Post by dkennedy on Feb 28, 2005 6:00:18 GMT -5
ESPNU to Offer Broad College Sports Coverage
February 23, 2005
By Megan Larson
ESPNU will launch March 4 in about 3 million homes with an aim to differentiate itself from sibling channels ESPN and ESPN2, and other sports networks, by offering college athletic teams and events that haven't typically been available on national TV, said vp/general manager Burke Magnus on Wednesday.
"The branding of the logo will give [the channel] the feel of any ESPN project," said Magnus. "The distinction is that we will get into teams and sports that haven't gotten a lot of exposure before."
The programming base for ESPNU's approximately 300 events is on Division 1 football and basketball, but ESPNU will air more college baseball, softball, lacrosse and hockey than either ESPN or ESPN2. Plus, ESPNU will layer in different college conferences that don't get a lot of national airtime.
Commenting on the increasing popularity of women's basketball over the last few years, Magnus said ESPNU may uncover the next new favorite sports trend by airing alternative events and conferences.
If anchor Mike Hall, the original winner of ESPN's Dream Job, were to pick an underappreciated sport to air on ESPN, what would he choose? Ultimate Frisbee, he said.
ESPNU premieres on Friday, March 4 with a two-hour event, ESPNU College GameDay, broadcast from the site of the following day's Texas at Oklahoma State men's college basketball game. GameDay also will be simulcast on ESPN2.
February 23, 2005
By Megan Larson
ESPNU will launch March 4 in about 3 million homes with an aim to differentiate itself from sibling channels ESPN and ESPN2, and other sports networks, by offering college athletic teams and events that haven't typically been available on national TV, said vp/general manager Burke Magnus on Wednesday.
"The branding of the logo will give [the channel] the feel of any ESPN project," said Magnus. "The distinction is that we will get into teams and sports that haven't gotten a lot of exposure before."
The programming base for ESPNU's approximately 300 events is on Division 1 football and basketball, but ESPNU will air more college baseball, softball, lacrosse and hockey than either ESPN or ESPN2. Plus, ESPNU will layer in different college conferences that don't get a lot of national airtime.
Commenting on the increasing popularity of women's basketball over the last few years, Magnus said ESPNU may uncover the next new favorite sports trend by airing alternative events and conferences.
If anchor Mike Hall, the original winner of ESPN's Dream Job, were to pick an underappreciated sport to air on ESPN, what would he choose? Ultimate Frisbee, he said.
ESPNU premieres on Friday, March 4 with a two-hour event, ESPNU College GameDay, broadcast from the site of the following day's Texas at Oklahoma State men's college basketball game. GameDay also will be simulcast on ESPN2.