Ok, after our two themed press release posts, let’s move on and finish what we started tonight. This is the last press release post for Monday and next, I’ll do some links before going to bed.
First, Comcast announces that ESPN360 becomes part of its system today.
COMCAST INCREASES MULTIPLATFORM SPORTS LINEUP TO 5,000+ LIVE SPORTING EVENTS
DELIVERS NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, ESPNU NETWORKS AND ESPN360
TO MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
PHILADELPHIA – August 10, 2009 – Comcast Corporation has boosted its sports lineup both online and on TV, delivering even more sporting events and programming from all of the major professional sports leagues and the best of college sports to millions more customers at no additional cost. The company also is offering an extensive online sports package through the launch of ESPN360 on Comcast.net to complement its in-depth international, national and local On Demand sports content. This extensive sports offering gives Comcast customers thousands of live sporting events on multiple platforms through TV, On Demand and online.
“For no additional charge, we’re giving compelling sports networks to millions of digital video customers and a fantastic online sports experience to all of our high-speed customers,” said Derek Harrar, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services for Comcast. “This change marks a major product enhancement by offering the best sports entertainment to customers on their terms whether on TV, On Demand or online.”
Sports fans today demand more – they want to surround themselves with their favorite teams’ games, news and stats, which has greatly expanded beyond game day in the living room on the big-screen. Comcast continues to offer fans more of the experience they want across all platforms.
Immersive Sports from Three Angles
1) WATCH LIVE ON TV
By broadening sports coverage to include NFL Network, NBA TV, NHL Network and ESPNU on its Digital Preferred package, these major sports outlets join Comcast’s current line-up of live sports programming that includes in-market games through local affiliates and national sports networks like MLB Network, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, Golf Channel, Speed and Versus.
Additionally, Comcast SportsNets deliver live sporting events annually in 10 key U.S. markets with the most comprehensive local sports news, analysis and debates. Comcast also will continue to offer its Sports Entertainment package to customers with networks including Fox Soccer, Fox College Sports, Tennis Channel, Gol TV, ESPN Classic and more.
2) WATCH WITH A CLICK OF A MOUSE
With ESPN360.com, Comcast high-speed Internet customers will have access to live online sports coverage from thousands of international events throughout the year including everything from soccer events such as FIFA World Cup to the Cricket World Cup, lacrosse, football, basketball, baseball and more. ESPN360, through www.comcast.net, gives Comcast high-speed customers control over their broadband sports viewing experience – providing reliable, high-quality video and the ability to pause, rewind and fast-forward up to 15 simultaneous live events. Recently completed events are archived and available for on-demand replay.
3) WATCH ON YOUR TERMS ON DEMAND
In addition to live sports, programming and commentary, Comcast digital customers can get a sports fix any time through On Demand including special programming, player and team information, game recaps, interviews and more from the following sports sources:
- NFL Network
- NBA TV
- NHL Network
- Versus
- Golf Channel
Big Ten Network- Speed Channel
- NBC Action Sports
- Havoc TV
- Gol TV
- Sportskool
- Exercise TV
- Special events including the Olympics, March Madness, Super Bowl, and Championship Golf events
On Demand Local Coverage – Comcast also provides extensive and in-depth local sports coverage with top sports teams around the country including Denver Broncos, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Seahawks, Notre Dame and Penn State.
Comcast’s expanded sports offering is part of Project Infinity, the company’s commitment to give consumers the best and most content they will find anywhere.
For good measure, this is ESPN’s announcement:
ESPN and Comcast Launch ESPN360.com Today via www.comcast.net
ESPN and Comcast are now providing ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature live sports broadband network, to Comcast’s more than 17 million high-speed Internet customers nationwide.Available at Comcast.net/espn360, the addition of ESPN360.com to Comcast’s high-speed service gives fans access to more than 3,500 live, global sports events annually.
“ESPN360.com gives fans with Comcast high-speed Internet service the best and broadest lineup of live sports online,” said Damon Phillips, vice president, ESPN360.com. “This launch speaks to the strong momentum that ESPN360.com has seen in the past year, and our continued dedication to work with partners like Comcast to serve sports fans.Starting today, fans will be able to see thousands of events – from college football and basketball to top global soccer, MLB and NBA, extensive coverage of major tennis and golf events as well as passion sports like rugby, and more.”
And Tennis magazine has declared Roger Federer as the Greatest Tennis Player of All-Time.
TENNIS MAGAZINE PROCLAIMS
ROGER FEDERER AS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Following French Open and Wimbledon Victories Magazine States the Case
NEW YORK, NY – August 10, 2009 – The question has been lobbed back and forth without resolve for many months, but on the heels of his stunning victories at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, in it’s September 2009 issue with Roger Federer gracing the cover, the editors of TENNIS Magazine ar
e in agreement — Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time.TENNIS Magazine states the case for Federer over the likes of Rod Laver, Don Budge, Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal by debunking the four main myths often held against Federer.
1. Federer never won a calendar-year Grand Slam – He came close twice but fell to one of the greatest clay court players ever. Also Laver won his Grand Slam’s without beating any Hall of Famers who were banned during those years.
2. Laver would have won more Grand Slams if he were allowed to play in them from 1963-’67 – Hard to argue with, but the bottom line is that no one knows what would have happened to Laver in the 20 majors he missed. What If can’t be imported into the greatest-ever debate, where the only thing we have to go on are the statistics in front of us.
3. Grand Slam titles alone should note decide the greatest ever – Federer’s other accomplishments stack up with anyone who ever played. He has reached the finals in 10 straight Grand Slam events. And, his 2006 season with a 92-5 record, reaching the finals in 16 of 17 events and winning 12 titles is historic.
4. Federer can’t be the greatest with a 7-13 record against Nadal – The numbers do not tell the whole story. Federer is actually penalized for his success at Roland Garros where he lost to Nadal in the finals three times. In contrast Nadal has never played Federer in the finals at the US Open. The argument for Nadal as the greatest can begin in a few years if he continues to win Grand Slams.
“We will not tip toe around this issue like others or play the game of splitting players into pre-Open era and Open era,” said James Martin, Editor of TENNIS Magazine and Tennis.com. “We’re not hedging our bets. We are firm in our belief that Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player ever. Period.”
This next release is from DirecTV and I had to go to the website to find it (I’m going to ask for the releases again, DirecTV and remember, I’m a subscriber!). This is about DirecTV’s plans for expanded coverage of the PGA Championship starting on Thursday.
DIRECTV Completes Golf’s ‘Grand Slam’ With Expanded 2009 PGA Championship Coverage
DIRECTV’s Exclusive Mix Channel Features TNT and CBS Broadcasts in HD Along with Interactive Services For a More In-depth Viewing Experience
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug 10, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — DIRECTV will complete its exclusive Mix Channel/interactive coverage of all four of professional golf’s majors with its broadcast of the 2009 PGA Championship Aug. 13-16, the last major of the year.
Supplementing broadcast feeds from TNT and CBS, as well as online content from PGA.com, DIRECTV will be the only TV provider to offer expanded, four-channel coverage of the 91st PGA Championship at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. for all four days of the Championship. Golf fans will have the opportunity to watch the drama unfold live on three extra channels in addition to the main network feed, only on DIRECTV.
DIRECTV’s expanded coverage, available free to customers, will include channels dedicated to following a marquee group of players, the play on the course’s four challenging Par 3 holes and “Players in Depth,” featuring highlights and interviews with the leaderboard’s top players. All four channels (702-705) will be in HD and displayed on DIRECTV’s Mix Channel (701) with each tuneable to full screen. For more details visit directv.com/pga.
The feature channels, along with live network coverage, will be available throughout each network’s broadcast hours, Thursday and Friday from TNT (2-8 p.m. ET) and on Saturday and Sunday from TNT (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET ) and CBS (2-7 p.m. ET). Complimentary online coverage will also be available all four days from PGA.com.
“The 2009 PGA Championship is golfers’ last shot at glory this year and for golf fans their final opportunity to see golf the way it was meant to be seen, on multiple screens, in HD with instant access to scorecards and leaderboard information,” said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. “With our broadcast partners we’ve been able to take the golf viewing experience on TV to an entirely new level, infusing that happy marriage between technology and sports with an exciting blend of vivid imagery and information that is vital for any red-blooded sports fan.”
In addition to the Mix Channel, DIRECTV will offer on each full-screen HD channel, a menu of features instantly accessible via remote:
- Top Five Leaders: Displays the top five current scores against par.
- Leaderboard: Provides information on all golfers in the field and access to player scorecards and hole-by-hole stats for each player in the field. The current round and any previous rounds are included. At the top of the page, the players’ current year statistics are displayed.
- PGA Championship Trivia: A new five-question quiz on the history of the PGA Championship appears each day.
There you have it. Some late night links are next.
