LITTLE ROCK, Ark. & BRISTOL, Conn. & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Windstream (NYSE: WIN) and ESPN today announced that Windstream
high-speed Internet customers now have access to ESPN360.com.
ESPN360.com is ESPN's 24/7 broadband sports network, which offers more
than 3,500 live, global sports events annually. It is available through www.windstream.net
at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet service from
Windstream. With the addition of Windstream, ESPN360.com's total
distribution will exceed 50 million subscribers.
"ESPN360.com enhances the value of Windstream high-speed Internet
service and provides our more than 1 million broadband customers more
options and control over how and when they watch sports," said Roger
Woziwodzki, vice president of strategic business development for
Windstream. "ESPN is the recognized leader in sports programming,
covering sporting events around the world, and now we are bringing many
of those events to our customers' computers."
"We're in the midst of the Fall football season, which is the perfect
time for Windstream to launch ESPN360.com," said David C. Preschlack,
executive vice president, Disney and ESPN Media Networks. "Windstream
customers will have thousands of live events at their finger tips and
the deal represents a tremendous step forward in serving fans while
growing our collective businesses."
ESPN360.com features live online sports coverage from a broad array of
global events including (but not limited to):
-- Basketball: NBA, Euroleague, FIBA, NCAA Men's and Women's basketball,
WNBA;
-- Football: NCAA College Football, AFL;
-- Global Soccer: FIFA World Cup events and global qualifiers,
Confederations Cup, Football League (UK), Carling Cup (UK), La Liga
(Spain), Italian Serie A, Portuguese Liga Sagres, MLS, US National team,
international "friendlies" and more;
-- Global Baseball: MLB, World Baseball Classic, College World Series,
Little League World Series;
-- Tennis: Multi-court coverage of all four "grand slam" events and select
other tennis events;
-- Golf: Extensive coverage of the US Open, The Masters, The Open
Championship and more;
-- Lacrosse: Major League Lacrosse, NCAA College Lacrosse; and
-- Misc. Sports: X Games and Winter X Games, NCAA Hockey and Softball,
Open-wheel Racing, Professional Racquetball, International Polo and
more.
Through a sleek, simple video player accessible via ESPN360.com, the
service gives consumers control over their broadband sports viewing
experience - providing reliable, high-quality video and the ability
to pause, rewind and fast-forward live events. With the ability to
deliver up to 15 simultaneous live events, fans are able to toggle
between events in a main viewing window, and with a single click, jump
to another event. Video can be viewed in widescreen (16:9) and normal
(4:3) views and can be expanded to full screen or reduced to a compact
size. Recently completed events are archived and available for on-demand
replay.
About Windstream
Windstream Corporation is an S&P 500 company that provides phone,
high-speed Internet and high-definition digital TV services to customers
in 16 states. The company also offers a wide range of IP-based voice and
data services and advanced phone systems and equipment to businesses and
government agencies. The company has approximately 3 million access
lines and about $3.1 billion in annual revenues. Windstream is ranked
4th in the 2009 BusinessWeek 50 ranking of the best performing U.S.
companies. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstream.com.
About ESPN
ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports
entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports
assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks
(ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU), ESPN, ESPN2,
ESPNEWS and ESPNU HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN
International (46 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio,
ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN
Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses
including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on
Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent
owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney
Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.