million homes – two-thirds of US broadband homes. It is available via dozens of Internet Service Providers of all sizes nationwide, including Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Cox, Charter, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

ESPN.com will have an all new Slam Central, featuring video highlights and original podcasts from the ESPN PodCenter (http://espnradio.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/index) and daily video highlights including ESPN.com’s original digital series Digital Serve with Jennifer Williams. News and analysis from contributors Ravi Ubha and Tennis.com will also be featured, along with Week 2 live analysis.

ESPN Deportes.com will have the following content: Daily webisode “Espiando Australian Open” with Eduardo Varela; an “applet” featuring real-time, point-by-point scoring of all matches; live scores, results and brackets; columns, chats and blogs by TV commentators; polls; the “Ask ESPN” feature, prompting users to send their comments/questions via the website; video clips with highlights of daily action with analysis; TV scheduling information, and photo galleries.

The Australian Open will be seen on ESPN International’s ESPN360.com broadband service in Latin America. ESPN360.com will feature wall-to-wall coverage of the year’s first Grand Slam, airing over 600 hours of live tennis from every available court, including live coverage of the men’s & women’s quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. This streaming coverage will be available in over a million homes in nine countries throughout Latin America.

ESPN Mobile TV, a 24/7 channel for wireless, will provide more than 130 hours of live coverage, simulcasting most of ESPN2’s live programming.

PREVIEWING 2010

Rafael Nadal will defend the men’s title against a strong field led by three-time champ Roger Federer, 2008 winner Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, recent US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko, winner of the 2009 all-star round-robin, year-ender, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

On the women’s side, in 2009 Serena Williams won her fourth Australian Open as well as her third Wimbledon, and she will face a compelling field of storylines: 2008 champ Maria Sharapova returns after missing last year’s event because of injury; Kim Clijsters, who won the 2009 US Open in only her third tournament after ending her early retirement; Justine Henin, who counts the 2004 Australian Open among her seven major victories, is returning from a sudden 2007 retirement; seven-time Grand Slam event winner Venus Williams; 2009 French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova; Dinara Safina, who spent much of ’09 ranked No. 1 and is seeking her first Grand Slam title; and emerging stars Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Melanie Oudin of the U.S. (the youngest woman ranked in the top 100).

2010 AUSTRALIAN OPEN on ESPN TV Networks

(For these charts, all times are Eastern, and each day “begins” at 6 a.m. ET.

Therefore, the listing for Sun., Jan. 17 at 3 a.m. ET is very late on Sunday night.)