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| May 7, 2008 | ESPN PR
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860-766-2000
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NBA Playoffs: ESPN Viewership up 28 Percent through First Round; ABC up 18 Percent through Second Weekend <contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com or mark.d.mandel@espn.com> ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs has averaged 2,306,000 household impressions through the first round, an increase of 28 percent when compared to 1,807,000 households last year. The corresponding 2.4 rating is up 26 percent over last season’s 1.9 rating. This marks the highest-rated and most-viewed opening round ever on ESPN (previously 2,112,000 households and a 2.3 rating in 2006). Through the second weekend of the NBA Playoffs (April 27), ABC is averaging 3,571,000 household impressions, up 18 percent over last year’s 3,019,000 households. Additionally, the 3.2 rating is up 19 percent over the 2.7 rating in 2007. ABC’s 4.2 overnight rating for Boston/Atlanta Game 7 (Sunday, May 4) is up 40 percent over the comparable broadcast last year (New Jersey/Cleveland, Conference Semifinals Game 1 – 3.0 overnight rating). ABC’s 4.8 overnight rating for Utah/Los Angeles Lakers Conference Semifinals Game 1 (Sunday, May 4) is up seven percent over the broadcast last season (San Antonio/Phoenix, Conference Semifinals Game 1 – 4.5 overnight rating).
NBA Playoffs Continue With Six Games in Four Days; Saturday Primetime Showdown on ABC <contact: nate.smeltz@espn.com; mark.d.mandel@espn.com> The NBA Playoffs will continue on ESPN and ABC with six games this week, highlighted by a Saturday Game 3 in primetime when the Boston Celtics and Kevin Garnett face the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James (8 p.m. ET on ABC). All ESPN game telecasts are also available in high definition on ESPN HD, along with simulcasts on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. This week’s schedule:
ESPN The Magazine: How NBA and NHL Athletes Play Through the Pain <contact: crystal.howard@espn.com> In “Sucking It Up,” ESPN The Magazine looks at how NBA and NHL athletes play through the pain - especially during the playoffs. How do physical and psychological pain assist, and impede, a team’s chances of winning when it really counts? From Willis Reed to Joe Thornton to Derek Fisher there are plenty of examples. In addition, ESPNthemag.com is featuring an extended “Pain Package” to include Playing Through the Pain and Warriors and Wimps - a survey with anonymous comments by players/about players across the two leagues.
Dale Jr. Talks Openly in Latest ESPN The Magazine Cover Story <contact: crystal.howard@espn.com> Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent the last seven years, since his father’s death, learning how to live without him. In the cover story for ESPN The Magazine, “All Grown Up”, Junior talks in depth publicly for the first time about the pain of losing his dad, who died in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001. Writer Marty Smith reveals that since Junior left the DEI family business for NASCAR juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports this season, he finally feels like himself again. Excerpts from Earnhardt:
ESPN The Magazine was granted exclusive access to Junior’s property and Whiskey River, the replica Wild West town on his 200 acres of land in North Carolina. The issue is on newsstands today, May 7. ESPNthemag.com will exhibit a complementary photo gallery and a “behind the story” by Smith, who lost his own father while writing the piece on Earnhardt.
Ricky Craven, Ray Evernham on Monday’s NASCAR Now <contact: andy.hall@espn.com or george.mcneilly@espn.com> Former NASCAR driver Ricky Craven, who five years ago beat Kurt Busch by .002 second at Darlington Raceway in the closest finish in NASCAR history, will be a guest panelist on the weekly roundtable discussion on NASCAR Now, ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information show, Monday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion crew chief and ESPN analyst Ray Evernham and ESPN reporter Mike Massaro also join host Allen Bestwick in an hour-long discussion of the NASCAR weekend at Darlington as well as the latest NASCAR news. Evernham also will appear on Monday’s ESPN First Take and Craven will conduct a live chat on ESPN.com.
AFL “Live-Wired” Monday Night on ESPN2; Miced Players, Coaches and Referee - Bentley to Narrate <contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com> ESPN2 will present a special “Live-Wired” telecast of Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football that will bring viewers into the arena through additional microphones, locker room access, and wall-to-wall action and sound from the AFL matchup between the Philadelphia Soul and Georgia Force Monday, May 12, at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 and in high definition on ESPN2 HD. The game will also be simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Analyst Ray Bentley will narrate the game and lead viewers in and out of breaks, timeouts and plays in the red zone, as well as conduct live interviews throughout the telecast. Most of the audio will come from on-field action through commentary from the players, coaches and referees. ESPN2 will utilize sevensevenmicrophones total. Monday night’s game is the 12th of 29 AFL games that will be telecast on ESPN networks in 2008 including 18 regular season games and Arena Bowl XXII in New Orleans July 27. The next game is the Los Angeles Avengers at Chicago Rush, Monday, May 19 at 8 p.m. Additionally, on Saturday May 10, ESPN360.com will simulcast three AFL Games as part of its season-long, 42-game schedule – Columbus at Kansas City at 6 p.m.; Grand Rapids at Dallas at 8 p.m. ; and Colorado at Utah at 9 p.m. . Games are subject to blackout.
ESPNU to Televise Live Announcement of NCAA Division I Softball Championship Field May 11 <contact: michael.c.humes@espn.com> ESPNU will televise the live, exclusive announcement of the 64 teams participating in the NCAA Division I Softball Championship during a special half-hour show Sunday, May 11, at 10 p.m. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will combine to provide the most extensive NCAA Division I Softball Championship coverage ever with up to 45 games. Look for a release with details and schedule early next week.
ASA Softball: Team USA vs. Michigan Tuesday on ESPN2 <contact: kimberly.jessup@espn.com> ASA Softball’s Team USA celebrated its 26th victory in the KFC Bound 4 Beijing tour this season, defeating the Michigan Wolverines Tuesday, May 6. ESPN2 will televise the game Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m. Team USA will compete in 62 games during the tour against top NCAA Division I opponents, regional All-Star opponents as well as International competition as members make their way to the Beijing Summer Olympics.
NCAA Men’s Division I Lacrosse Tournament Begins This Weekend on ESPNU <contact: tilea.coleman@espn.com> For the second year in a row, ESPN networks will televise all 15 games from the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Beginning this weekend, ESPNU will provide exclusive coverage of all eight first-round games, May 10-11, and for the first time, televise the quarterfinals exclusively May 17-18. The NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Semifinals and Championship (May 24 and 26) will be available in high definition on ESPN2 HD and ESPN HD, respectively, while ESPN360.com, will simulcast the final three games. See today’s press release for more information.
ESPN2 Friday Night Fights: Hometown Favorite Arnaoutis to Face Undefeated Tyner in Atlantic City <contact: doug.grassian@espn.com> In the 12-round junior welterweight main event bout on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, Mike Arnaoutis (18-2-1, 9 KOs) of Atlantic City, N.J., will square off against undefeated Lanardo Tyner (19-0, 11 KOs) at Bally’s in Atlantic City. Coverage will begin at 10 p.m. with Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitorre ringside for commentary and analysis. ESPN2 Friday Night Fights is celebrating its 10th anniversary and continues to feature vignettes from the top-10 fights in the franchise’s history.
Madfin Shark Series Features Final Round of Competition <contact: doug.grassian@espn.com> The four two-angler teams competing in the Quiznos Madfin Shark Series are ready for the final round of tournament action airing Saturday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN2. The series is the only catch and release shark fishing tournament ever aired on television and is hosted by Meghan Heaney-Grier. Now in its third year, two-angler teams battle five foot and bigger sharks; catching them, measuring them at the boat, removing the hook, and releasing them alive for points.
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