ESPN Covers NCAA Championships

[admin]

ESPN to expand its live coverage from the 2007 NCAA Wrestling Championships

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA and ESPN announced today expanded live television coverage of the 2007 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 15-17 in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

For the first time, in the 77-year history of the Division I Wrestling Championships, the Saturday morning medal round will be televised. Scheduled for 10 a.m. EST March 17 on ESPNU, the championships medal round determines the 3rd through 8th place finishers who are honored as All-Americans.

“This is a great moment for wrestling fans that will now have the opportunity to see the championship medal round on ESPNU, plus extensive coverage of the Division I Wrestling Championships across our networks,” said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. “The advent of ESPNU has created opportunity for increased coverage of college sports at every level and further demonstrates our commitment to the NCAA and its membership.”

ESPN’s coverage of the Division I Wrestling Championships has vastly expanded over the last five years. In 2001, only the finals aired on ESPN2 tape delay. In 2003, the championships saw its first ever live coverage in Kansas City, Missouri during the semifinals, while in 2004 the package increased with both the semifinals and finals aired live on ESPN2 and in syndication from St. Louis, Missouri. Three years later, the 2007 championships will now have four of the six sessions on live television with the finals in a primetime time slot on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 17. Session three will air at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 16 on ESPNU and session four following at 7 p.m. on ESPNU and in syndication.

“I can’t begin to express how much NCAA Wrestling’s partnership with ESPN has meant to our sport,” said Colonel William Walker, chair of the Division I Wrestling Committee, Deputy Director of Athletics/Department Head of Physical Education at the United States Air Force Academy.

“It has given us a chance to showcase some of the hardest-working student-athletes in the country during one of the most exciting events in collegiate athletics. The expanded ESPN coverage only adds to that tremendous exposure. We’re truly grateful to ESPN for their cooperation in making the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships a prime-time event.”

The 2007 championships will be held March 15-17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan (Detroit suburb). The University of Michigan and the Detroit Metro Sports Commission will serve as hosts.

Tickets for the 2007 championships are available by visiting http://www.detroitsports.org/wrestli...ets/index.html

ESPN360.com offers live stream of all four mats at NCAA quarterfinals, plus post-event press conferences

Wrestling fans have an exciting and technically advanced new way to enjoy the NCAA Championships this year, by logging in to ESPN360.

On Monday, the NCAA announced that ESPN360.com will be doing live web streaming from the Palace. There was no explanation in that announcement, except for a schedule.

However, former Iowa State head coach and veteran wrestling announcer Jim Gibbons was very excited about his role in this new broadcast project. He wanted the entire wrestling community to know about this, and encourage them to check out the new innovation.

ESPN360 will compliment the ESPNU and ESPN telecasts by providing live continuous coverage of all four mats during the quarterfinals, giving users the option to select the match they want to see.

“ESPNU will feature one quarterfinal match on television,” said Gibbons. “With the ESPN360 feed, you can choose from all of the matches. I will be commenting on all of the quarterfinals."

No matter which mat the user selects, the video will be augmented by an audio call from Jim Gibbons, who will keep the broadband audience aware of the activity on all four matches. This coverage allows ESPN to serve wrestling fans with a customizable experience that lets the user watch the specific matches that he/she want to see.

“I am excited as I can be to present the quarterfinals in this new format,” said Gibbons.

In addition, ESPN360 will provide live coverage of all post match press conferences during the semifinal and final rounds.

So while the semifinal action is being shown on ESPNU, fans can augment that experience by listening to the post-match interview sessions on ESPN360.

“It will be exciting for the fans who won’t be able to attend,” said Gibbons. “If you are not at the show, you can see quite a bit of the wrestling. This is great.”

ESPN360 Videos are FREE for fans whose Internet Service Providers are affiliates of ESPN.

ESPN360 Videos include live games, extended content, PTI:Pardon the Interruption, Around the Horn, and exclusive online shows like Sweat Spot and Home Base.

To find out if you receive ESPN360, go to:
http://www.espn360.com

ESPN360 coverage

March 16 – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Stream all four mats

March 16 – 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Post Match Interview coverage

March 17 – 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Championship Finals
Post Match Interview coverage

- Special thanks to Jeff Cravens, Senior Director, Programming, New Media for ESPN