I was reading this press release and noticed that ABC gets to air some live sports for once! ABC carries the final of the BNP Paribas Open along with the men’s semifinals.
ESPN2 will have extensive coverage of both BNP Paribas and the Sony Ericsson through the semifinal rounds. CBS has the finals of Miami. Here’s the press release from ESPN.
Indian Wells & Miami Tennis Return to ESPN
Nadal, Federer, Wozniacki & Clijsters Lead Top Fields
125 Hours on ESPN3.com, BNP Paribas Open Finals on ABC
With the top men and women players in the world – led by Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki – the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, Calif., and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami – return to ESPN this month. Both events – the two biggest tennis tournaments in the world outside the majors – will enjoy extensive schedules on ESPN3.com, with action also on ESPN2 and the first tennis on ABC since 2003.
ESPN3.com will present 125 hours combined from the events, streaming live the world feed from the main court at each tournament (started March 12 at Indian Wells, starts March 26 in Miami). ESPN3.com will offer more than 100 exclusive hours, and will simulcast ESPN2’s matches.
The TV schedule totals 30 hours:
- Indian Wells – ESPN2 will air the men’s quarterfinals and women’s semifinals Friday, March 18 – with the men’s semifinals broadcast on ABC on Saturday, March 19, and the men’s and women’s finals on ABC on Sunday, March 20.
- Miami – the quarterfinals and semifinals March 30 – April 1 on ESPN2.
All programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU is also available online through ESPNnetworks.com
In California,Cliff Drysdale will call the action on the women’s matches with Mary Joe Fernandez while Chris Fowler teams with Darren Cahill for men’s play. Pam Shriver will serve as a courtside reporter on all matches. In Florida, Drysdale and Fernandez will again be paired with Patrick McEnroe joining Fowler on men’s matches. Brad Gilbert will be the sideline reporter.
ESPN2 last televised these hardcourt events in 2007, having aired each for many years, including the Florida tournament since 1985. The events are two of the nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and are two of the four mandatory events on the WTA tour.
Top Players in Action
Nadal and Federer, ranked no. 1 and 2 in the world, will led a field that includes no. 3-5: Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic, Robin Soderling and Andy Murray. Wozniacki is the top-ranked women’s player, followed by Clijsters (winner of the last two Grand Slam events, the US and Australian Opens), Vera Zvonareva, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur.
Date
Time (ET)
Telecast
Network
BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, Calif.
Fri, March 18 4-6 p.m. 11 p.m.-1 a.m.
Women’s Semifinal #1 Women’s Semifinal #2
ESPN2 + ESPN3.com ESPN2 + ESPN3.com
Sat, March 19 2-6 p.m. Men’s Semifinals ABC Sun, March 20 2-6 p.m. Men’s + Women’s Finals ABC Sony Ericsson Open, Miami Wed, March 30 1-5 p.m. Men’s + Women’s Quarterfinals ESPN2 + ESPN3.com 7-11 p.m. Men’s + Women’s Quarterfinals ESPN2 + ESPN3.com Thur, March 31 1-5 p.m. Women’s Semi #1 + Men’s Q-final ESPN2 + ESPN3.com 11 p.m.-1 a.m. – * Women’s Semifinal #2 ESPN2 + ESPN3.com Fri, April 1 1-3 p.m. Men’s Semifinal #1 ESPN2 + ESPN3.com * – Sameday tape
7-9 p.m. Men’s Semifinal #2 ESPN2 + ESPN3.com
That’s all.
