ESPNU -- New College Initiative -- To Debut In March, 2005

7-Sep-04

ESPN is celebrating its 25th anniversary by announcing ESPNU, a multi-media college sports initiative across ESPN's family of services, which will include a new 24-hour television network, content and components for ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Mobile (wireless), ESPN Radio, ESPN Interactive, ESPN Broadband, merchandising and more. ESPNU will debut in March 2005, it was announced by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports. ìThe college sports fan and ESPN have built a passionate bond that's 25 years strong,"" Bodenheimer said. ""ESPNU will offer a broad variety of ESPN-branded college product across all of our entities, which will enhance our relationship with fans and colleges, and provide value to our affiliates and advertisers."" Cross-promotion for ESPNU, supporting television and other media, will extend across all entities. ESPNU Components TelevisionEvent programming will be the cornerstone of the new television network, highlighted by approximately 300 live events -- primarily Division I football and men's and women's basketball -- in the network's first year. Action will include regular-season and NCAA Championships. In addition, ESPNU will offer comprehensive studio programming, replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television games, plus specials and more. Additional programming detail is listed below. ESPN.comThere will be a significant ESPNU site within ESPN.com, part of the growing college offerings from the leading sports Web site. New MediaESPNU-branded content, promotions and interactive live elements will be featured on ESPN Broadband, ESPN Mobile (wireless) and ESPN Interactive TV. Examples of potential plans include personalized college alerts on mobile devices and an extensive broadband section. ESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine plans to present ESPNU offerings, such as inserts, within the publication. ESPN RadioESPNU elements will be part of ESPN Radio's expansive college programming. ESPN EnterprisesOther ESPNU components will be developed across additional ESPN entities, including ESPN Enterprises which plans to introduce ESPNU merchandise. Programming Specifics -- ESPNU Television Network Regular SeasonESPNU will offer regular-season Division I games, highlighted by Division I football and men's and women's college basketball. It will also include baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, wrestling and spring football, plus select high school football telecasts. Many events will be aired exclusively on the network, while other ESPNU telecasts will co-exist with events syndicated on other outlets regionally through ESPN Regional Television (ERT) arrangements. NCAA ChampionshipsIn its first year, ESPNU will supplement ESPN and ESPN2's extensive NCAA Championships coverage with games from select rounds of various Men's and Women's NCAA Championship events, including many of the collegiate Olympic sports. Studio/News ProgrammingStudio programming will range from pre- and post-game shows for the majority of live events to weekly programs analyzing the polls (including the BCS) to stand-alone programs previewing National Signing Days and NCAA Championships. In addition, plans include for ESPNU to offer coverage of press conferences and a college sports-specific ""bottom line"" news/scores scroll. Replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ERT GamesMany of the top college sports events televised on ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and through ESPN Regional Television's syndicated outlets will be replayed on ESPNU. In many cases, those replays will immediately follow the original telecasts. SpecialsCollege sports-themed specials from ESPN Original Entertainment -- such as movies, The Season documentaries and College SportsCentury profile series -- will have a home on ESPNU, as will classic games and more. For more information about ESPN, please visit www.espn.com.

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