The ESPN family of networks and the Tennis Channel have the Aussie Open covered
The tennis season has begun wall to wall coverage of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year: 137 hours of coverage on ESPN2, as well as more than 480 hours – all live, with users choosing between action on six courts – on broadband ESPN360.com.
Late night and early morning will be where you will find live action. ESPN2 and ESPN360.com on Sunday
Last year’s women’s final Serena Williams’ victory over Maria Sharapova was a great kick off to the tennis season.
Legendary tennis journalist Bud Collins, who will make his debut on ESPN2’s Grand Slam coverage as a studio analyst and essayist, Cliff Drysdale and Dick Enberg comprise three of the sport’s most respected longtime voices. Former Australian star player-turned coach Darren Cahill returns, as do Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez and reigning Davis Cup champion captain Patrick McEnroe. In addition, Luke Jensen and Pam Shriver will primarily serve as courtside reporters, and studio host Chris Fowler will call select matches.
Fast fact…
ESPN’s Bud Collins, Cliff Drysdale and Dick Enberg have worked — or, in Drysdale’s case, played — in approximately 275 Grand Slam events as of the end of 2007.
ESPN2’s Australian Open programming will generally consist of three shows each day: live coverage in the evening starting Sunday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m., live matches at 3:30 a.m. (depending on circumstances, at 6 a.m. coverage may shift to ESPN Classic), and at least three hours of same-day action the next afternoon at 3 p.m. As with the 2007 French Open, ESPN2 is working with Tennis Channel to bring fans virtually round-the-clock coverage during the 2008 Australian Open. ESPN2 is producing all Australian Open coverage for both networks, with each channel utilizing its own commentators.
