DIRECTV Tees Up U.S. Open Championship for Its First Interactive TV Golf CoverageDIRECTV and ESPN Team to Enhance U.S. Open Weekday National Telecast with Expanded Coverage and Mix Channel
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2007--After successfully pioneering interactive television innovations in football, basketball, baseball, motor sports and tennis, DIRECTV is now turning its focus to golf with its first interactive television service for the upcoming U.S. Open Championship.
Beginning June 14, U.S. Open Interactive on DIRECTV will supplement ESPN's weekday national coverage of the first two rounds of the prestigious U.S. Open Championship held at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, providing fans with access to four channels of coverage through DIRECTV's U.S. Open Mix channel. Viewers will have an in-depth look at featured player groups and holes on the course during the early rounds when players scramble to make the cut and the stage is set for the championship's dramatic final rounds.
"This is the most in-depth golf coverage in TV history. Just by watching it, you will take at least two strokes off your game," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We're proud to team up with ESPN to offer extended U.S. Open coverage and a unique interactive TV experience to golf fans."
"ESPN is committed to growing interactive television across the industry, and our collaboration with DIRECTV on this U.S. Open coverage is an exciting step in that direction," said Ben Pyne, president, Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. "This is a fantastic benefit for consumers and affiliates alike, and ESPN will continue to innovate with its interactive offerings."
DIRECTV's U.S. Open Mix channel (216) will offer four channels on one screen, tunable by remote to full-screen channels that will include ESPN's weekday national telecast and three channels that will air live from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14, and Friday, June 15.
DIRECTV's U.S. Open coverage will include:
ESPN National Telecast - The first mix cell will be devoted to the ESPN national telecast of the championship. During the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET window, the channel will feature the NBC national broadcast to coincide with NBC's national broadcast rights for the event.
"Featured Group" and "Featured Holes" - During the morning and early afternoon, the second channel will feature specific players as they make their way through their round. On Thursday's opening round, the channel will feature Tiger Woods and his player group; on Friday, Phil Mickelson and his player group will be the focus.
During the late afternoon and evening, the channel will feature coverage of championship play specific to either the 8th and 9th holes or 17th and 18th holes.
"U.S. Open Up Close" - This channel will be a hosted production featuring a mix of player interviews from the Oakmont Country Club driving range, as well as press conferences with players and championship officials as they occur.
"U.S. Open Highlights" - The fourth and final corresponding channel will offer a loop of U.S. Open highlights that will be continually updated as the first two rounds unfold.
Viewers watching the national telecast on ESPN will see an icon to remind them about the availability of the mix channel and expanded U.S. Open coverage. The icon will instruct viewers to press the red button on their DIRECTV remote at any time to automatically tune to the U.S. Open Mix Channel. In addition, for DIRECTV customers who do not have interactive receivers, ESPN will also feature a "crawl" during its national telecast at the bottom of the screen, providing DIRECTV viewers with information about the special expanded coverage DIRECTV is offering.
The U.S. Open Interactive service expands DIRECTV's current lineup of interactive sports services including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) SuperFan, MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM) SuperFan, MEGA MARCH MADNESS(TM) and NASCAR HotPass.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM). DIRECTV (NYSETV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date information on the Company, please visit directv.com.
Source: DIRECTV, Inc.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2007--After successfully pioneering interactive television innovations in football, basketball, baseball, motor sports and tennis, DIRECTV is now turning its focus to golf with its first interactive television service for the upcoming U.S. Open Championship.
Beginning June 14, U.S. Open Interactive on DIRECTV will supplement ESPN's weekday national coverage of the first two rounds of the prestigious U.S. Open Championship held at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, providing fans with access to four channels of coverage through DIRECTV's U.S. Open Mix channel. Viewers will have an in-depth look at featured player groups and holes on the course during the early rounds when players scramble to make the cut and the stage is set for the championship's dramatic final rounds.
"This is the most in-depth golf coverage in TV history. Just by watching it, you will take at least two strokes off your game," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We're proud to team up with ESPN to offer extended U.S. Open coverage and a unique interactive TV experience to golf fans."
"ESPN is committed to growing interactive television across the industry, and our collaboration with DIRECTV on this U.S. Open coverage is an exciting step in that direction," said Ben Pyne, president, Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. "This is a fantastic benefit for consumers and affiliates alike, and ESPN will continue to innovate with its interactive offerings."
DIRECTV's U.S. Open Mix channel (216) will offer four channels on one screen, tunable by remote to full-screen channels that will include ESPN's weekday national telecast and three channels that will air live from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14, and Friday, June 15.
DIRECTV's U.S. Open coverage will include:
ESPN National Telecast - The first mix cell will be devoted to the ESPN national telecast of the championship. During the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET window, the channel will feature the NBC national broadcast to coincide with NBC's national broadcast rights for the event.
"Featured Group" and "Featured Holes" - During the morning and early afternoon, the second channel will feature specific players as they make their way through their round. On Thursday's opening round, the channel will feature Tiger Woods and his player group; on Friday, Phil Mickelson and his player group will be the focus.
During the late afternoon and evening, the channel will feature coverage of championship play specific to either the 8th and 9th holes or 17th and 18th holes.
"U.S. Open Up Close" - This channel will be a hosted production featuring a mix of player interviews from the Oakmont Country Club driving range, as well as press conferences with players and championship officials as they occur.
"U.S. Open Highlights" - The fourth and final corresponding channel will offer a loop of U.S. Open highlights that will be continually updated as the first two rounds unfold.
Viewers watching the national telecast on ESPN will see an icon to remind them about the availability of the mix channel and expanded U.S. Open coverage. The icon will instruct viewers to press the red button on their DIRECTV remote at any time to automatically tune to the U.S. Open Mix Channel. In addition, for DIRECTV customers who do not have interactive receivers, ESPN will also feature a "crawl" during its national telecast at the bottom of the screen, providing DIRECTV viewers with information about the special expanded coverage DIRECTV is offering.
The U.S. Open Interactive service expands DIRECTV's current lineup of interactive sports services including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) SuperFan, MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM) SuperFan, MEGA MARCH MADNESS(TM) and NASCAR HotPass.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM). DIRECTV (NYSETV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date information on the Company, please visit directv.com.
Source: DIRECTV, Inc.
