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Monthly Highlights

All information contained in this press release, including dates and times, are as of April 24, 2008.
For the most up-to-date scheduling information please refer to the 24-hour program schedule.

ESPN Networks and ABC Highlights

Highlights for:
May | June | July | August


MAY

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC

AUTO RACING

NASCAR

ESPN2, home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, will feature four races this month, plus qualifying runs for two of the races.  The schedule will continue from Richmond, Va., with live race day action Friday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m.

 

IndyCar

The 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live Sunday, May 25, at noon on ABC.  This year will mark the 44th time ABC has provided coverage of the event.  The schedule will begin with qualifying races May 10, at 12 p.m. on ESPN2.  The network will also televise Carb Day, Friday, May 23, at 4 p.m. and the Festival Parade, May 24, at 5 p.m. 

 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

This month’s exclusive Sunday Night Baseball schedule will feature an appearance by both of the Chicago and New York City teams in addition to the defending World Series champion (all games at 8 p.m. ET):

 

WNBA

ESPN2 and ABC’s unprecedented WNBA coverage will begin when Diana Taurasi and the defending champion Phoenix Mercury host the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.  Prior to the first tip of the ESPN2 WNBA Tuesday schedule, the network will provide a preview of the upcoming season and highlights with WNBA Shootaround at 10 p.m. followed by the Seattle Storm versus the Sacramento Monarchs at 10:30 p.m.

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

ESPN’s multimedia coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs will continue with first round coverage through May 4 on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.  The semifinal schedule will begin with a doubleheader Thursday, May 8 at 8 and 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.  ESPN will combine with ABC to televise up to 11 semifinal games through May 18.  The networks will serve as the exclusive home of the Eastern Conference Finals.  All NBA games and studio shows on ESPN networks will be available in high definition.

 

TENNIS

ESPN2 will present 55 hours of action from the French Open beginning Sunday, May 25. The network’s schedule will resume Tuesday through Friday of the first week and Monday – Thursday the second week with noon – 6:30 p.m. time slots.  ESPN2 will televise both women’s semifinals live in June.

 

SPELLING BEE

Emmy Award-winning Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos”) hosts live television coverage of the final championship rounds of “The 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee,” Friday, May 30 (8-10 p.m.), live from Washington, DC. Preliminary championship rounds will air live earlier in the day on ESPN, which has televised the Bee in its entirety since 1994. ESPN’s live telecast (simulcast on ESPN360.com) is scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m.  ESPN360.com will provide coverage of the quarterfinal rounds from 2-5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 29 on ESPN 360.com.  ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews will be a correspondent for both the ABC and ESPN broadcasts.

 

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Chicago Rush and the Georgia Force, two of the top teams vying for a playoff spot last year, will make two appearances on the ESPN2 Monday AFL schedule -- Rush vs. Tampa Bay, May 5 and at home vs. Los Angeles, May 19 -- Force: at home vs. Philadelphia, May 12 and vs. New Orleans, May 26.  All games are scheduled at 8 p.m.

 

HORSE RACING

Programming surrounding the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes will begin with a Triple Crown Special Thursday, May 1, at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.  Additional programs:

 

ESPN

ESPN2

Today at the Kentucky Derby, May 3, at 12 p.m.

Kentucky Oaks, May 2, at 5 p.m.

Today at Churchill Downs, May 3, at 3 p.m.

Today at Churchill Downs, May 2, at 3 p.m.

Today at the Preakness, May 17, at 12 p.m.

Breakfast at Churchill Downs, May 3, at 11 a.m.

The Preakness Special, May 17, at 2 p.m.

SportsCenter at the Preakness Draw, May 14, at 4:30 p.m.

 

Today at Pimlico, May 16, at 3:30 p.m.

 

The Black Eyed Susan/Pimlico Special, May 16, at 5 p.m.

 

Breakfast at Pimlico, May 17, at 9 a.m.

 

SOCCER ON ESPN2

The weekly MLS Primetime Thursday series will continue May 1, at 7 p.m. when Toronto FC hosts the New York Red Bulls on ESPN2 HD.  Additional soccer action will include two Team USA matches (Saturday, May 3, at 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m.) and the UEFA Champions League final Wednesday, May 21, at 2:30 p.m.  A preview of the final match will be televised prior to the live match at 2 p.m.

ESPN2 MLS Primetime Thursday schedule:

DATE TIME (ET) TEAMS
May 9 7:30 p.m. Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United
May 15 9:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake cs. Colorado Rapids
May 22 10:30 p.m. Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Earthquakes
May 29 7:30 p.m. D.C. United vs. New England Revulution

 

ESPN FILMS THIS MONTH

May 6 – Bud Greenspan:  The Heart of the Games

Produced by Cappy Productions

This film tells the most defining stories and moments in the life and work of the highly acclaimed and revolutionary Olympic filmmaker, Bud Greenspan. Included are athletes that have stirred the world's imagination, from celebrated winners, such as gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton, to largely forgotten also rans, such as marathoner John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania, who courageously finished a grueling 26-mile marathon on a badly damaged and bandaged leg in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. 

May 13 – The Zen of Bobby V

Produced by ESPN, in conjunction with Andrew Jenks (Throwback Pictures)

This two-hour film focuses on former Major League player and manager, Bobby Valentine, and his current job managing one of Japan’s premiere baseball teams - the Chiba Lotte Marines. Fresh off its world premiere at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, The Zen of Bobby V will give baseball fans and viewers unprecedented access to Valentine and his team, while exploring the impact globalization has on the game’s present and future.  Additionally, original online webisodes and written blogs detailing the production of the film and baseball life in Japan will be produced exclusively for ESPN.com’s Page 2.

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

MISCELLANEOUS


JUNE

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

ABC’s exclusive coverage of the 2008 NBA Finals will begin Thursday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET.  The best-of-seven game series will also be available in high definition.  ABC will complement its coverage with NBA Countdown prior to the first tip of each game at 8:30 p.m.

 

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

The Detroit Shock will face their 2007 WNBA Finals opponent the Phoenix Mercury Saturday, June 14, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.  The Mercury will also make an appearance on the ESPN2 WNBA Tuesday schedule June 3, at 10:30 p.m. at home versus the Washington Mystics and on a Thursday evening special telecast June 26, at 7 p.m. at Chicago. 

 

SOCCER

UEFA EURO 2008

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic will combine to present exclusive live coverage of all UEFA European Football Championship 2008 matches, including the title match on ABC Sunday, June 29, at 2:30 p.m.  Coverage will begin Sunday, June 8 with four games starting at 2:30 a.m. (Portugal vs. Turkey) on ESPN2.  Additional coverage will include highlights show on match days, unlimited re-air rights across all networks and media platforms, magazine programs, and UEFA EURO 2008 Final Draw. ESPN Deportes will be the exclusive Spanish-language network for EURO 2008 in the United States. The network will feature separate Spanish-language studio highlights show on match days, and Spanish-language editions of the EURO 2008 Final Draw, magazine programs and match re-airs.

Major League Soccer

The defending champions, Houston Dynamo, the first team in MLS history to repeat in a decade, will host the New England Revolution Thursday, June 12, at 9 p.m.  The game will be a rematch of the 2007 finals when the Dynamo defeated the Revolution to win back-to-back championships against the club.  The Dynamo will also face intra-state rival FC Dallas Thursday, June 26, at 9 p.m.  All ESPN2 Thursday MLS Primetime games are available in high definition.

 

HORSE RACING

ESPN will offer extensive multimedia coverage of the 140th Belmont Stakes, including the race telecast on ABC Saturday, June 7, at 5:30 p.m.  ESPN will have Belmont-related programming at noon (Today at the Belmont Stakes) and 5 p.m. (The Belmont Stakes Special).

 

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball

ESPN’s exclusive Sunday Night Baseball games will continue each week at 8 p.m.  The network will also televise weekly games on Monday and Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.  The last Wednesday night game of the month will be televised on ESPN2.

NCAA

ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise 12 games from the Road to Omaha – Super Regional games leading into Game #1 of the NCAA College World Series.  Super Regional coverage will begin with four games Friday, June 6, starting at 12 p.m. on ESPN and at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.  College World Series action will begin Saturday, June 14, at 2 and 7 p.m. on ESPN.  Both networks will combine to provide coverage of up to 17 games from the series. 

 

NASCAR

ESPN2’s NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and qualifying races will lead into the network’s three race schedule this month from Nashville (June 7, at 7:30 p.m.), Kentucky (June 14, at 8:30 p.m.) and Milwaukee (June 21, at 8:30 p.m.).  Practice runs are televised one day prior to live race action with the qualifying race featured on the same day as the race.  ABC’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race will include the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire Saturday, June 28, at 3 p.m.

 

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

ESPN2’s weekly regular-season AFL games will continue with two appearances by the Colorado Crush – Monday, June 2, at 10:30 p.m. vs. New York and at Arizona Monday, June 16, at 10 p.m.  The postseason schedule will begin with a Wild Card telecast Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.  Additional Wild Card games will be available on ESPN with three telecasts, including a doubleheader Saturday, June 28, at 1 and 4 p.m. 

 

TENNIS

ESPN2 will begin day-long live programming of Wimbledon, The Championships when play begins Monday, June 23, with action and highlight shows continuing daily through Sunday, July 6.  ESPN2 will take fans to Wimbledon from the first ball through a recap of the Gentlemen’s final.  Each weekday of the fortnight in London, ESPN2’s live coverage will begin at 7 a.m. with Wake Up to Wimbledon, a one-hour show previewing the day with a focus on matches already underway on the outer courts.

 

GOLF

The first and second rounds of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, from San Diego, Calif., will be televised on ESPN starting with a U.S. Open Extra Thursday, June 12, at 11 a.m.  Second round action will cap ESPN’s two-day coverage Friday, June 13, at 1 p.m. (part I) and conclude at 5 p.m. (part II).  A preview of the final round will be available on SportsCenter Sunday, June 15, at 11:30 a.m.

 

The U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship, from Edina, Minn., will take place later this month with coverage on ESPN Thursday, June 26, at 12 p.m. and Friday, June 27.

 

MISCELLANEOUS


JULY

ESPN, ESPN2 & ABC

AWARDS

The 16th annual ESPYs will be hosted by Justin Timberlake, who will be joined by an all-star lineup of top athletes and entertainers to celebrate the best sports stories of the year. The two-hour event will move to the new NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, a world-class 7,100-seat venue located across the street from STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles. The 2008 ESPYs presented by HUMMER will be televised July 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD with additional unique content available on a variety of ESPN multimedia platforms including ESPN.com and ESPN International.

 

X GAMES 14


Live coverage of X Games 14, the world’s premier action sports event, will begin Thursday, July 31, at 9 p.m. on ESPN.  The network will combine with ESPN2 and ABC to provide full coverage of the annual competition.  Prior to this year’s first event, ESPN will provide a behind-the-scenes view with X Games 14 All Access Preview, Wednesday, July 30, at 1 p.m.  For more information please click here.

 

NASCAR

NASCAR Sprint Cup airs on ESPN starting Sunday, July 27 with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard  from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Live programming will begin with NASCAR Countdown an hour before the race at 1 p.m.

 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

ESPN’s extensive Major League Baseball All-Star coverage will be highlighted by ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com’s live coverage of the 2008 State Farm Home Run Derby Monday, July 14 at 8 p.m. hosted by the N.Y. Yankees at Yankees Stadium.  This is ESPN’s 11th year of live Derby coverage, which is traditionally ESPN’s highest-rated summer program.  On the eve of the Derby, ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of the New York Mets as they host the defending N.L. Champion Colorado Rockies at 8 p.m.  The following week’s Sunday Night Baseball (July 20) telecast will feature rivals Boston and Los Angeles as the Angels of Anaheim host the World Series champions at a special 6 p.m. start time.

 

TENNIS on ESPN2

Wimbledon, The Championships will conclude with coverage of the quarterfinals (July 1-2) and semifinals (July 3-4).  SportsCenter will provide highlights from the Women’s (July 5, at 2 p.m.) and Men’s (July 6, at 3 p.m.) final match.  Additional tennis coverage includes the 2008 Olympus U.S. Open Series, schedule:

 

SOCCER ON ESPN2

The Houston Dynamo, winner of two back-to-back championships versus the New England Revolution, will visit Real Salt Lake on ESPN2’s MLS Primetime Thursday telecast July 3, at 10 p.m.  Additional games include CD Chivas vs. LA Galaxy, July 10, at 11 p.m. and Kansas City vs. Columbus, July 17, at 8 p.m.  The last game of the month will include live coverage of the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, from the home of the Toronto FC club, July 24, at 7 p.m.

 

BASKETBALL

The first ESPN2 WNBA Tuesday game of the month will feature the Atlanta Dream, the league’s expansion team, at home versus Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury.  The defending champions will also host the San Antonio Silver Stars July 15, at 9 p.m.  The Washington Mystics will make two back-to-back appearances on the ABC Sunday afternoon schedule, with home court advantage against San Antonio, July 6, at 1 p.m. and Connecticut, July 13, at 3:30 p.m.

 

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The 2008 AFL season will conclude with two divisional playoff games on ESPN Friday, July 4, (Independence Day) at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 5, at 3 p.m. and at 8 p.m. (ESPN2).  The conference championships will be televised the following weekend with a doubleheader Saturday, July 12, at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.  The championship game will be televised live on ABC Sunday, July 27, at 3 p.m.

 

POKER

ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the 2008 World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light, the world’s premier poker tournament, will begin Tuesday, July 22, at 8 p.m.  Coverage will continue each Tuesday generally at 9 p.m.  Norman Chad and Lon McEachern will return to provide complete analysis of the players and games.

 

GOLF

The third and final rounds of The British Open, from Southport, England, will be televised on ABC starting Saturday, July 19, at 9 a.m.  In addition, the first and second round of the U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship will be televised live on ESPN Thursday, July 31, at 1 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS


AUGUST

ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC

AUTO RACING


Live coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Series will continue each week on ESPN. Prior to each race, the network will televise NASCAR Countdown with the latest news and updates surrounding that weekend’s events.

ESPN2 and ABC’s comprehensive, multi-platform coverage of the full NASCAR Nationwide Series will include five races this month, four on ESPN2 and one on ABC (Saturday, Aug. 9, at 3 p.m. from Watkins Glen, N.Y.). Click here to access schedule.
• Firestone IndyCar Grand Prix of Detroit, Sunday, Aug. 31, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL


Major League Baseball telecasts will be available, live, three times a week on ESPN highlighted by exclusive Sunday Night Baseball games (also available in high definition on ESPN HD).

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL


ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present the Little League World Series from Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 17-26. ABC – entering the network’s 46th consecutive year of Little League World Series coverage – will provide live coverage of the International Championship Saturday, Aug. 23, at 12:30 p.m. ET with the U.S. Championship at 3:30 p.m. The following day the network will broadcast the Championship game at 3:30 p.m. Every Little League World Series game on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will be available in high definition. Coverage from Williamsport will begin Friday, Aug. 15 with regional winners competing in the pool-play round.

FOOTBALL

ESPN will kickoff its 2008 Monday Night Football preseason schedule with the New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals Thursday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN’s commentator team of Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and analysts Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser will call four NFL preseason games during the month of August – three on Mondays and one Thursday – in anticipation of their regular-season debut on Monday, Sept. 8. All preseason games will begin at 8 p.m.

The 2008 college football schedule on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will begin with a preview of the upcoming season from ESPN’s College GameDay crew Saturday, Aug. 24, at 2:30 p.m. on ABC. Additional studio coverage includes ESPN’s daily program College Football Live, with a 60-minute “Kickoff Special” Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. followed by the first two games of the season: North Carolina State vs. South Carolina at 8 p.m. on ESPN with Oregon State vs. Stanford at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. In addition, the Walt Disney World Resort will serve as a presenting sponsor of the MEAC-SWAC Challenge, an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned-and-operated event, featuring teams from two prominent HBCU (Historically Black College/University) leagues -- the MEAC’s Hampton University and the SWAC’s Jackson State University Sunday, Aug. 31, at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

TENNIS ON ESPN2

ESPN2 will televise five events from the 2008 Olympus U.S. Open Series in August, including: Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Countrywide Classic (August 1-3), Legg Mason Classic (August 8-10) culminating with the Pilot Penn (August 21-23).

WNBA

The first game after the Olympics will feature the Connecticut Sun hosting the Seattle Storm, Sunday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. on ABC.

 

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