ESPN To Provide 2008 U.S. Open Content Across 15 Platforms

Live Primetime Coverage of First Two Rounds
Interactive Television, Live Mobile Video, Expanded ESPN360.com Experience & Production Enhancements Highlight New Initiatives

ESPN will provide unprecedented coverage of the 2008 U.S. Open Championship from Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego including primetime telecasts of the first two rounds on ESPN on Thursday and Friday, June 12-13. Additionally, there will be coverage of the national championship across 15 multimedia platforms: ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPNEWS, ESPN International, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPNDeportes.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN VOD, Interactive Television (ITV) and ESPN Mobile TV. This year’s expanded multimedia highlights include:

• Interactive Television (ITV): The addition of a third live feed focused on Torrey Pines’ signature Par 3 Third Hole.  U.S. Open coverage of the first two rounds will be seen in a combined 25 million homes on DirecTV (in HD where available) and the Dish Network;
• Live mobile video: ESPN Mobile TV will present live streaming  Thursday and Friday (through Verizon’s V Cast Mobile TV service);
• Expanded ESPN360.com coverage; Six channels of U.S. Open programming, including live coverage of Torrey Pines’ signature hole #3 and marquee group coverage featuring the unprecedented pairing of the world’s top three players: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.  
• U.S. Open Extra Presented by Titleist, which provides viewers with a unique perspective of ESPN’s coverage through its multiplatform surround approach on ESPN
• Production enhancements including innovative Golf Trak and TrackMan technology.

ESPN will deliver nearly 40 hours of U.S. Open programming across its television networks, including 14 hours of live first- and second-round action (1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and 5 – 10 p.m. ET each day) , SportsCenter presented by American Express at the U.S. Open preview and highlight shows, plus Best of the U.S. Open, which airs in the early morning. All coverage will be in high definition.

"Thanks to the exemplary partnership we have with the USGA, ESPN will be able to reach golf fans all over the world on our many platforms,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, programming and acquisitions.  “The USGA has long embraced ESPN's multimedia approach, which allows us to continue to provide compelling content of our nation's national championship and will expand the audience for the sport."

Chris Berman, who has covered the U.S. Open on ESPN since 1986, and Mike Tirico will host ESPN’s live coverage Thursday and Friday. Former U.S. Open Champion Curtis Strange will join them in the booth alongside analysts Andy North, Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch; along with hole announcers Bob Murphy, Mark Rolfing, Terry Gannon and Jimmy Roberts and on-course reporters Tom Rinaldi, Judy Rankin, Dottie Pepper and Bill Kratzert. Karl Ravech, North and Scott Van Pelt will also anchor SportsCenter reports from Torrey Pines.  ESPN The Magazine’s new columnist Rick Reilly will contribute to ESPN’s coverage, providing essays and commentaries.   Ravech and North will host U.S. Open Extra. 

Production highlights for the 2008 U.S. Open include the use of innovative Golf Trak and TrackMan technology. Golf Trak utilizes real-life aerial footage in a 3D environment to enhance the telecast. TrackMan will capture detailed player launch and trajectory data from two holes this year, the 6th and 13th. 

Among the features planned in ESPN’s television coverage:

• Tiger’s Knee: Will his injury hurt his performance?

• The Putter: The love/hate relationship between the player and the club.

• Ernie Els and Autism: Els, whose son Ben has autism, has been crusading to find a cure for the disease.

• Tony Romo: The Dallas Cowboy attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open.

• Rick Reilly: Commentaries and Essays

• North’s Notes: Andy North on Torrey Pines key holes.

• Angel Cabrera: A profile of the defending champion and a visit to his hometown in Argentina.

• Camp Pendleton Golf: Golf as therapy, to wounded warriors coming back from the Persian Gulf.

2008 U.S. Open Telecast Schedule

Interactive Television (ITV): enhanced mosaic coverage with up to six different screens (depending on service) available during ESPN’s telecast on Thursday and Friday through DirecTV (channels 1-4) and Dish Network (channels 1-6). DirecTV will offer its coverage in HD (where available):

1. ESPN’s live coverage;
2. Marquee group coverage on Thursday and Friday of the pairing of the world’s #1, 2 and 3 players: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott  as well as Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy and Justin Rose (Thursday) and Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Stewart Cink (Friday);
3. Up Close:  A deeper look at the Championship, featuring live coverage from the practice range, press conferences, interviews and more;  
4. Live coverage of all groups from Torrey Pines signature Par 3 third hole;
5. Highlights and best shots of the day; and
6. Historical archives featuring the best moments from previous U.S. Open Championships, plus highlights from past PGA Tour events on the legendary Torrey Pines course.

ESPN360.com:

• Live online simulcast of ESPN’s Thursday and Friday television coverage in HD;
• Live webcast coverage of groups featuring Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson
• Live coverage from the driving range, press conferences and interviews
• Live Par 3 coverage of the signature third hole
• The latest highlights and best shots from all the day’s action
• Archival channel of classic U.S. Open Championships and highlights
• U.S. Open Extra presented by Titleist

Mobile Properties:

• Live mobile video simulcasts of ESPN’s Thursday and Friday telecasts offered on ESPN Mobile TV (available via Verizon’s V Cast Mobile TV service);

• ESPN Mobile Web will feature "Tigercast" in the Hot Corner; a detailed breakdown of each of Tiger Woods’ rounds as well as leaderboard alerts;
• U.S. Open leaderboard;
• U.S. Open Insider content, news, and columns;
• Scoring alerts for top players;
• Leaderboard updates;
• Video shot packs of select golfers; and
• In-depth mobile content available through ESPN MVP – exclusively on Verizon Wireless – and through ESPN’s WAP site across wireless carriers.

ESPN VOD:

• Video-on-demand content to select cable providers includes past U.S. Open Championships (2002-2007) as well as recaps from each round with highlights and featured player shotpacks.

ESPN.com:

Covering the 2008 U.S. Open from all angles, ESPN.com will provide:

• Columns from featured writers Jason Sobel, Pat Forde and  Bob Harig;
• Interactive leaderboard and live scores;
• A daily blog by Sobel;
• Video content, including highlights, analysis, clips from SportsCenter and press conferences;
• Podcasts;
• Live chats; and
• SportsNation polling.

ESPN Radio:

• U.S. Open Preview Special, hosted by Doug Brown and Dan Davis, will air Wednesday, June 11,  at 8 p.m. and again at midnight.
• Mike Tirico will host his radio show from Torrey Pines on Thursday, June 12.
• SportsCenter Update hourly reports by Davis on site throughout the Championship.

ESPN International:

ESPN International will offer coverage of the U.S. Open to viewers in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East/North Africa, Israel, Canada (TSN), and Asia (ESPN Star Sports).  ESPN’s telecast for the Latin American region will feature play-by-play from Siliva Bertolaccini, a 14-year veteran of the LPGA Tour and analyst Francisco Aleman. In addition, U.S. Open Classic golf films will air on ESPN’s Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East/North Africa and Israel networks.  U.S. Open SportsCenters will also air in Sub-Saharan Africa and Israel.

ESPN Deportes:  

ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language domestic network, will provide more than  nine hours of live U.S. Open coverage: Thursday from 5-9:25 p.m.and Friday from 5-10 p.m. ESPN Deportes.com will provide live scores/standings, news, columns, polls and daily video analysis and highlights. 

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