Category: ‘Announcements’

posted by on May 23, 2013 4:40 PM

New colleagues looking forward to Paul Finebaum’s ESPN arrival

Paul Finebaum (Joe Faraoni/ ESPN Images)

Paul Finebaum (Joe Faraoni/ ESPN Images)

Earlier today, ESPN announced the hiring of the “Voice of the SEC,” Paul Finebaum. With duties that will range from hosting a daily radio show (eventually simulcasting it on the SEC Network) to appearing on a variety ESPN shows and platforms, Finebaum will work with a wide cross-section of people at ESPN. Here, a few offer their thoughts on the multi-talented Finebaum.

“Paul knows the SEC better than anyone – the passion, the rivalries and the hot buttons for an electric fan base. We are thrilled to have Paul join the ESPN team. He will be a fantastic addition and help both ESPN and the SEC Network serve sports fans in a unique and powerful way.” – Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President of College Networks continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements

posted by on May 16, 2013 3:05 PM

LPGA champion, former ESPYs winner Dottie Pepper joins ESPN’s golf coverage as analyst, anchor

Dottie Pepper (Photo credit: PGA of America/Montana Pritchard Photography)

Dottie Pepper (Photo credit: PGA of America/Montana Pritchard Photography)

Dottie Pepper, a major championship-winning professional golfer, as well as a respected television commentator and author, has joined ESPN’s golf coverage team and will make her debut at next month’s U.S. Open. She will work as an analyst, anchor and on-course reporter and write for ESPN.com.

Front Row caught up with Pepper to talk about her new role.

How did joining ESPN come about? continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Behind The Scenes, GolfonESPN

posted by on May 16, 2013 1:36 PM

ESPN becomes the exclusive home to US Open tennis beginning in 2015

ESPN campus green (Joe Faraoni/ESPN)

ESPN campus green
(Joe Faraoni/ESPN)

Today, ESPN and the USTA announced that ESPN will be the exclusive home of the US Open starting in 2015. With this 11-year agreement, ESPN will televise the championships of three of tennis’ four majors.

Tennis has been part of ESPN since the network debuted Sept. 7, 1979. The first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, Sept. 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina vs. USA from Memphis, Tenn. Current ESPN tennis commentator Cliff Drysdale was on the call and John McEnroe was playing.

Today, the company’s commitment to the sport is as strong as it’s ever been with all four major events and top ATP and WTA events on ESPN platforms, including the US Open Series and the season-ending championship of both tours.

Filed in: Announcements, TennisOnESPN

posted by on May 15, 2013 1:01 PM

More than 120 new ideas hatched for first ESPN Ad Innovation Hackathon

The digital advertising marketplace is more competitive than ever, making unique and memorable ad experiences incredibly important. Following the success of three previous product-focused hackathons, ESPN’s Digital + Print Media and Ad Sales teams introduced the first “Ad Innovation Hackathon,” an internal competition dedicated to bringing people from across the company together to develop the next generation of cutting-edge ad formats.

While the organizers anticipated approximately 50 applications, more than 120 brand new ideas were submitted from ESPN offices worldwide. The list of ideas was trimmed down to 15. Assigned teams had 24 hours to turn their concepts into reality and develop a compelling pitch. continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Behind The Scenes

posted by on May 15, 2013 8:01 AM

Alfredo Lomelí, presentador de #Redes’, se prepara para animar el Upfront de ESPN Deportes

ESPN's Alfredo Lomeli (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

Alfredo Lomeli (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

NEW YORK — El Upfront de ESPN Deportes se llevará a cabo esta tarde en el J. Urban Theatre de la torre Hearst, demostrando la oferta de programación del año fiscal 2013-14 a más de 300 clientes y anunciantes. Alfredo Lomelí y Carolina Guillén, anfitriones del programa de deportes y de medios sociales de ESPN Deportes #Redes, serán los animadores del evento por vez primera. Front Row discutió con Lomelí como se prepara para su rol en el Upfront de ESPN Deportes.

¿Cómo se diferencia la preparación para el Upfront a la preparación para #Redes? continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, ESPN Deportes

posted by on May 15, 2013 8:00 AM

#Redes’ commentator Alfredo Lomelí prepares to co-host the ESPN Deportes Upfront

ESPN's Alfredo Lomeli (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

ESPN’s Alfredo Lomeli (Rich Arden/ESPN Images)

NEW YORK — The ESPN Deportes Upfront will take place this afternoon in the J. Urban Theatre in the Hearst Tower, showcasing the platform’s 2013-14 programming offerings for more than 300 clients and advertisers. Alfredo Lomelí and Carolina Guillén, co-stars of the ESPN Deportes sports and social media show #Redes, will be the hosts of the event for the first time. Front Row asked Lomeli how he prepares for this role at the Deportes Upfront.

How does the preparation for the Upfront differ from #Redes? continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, ESPN Deportes

posted by on May 14, 2013 9:23 AM

LIVE! Storified from the #ESPNUpfront in New York City: Follow the social media buzz

What does ESPN have in store for its programming plans for 2013-14? The network gives sneak previews across various platforms in its annual showcase for advertisers this morning at the Best Buy Theatre in New York City.

Beginning at 9:15 ET, Front Row provides one-stop shopping for the social media reaction to the #ESPNUpfront via a Live Storify. ESPN previews plans for the return of 30 for 30 Film Series, ESPN The Magazine’s fifth “Body Issue,” the new SportsCenter studio debuting in 2014 (see video above) and much more. In addition, you can follow @ESPNAdSales for live-tweeting from the Best Buy Theater. continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Behind The Scenes

posted by on May 6, 2013 3:19 PM

ESPN’s Features Unit seeks to continue its Emmy-winning ways

Editor’s Note: ESPN received 41 Sports Emmy Award nominations for 2012 across its platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN 3D, ABC, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and Grantland.com), led by five nods for E:60 (a total of 29 in five years), four each for Outside the Lines and ESPN Films including work by the Features Unit, and the first three ever for Grantland.com. The 34th annual Sports Emmy Awards will be held tomorrow night in Manhattan.

“And the Emmy goes to. . . ”

Ten times since ESPN’s Features Unit — a group within the Cross Platform Newsgathering Unit — was formed in 2002, the rest of that sentence ended with a product of their hard work. In fact, with 10 more possible winners in the awards to be announced Tuesday night in New York, the group has notched 50 nominations in 11 years. That’s not a bad batting average. continue reading…

Filed in: 30 for 30, Announcements, Behind The Scenes, E:60, ESPN College Football, SportsCenter

posted by on May 2, 2013 1:01 PM

Front & Center: Justin Connolly

ESPN's Justin Connolly and the new SEC Network logo.

ESPN’s Justin Connolly and the new SEC Network logo.

Click HERE to listen or visit iTunes to download the podcast and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the Front & Center podcast. Also, make sure to check out the ESPN Radio app, available for the iPad.

Editor’s note: Front Row Storified! the ESPN/SEC Network announcement earlier today.

Today, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and ESPN announced a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President of College Networks, joined the Front & Center podcast to discuss the announcement and what it entails.

Filed in: Announcements, Front & Center, Podcast

posted by on May 2, 2013 11:29 AM

LIVE Storified! beginning at noon today regarding ESPN/SEC announcement

sec-logo-2png-2b00347b0df2af05

ESPN and the Southeastern Conference will make an announcement at a Noon ET news conference this afternoon in Atlanta.

In this space, Front Row will provide a LIVE Storify of the event to chronicle social media’s reaction to the announcement.

The complete live stream of the news conference will be available at www.SECDigitalNetwork.com, the official SEC mobile and tablet apps, and the official SEC YouTube page starting at Noon. Storify begins after the jump. continue reading…

Filed in: Announcements, Storified!