ESPN Wimbledon Coverage Release: Gilbert Returns; Like It or Rip It?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2008
Extensive Wimbledon Coverage on ESPN2 & ESPN360.com
Most Extensive Digital Rights Allows Fans to Watch in More Ways
ADHEREL
With the start of a new six-year agreement between ESPN and the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, U.S. tennis fans will receive nearly 100 hours of Wimbledon: The Championships on ESPN2, plus the most extensive digital rights in Wimbledon history, largely via ESPN360.com, ESPN’s premier broadband service. In addition, Wimbledon programming will be found on ESPN Deportes, ESPN Classic, ESPN International and, for the first time, on ESPN Interactive Television.
“At the heart of ESPN’s newly extended relationship with Wimbledon is our pledge to reach tennis fans wherever and however they consume this Grand Slam event, and this does that,” says Len DeLuca, ESPN senior vice president, programming & acquisitions.
ESPN2 will begin day-long live programming when play begins Monday, June 23, and continue daily through Sunday, July 6, starting with the first ball in play and continuing through a recap of the Gentlemen’s final, totaling 98.5 hours. Each weekday, ESPN2’s live coverage from London will begin at 7 a.m. ET, with:
extensive live coverage of matches, including all-day coverage the first week;
one ladies’ and one gentlemen’s semifinal (July 3 and 4, respectively);
and a one-hour SportsCenter at Wimbledon aired immediately following NBC’s coverage of the ladies’ (Saturday, July 5 at 2 p.m.) and gentlemen’s (Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m.) championship.
(Note: on June 30 — July 2, ESPN2 will provide alternate programming in the Pacific Time Zone from 1 — 4 p.m. ET, which is 10 a.m. — 1 p.m. PT.)
ESPN2’s Commentator Lineup
Dick Enberg will work his 25th Wimbledon to call matches, sharing the duty with Cliff Drysdale — the two-time Wimbledon semifinalist who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast in 1979. They will team with analysts Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. In addition, Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst 2004 — 2006, returns after a two-year coaching stint. Shriver will frequently be utilized as a roving reporter covering play in “outer courts” and as a sideline reporter, as will Luke Jensen who will also appear on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com. Chris Fowler, who has served as ESPN’s studio host for Grand Slam tennis events since 2003, will host and call select matches. In addition, legendary tennis journalist and commentator Bud Collins, who joined ESPN in August 2007, will make his Wimbledon debut for ESPN.
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