Todd Grisham to call ESPN's Friday Night Fights on June 28

Todd Grisham, the former WWE play-by-play man and sideline interviewer, has been a staple of ESPN''s Friday Night Fights now for 2 years. Him and Jonathan Coachman are never afraid to joke about their WWE days when they co-host Coach and Company on ESPN radio. Now Grisham is moving up again. Todd Grisham will call this Friday's Grzegorz Proska vs. Sergio Mora in place of Joe Tessitore on Friday Night. Teddy Atlas remains on board as the analyst. Here's the press release.

Former Jr. Middleweight Titlist Mora to Meet Former Middleweight Title Challenger Proska on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights

Todd Grisham to Call Fights Ringside for First Time

The June 28 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature former Jr. Middleweight titlist Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora (23-3-2, 7 KOs) and former Middleweight world title challenger Grzegorz “Super G” Proska (29-2, 21 KOs) in the 10-round Middleweight main event. Friday’s show from the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and WatchESPN. The card is promoted by Banner Promotions.

Commentators:

Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN), filling in for Joe Tessitore, will be ringside calling his first professional boxing match  with Teddy Atlas  for ESPN2 HD, while Bernardo Osuna(@osunaespn) will anchor the studio this week. Robert Sierra, filling in fornDelvin Rodriguez, will call the fights with Pablo Viruega for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights), while Leopoldo Gonzalez and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio.

Main Event:

Poland’s Proska is coming off a six-round decision win over Norbert Szekeres, while Los Angeles’ Mora, who won the reality show The Contender in 2004-05, is looking to rebound from a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Brian Vera.

“I know a lot about Mora,” Proska said. “He’s a good fighter, who wins on points. He’ll be a tough fight. I’m happy to get that kind of fight.  I have a lot of respect for him. But the respect will end at the time we go to the ring. I can’t wait to fight.”

Co-Feature:

Friday’s 10-round co-feature will pit undefeated Middleweight Patrick Teixeira (19-0, 17 KOs) of Brazil against Florida’s “Magic” Marcus Willis (13-2-2, 3 KOs). Teixeira scored a first-round knockout win over Luis Acevedo in his last fight, while Willis is looking to build momentum following an eight-round majority decision win over James de la Rosa.

Upcoming Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Main Event	Location		Networks
Fri., July 5	9 p.m.	Allen Green (32-4, 22 KOs) vs. Eleider Alvarez (12-0, 8 KOs)—10-rounds, Light Heavyweight	Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Conn.		ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Fri., July 12	10 p.m.	Drian Francisco (24-1-1, 19 KOs) vs. Chris Avalos (21-2, 16 KOs)—10-rounds, Super Bantamweight	Texas Station Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.		ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Fri., July 19	10:30 p.m.	Olusegun Ajose (31-1, 14 KOs) vs. Hank Lundy (22-3-1)—10-rounds, Junior Welterweight	Rockingham Park, Salem, N.H.		ESPN2, ESPN Deportes,  WatchESPN

*Schedule subject to change

Follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook. Follow ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo.  Also score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

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Kansas Sporting Events to be shown on Time Warner Metro Sports & ESPN3

Last week Kansas entered into third-tier rights with Time Warner's Metro Sports. The contract calls for IMG Sports to produce more than 300 hours of Jayhawks programming, including live games, for Time Warner's Metro Sports. The contract also allowed Jayhawk TV Network WIBW to keep the rights to men's basketball live game broadcasts in Topeka. Here is that press release.

KU ATHLETICS, IMG COLLEGE AND TIME WARNER CABLE SPORTS ANNOUNCE TV AGREEMENT

Time Warner Cable Metro Sports to televise more than 300 hours of original Kansas Athletics programming annually, including live games and extensive Jayhawks programming, plus encore presentations

Dr. Sheahon Zenger

June 18, 2013

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas Athletics and IMG College, the multimedia rights holder for KU Athletics, have agreed to a long-term television partnership with Time Warner Cable Sports that includes regional distribution for more than 300 hours of original Kansas Athletics programming annually, including live games and extensive non-game programming solely focused on the Jayhawks, plus encore presentations.

Time Warner Cable Metro Sports is a 24/7 sports network based in Kansas City. The network's Kansas Athletics non-game programming will also be available to millions of Time Warner Cable customers across the country via video on demand.

Time Warner Cable Metro Sports' live events will include football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer and track and field events.

"When Time Warner Cable Sports approached us with this concept, we knew, if done right, it could greatly benefit Kansas Athletics and our fan base," Kansas Director of Athletics Sheahon Zenger said. "With more Kansas Athletics programming available throughout the state and to Time Warner cable customers throughout the country than ever has been before, Jayhawk fans will have more opportunities to catch our sports in action. We are eager to work with Time Warner Cable Metro Sports to bring this exciting concept to life."

"This expanded television partnership is great news for loyal Jayhawk fans in Kansas and all over the country, as well as our Kansas Athletics corporate partners," said Jason Booker, General Manager for Jayhawk IMG Sports Marketing. "Fans everywhere will be able to enjoy more than 300 hours of Kansas Athletics programming annually, including live games and extensive non-game content, plus encore presentations. This will extend the Jayhawk brand significantly while providing corporate partners with many new ways to support the Jayhawks and reach one of the most attractive and passionate fan bases in college sports. Kansas Athletics programming distribution details for the rest of the state are being discussed."

"Time Warner Cable Metro Sports is extremely excited to partner with Kansas Athletics and IMG to bring Kansas programming to Time Warner Cable subscribers in Kansas City and across the country," said Chris Huwe, General Manager, Time Warner Cable Metro Sports. "We know how much KU fans care about the Jayhawks and are proud to produce live games and extensive KU Athletics programming on Time Warner Cable Metro Sports."

Time Warner Cable Metro Sports, in partnership with Kansas Athletics, will produce extensive first-run, non-game programming centered on KU Athletics. A first for KU, this programming will allow Jayhawk fans to be closer to their favorite teams than they ever have before. The programming includes pre- and post-game shows for Jayhawk football and men's basketball games, a weekly "magazine-style" show, Hawk Talk Radio Show simulcasts, a social media-centered show driven by fans, live press conferences, a Jayhawk Rewind highlight show, a quarterly Jayhawk Legends series and quarterly University of Kansas academic specials.

In addition, Jayhawk men's basketball JTV games will continue to be available live on WIBW (Topeka) and tape delayed on WOW Channel 6 (Lawrence) in addition to the weekly "magazine style" show.

Time Warner Cable Metro Sports is available on channel 30 and HD channel 1310 on Time Warner Cable Systems in Kansas City. It can also be found on channel 44 and 258 on Comcast systems in Kansas City and on channel 37 to WOW subscribers in Lawrence. For more information about Time Warner Cable Metro Sports, visitwww.kcmetrosports.com, www.twitter.com/kcmetrosports or www.facebook.com/kcmetrosports.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.

About IMG College: IMG College is the nation's leading collegiate multimedia, marketing and licensing/brand management company, representing more than 200 of the nation's top collegiate properties, including the NCAA and its 89 championships, NCAA Football, leading conferences and many of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country. Headquartered in Winston Salem, N.C., IMG College connects brands with the largest and most demographically attractive fan base in sports through partnership opportunities in multimedia rights, sponsorship sales, licensing, marketing, stadium seating solutions, ticketing, fundraising, premium events and hospitality, stadium and arena development, and consulting. IMG College produces nearly 31,000 hours of radio programming on the largest sports network in the country, manages nearly 5,000 hours of local television programming, is the leading publisher of college sports publications and is the largest manager of university athletic websites. IMG College is a division of IMG Worldwide, a global sports, fashion and media business. For more information, please visit www.imgworld.com.

Today the University of Kansas and IMG announced that the contract has been expanded. ESPN3 has been signed on as the carrier for Jayhawk games outside the Metro Sports TV viewing area. Kansas is the second Big 12 team to sign up with ESPN3 for broadcasts. West Virginia is the other. Here is that press release.

Kansas Athletics and ESPN Announce Multiyear Rights Agreement

Kansas Athletics and ESPN have agreed to a seven-year agreement, beginning with the 2013-14 academic year, under which ESPN3 annually will carry a minimum of 70 live events distributed nationally, one of the largest deals the multiscreen network has signed to date.

Kansas Athletics announced recently an agreement under which Time Warner Cable will annually air 50 KU contests – including two exhibition and four non-conference men’s basketball games – exclusively on Metro Sports in Kansas City and in the state of Kansas.  ESPN3 will deliver those 50 events nationally outside that territory.  ESPN3 will also carry – exclusively – a minimum of 20 additional contests nationally, including in Kansas City and the state of Kansas.  ESPN3 currently reaches more than 85 million homes nationwide to fans that receive their Internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider.  It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, throughESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold Members and on Apple TV.

The 70 events include one regular-season football game, the football spring game, six men’s basketball games (including two exhibition games) and basketball’s Late Night in the Phog, as well as 16 women’s basketball games.  ESPN3 will also deliver the Kansas Relays and multiple volleyball, baseball, softball and women’s soccer games.

“ESPN3 continues to serve as a destination for college sports fans, and our agreement with Kansas Athletics extends that commitment,” said John Lasker, vice president of programming and acquisitions, ESPN.  “We look forward to delivering these live events to the KU fan base.”

“From the start of this process, our goals were to saturate the Kansas City market, distribute Kansas programming throughout the state and make our live events available nationally,” Kansas Director of Athletics Sheahon Zenger said. “We are meeting these goals through agreements like these with ESPN and Time Warner Cable. Both are significant steps for Kansas Athletics and we are excited about the future for all Jayhawk fans – wherever they may be watching.”

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Each Big 12 team now has a carrier for national broadcast rights, though Kansas State and Iowa State are mostly online. West Virginia and Kansas are with ESPN3, though West Virginia's contract could soon change. Texas is with ESPN's Longhorn Network, and while that's mostly regional, there has been some discussion on whether or not to add those games to ESPN3's broadcast rights outside of the state of Texas. Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State all operate on FSN via Southwest, Oklahoma, and Kansas City. Many of the games are shown nationally on Fox College Sports. However Kansas State also distributes all games via K-StateHD.TV Iowa State has their contract with Mediacom on MC-22, and they have chosen to distribute those games inhouse via Cyclones.TV.

Tour de France 2013 schedule outlined by NBC Sports Networks

The 2013 Tour de France begins this Saturday. Once again NBC Sports Network will broadcast every stage live. In what may be a first, NBC will air stage 8 live on NBC, not NBC Sports Network. This is a surprise in that it isn't the first or the last stage, which are usually the stages NBC shows. Instead they are showing the 2nd stage, tape delayed, and the 8th stage live while NBC Sports Network gets the rest of the race. Below is the press release outlining coverage details. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE AND PRIMETIME COVERAGE OF THE 100th TOUR DE FRANCE

All 21 Stages Live on NBC or NBC Sports Network Plus Digitally via NBC Sports Tour de France Live

Debut of Unprecedented ‘Inside-the-Race’ Reporter on Motorcycle 

Live Race Coverage Starts Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network 

Tour Primetime Show Every Night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network 

NEW YORK – June 25, 2013 – NBC Sports Group, the exclusive rights holder of Tour de France coverage in the U.S., will present live and primetime coverage of each stage of the 100^th Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious and grueling cycling race, on NBC, NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Tour de France Live and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps. Live coverage of the Tour de France begins on NBC Sports Network Saturday, June 29, at 7:30 a.m. ET, and continues each night at 8 p.m. ET with the Tour Primetime show featuring a look at the day’s most compelling action with new analysis, interviews, enhanced perspectives and updates on ongoing stories.

New to the coverage is an unprecedented ‘Inside-the-Race’ commentator on motorcycle providing first-hand reports and insight from the course.

NBC Sports Group’s coverage features:

• All 21 of the stages live on NBC or NBC Sports Network plus NBC Sports Tour de France Live online and NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile apps;

• NBC Sports Network as the primary home of the Tour de France, offering live coverage nearly every day of the race, and Tour Primetime, a nightly studio show from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. ET, through the race’s entirety;

• The nightly studio show airing from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network will take a look at the day’s stage with comprehensive analysis, insights and the most compelling storylines. Highlighting Tour Primetime will be a full replay of the day’s exciting race action complemented by fresh, post-race interviews with riders, telestrator analysis, and strategy segments.

• NBC coverage of Stage 2 (Bastia to Ajaccio) on Sunday, June 30, and live coverage of Stage 8 (Castres to Ax 3 Domaines) on Saturday, July 6, plus a special show on Sunday, July 28 recapping the final stages of the epic race.

COMMENTATORS

For the first time, NBC Sports Group’s coverage will feature reporting from the road via ‘Inside-the-Race’ correspondent Steve Porino, who will report and offer updates on race situations from an unprecedented point of view aboard a motorcycle on the race course. ‘Inside-the-Race’ is an innovation from NBC Sports Group to bring fans closer to the action. This unique perspective debuted with NBC’s ‘Inside-the-Glass’ reporter on its NHL telecasts in 2006 and was followed by its ‘Between-the-Benches’ soccer coverage.

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the voices of cycling, will call the race action for the live shows with reporters Steve Schlanger and Carolyn Manno. Todd Harris will host nightly studio coverage with analysts Bob Roll and Scott Moninger.

PRODUCTION

NBC Sports Network will utilize several production features, including a pointer feature which will easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton; exclusive, in-depth profiles and features on teams and riders; and an onscreen predicted time for the peloton riders who are trying to catch the leading riders.

DIGITAL COVERAGE

NBC SPORTS TOUR DE FRANCE LIVE AND NBC SPORTS TOUR DE FRANCE LIVE MOBILE: NBC Sports Group will surround its on-air coverage with the NBC Sports Tour de France Live, cycling content online at NBCSports.com, and through the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app. The network will offer users two premium-subscription products which will give fans a multi-platform, all-encompassing viewing experience to the Tour.

NBC Sports Tour de France Live offers live streaming video of every stage online in full HD, with the ability to pause, rewind and slow-mo the video. While watching live coverage, viewers will also have access to a live GPS tracking map to follow the riders’ progress or to see an enhanced interactive map for each stage. Also, subscribers can personalize their Tour experience by choosing their favorite riders and teams to track throughout the Tour. To experience the Tour de France on-the-go, fans can also separately purchase the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app, which is available for iPhone and iPad, as well as Android devices. All the features of the NBCSports.com online experience will be mirrored in the NBC Sports Tour de France Live mobile app, including live video of every stage, and the app is sold separately from the online product. Stage 8, which will air live on NBC, will also be streamed live for free, on NBCSports.com.

Additional elements available to cycling fans at NBCSports.com and through the mobile app, are listed below.

Before the Tour:

• Stage-by-stage descriptions and previews, featuring historical stage and technical information and travelogue vignettes
• Breakdown of top contenders
• Historical top 10 lists
• Look back at the best of the 2012 Tour de France

During the Tour:

• Full stage replays
• Recaps and highlights of each stage
• Route previews, course and stage maps, elevation profiles and stage descriptions
• Interviews with the top riders
• Live stage results and detailed standings
• Rider profiles by country and team
• Live news stream during every stage
• Photo slideshows
• Tour de France Twitter stream, which will showcase the top race authorities, including riders, analysts, officials and fans

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans can also keep up with the Tour de France through NBC Sports Group’s social media platforms throughout the race.

Content will include:

• Behind-the-Scenes and News: Fans can receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews, video clips, up-to-date news reports and stories from around the cycling world through the NBC Sports Cycling Facebook page and @NBCSNCycling on Twitter.

Telecast Schedule (subject to change, all times ET): 

Date	Time	Coverage	Network
Sat., June 29	7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sat., June 29	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio to Bastia	NBCSN
Sun., June 30	7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sun., June 30	12:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m.	Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio	NBC
Sun., June 30	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 2: Bastia to Ajaccio	NBCSN
Mon., July 1	6:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 3: Ajaccio to Calvi (LIVE)	NBCSN
Mon., July 1	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 3: Ajaccio to Calvi	NBCSN
Tues., July 2	9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 4: Nice to Nice (LIVE)	NBCSN
Tues., July 2	8 p.m.-10:30 p.m.	Stage 4: Nice to Nice	NBCSN
Wed., July 3	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 5: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille (LIVE)	NBCSN
Wed., July 3	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 5: Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille	NBCSN
Thurs., July 4	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier (LIVE)	NBCSN
Thurs., July 4	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier	NBCSN
Fri., July 5	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 7: Montepellier to Albi (LIVE)	NBCSN
Fri., July 5	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 7: Montepellier to Albi	NBCSN
Sat., July 6	8 a.m.-11 a.m.	Stage 8: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines (LIVE)	NBC
Sat., July 6	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 8: Castres to Ax 3 Domaines	NBCSN
Sun., July 7	6:30 a.m.-11 a.m.	Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sun., July 7	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 9: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre	NBCSN
Mon., July 8	8 p.m.-10:30 p.m.	Rest Day	NBCSN
Tues., July 9	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Sain-Malo (LIVE)	NBCSN
Tues., July 9	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 10: Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Sain-Malo	NBCSN
Wed., July 10	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel (LIVE)	NBCSN
Wed., July 10	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 11: Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel	NBCSN
Thurs., July 11	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 12: Fougères to Tours (LIVE)	NBCSN
Thurs., July 11	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 12: Fougères to Tours	NBCSN
Fri., July 12	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond (LIVE)	NBCSN
Fri., July 12	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 13: Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond	NBCSN
Sat., July 13	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 14: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sat., July 13	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 14: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon	NBCSN
Sun., July 14	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sun., July 14	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 15: Givors to Mont Ventoux	NBCSN
Mon., July 15	8 p.m.-10:30 p.m.	Rest Day	NBCSN
Tues., July 16	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap (LIVE)	NBCSN
Tues., July 16	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap	NBCSN
Wed., July 17	8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges (LIVE)	NBCSN
Wed., July 17	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 17: Embrun to Chorges	NBCSN
Thurs., July 18	6 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 18: Gap to Alpe-d’Huez (LIVE)	NBCSN
Thurs., July 18	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 18: Gap to Alpe-d’Huez	NBCSN
Fri., July 19	6 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 19: Bourg-d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand (LIVE)	NBCSN
Fri., July 19	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 19: Bourg-d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand	NBCSN
Sat., July 20	7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.	Stage 20: Annecy to Annecy-Semonz (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sat., July 20	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 20: Annecy to Annecy-Semonz	NBCSN
Sun., July 21	11:30a.m.-4 p.m.	Stage 21: Versailles to Paris Champs Élysées (LIVE)	NBCSN
Sun., July 21	8 p.m.-11 p.m.	Stage 21: Versailles to Paris Champs Élysées	NBCSN
Sun., July 28	12:30 pm.-1:30 p.m.	Recap Show	NBC

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

ESPN's NBA season ends with 2013 NBA Draft Thursday

ESPN and ESPN Radio ill provide coverage of both rounds of the 2013 NBA Draft this Thursday evening. The timetable is a little unusual in that it is only a week after the Finals have ended, compared to a few weeks to a month later. Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, Shane Battier, and Heather Cox will provide all the coverage for ESPN. On ESPN Radio Marc Kestecher, Will Perdue, Ryen Russillo, and Marc Stein are ready to report on the Draft. Below is the press release, outlining also which cities specific ESPN reporters have been assigned to for the Draft.

ESPN to Televise 2013 NBA Draft

New Main Set: Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Jalen Rose & Bill Simmons

Miami Heat’s Shane Battier To Conduct Draftee Interviews

Reporters On Location In Top Four Draft Markets

ESPN will televise the 2013 NBA Draft presented by State Farm on Thursday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will mark the 11th consecutive year ESPN has televised the Draft and the first time the event has emanated from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Thursday’s Draft coverage will begin with the NBA Draft Preview Show at 7 p.m. on ESPN and WatchESPN. The 67th annual NBA Draft is also available on ESPN Radio and WatchESPN.

ESPN’s deep roster of basketball commentators will be on full display during the NBA Draft, offering extensive news and a wide variety of perspectives and opinions. ESPN College GameDay’s Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Jalen Rose will be joined by Jalen’s Kia NBA Countdown colleague Bill Simmons to form a new main commentator team. Additionally, reporter Heather Cox will handle green room interviews.

The Miami Heat’s Shane Battier – fresh off a 2013 NBA Finals victory – will join ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage. Battier will interview top Draft picks after they have been selected.

More highlights

• ESPN will have reporters on location in the four highest NBA Draft markets: Mark Schwarz in Cleveland; Josina Anderson in Orlando; Jeannine Edwards in Washington, D.C.; Shelley Smith in Minneapolis.
• ESPN college basketball reporter Andy Katz and NBA Insider Chris Broussard will provide on-site reports.

• ESPN NBA analyst Tom Penn – former NBA team executive – will provide the front office and salary cap perspective. International basketball expert Fran Fraschilla will provide insights on International players.

• ESPN will incorporate extensive statistical analysis into the telecast, including:
  • Next Level Comparative graphics of Draftees and current NBA Players;
  • Simmons and Rose will have a “Best Case/Worst Case” assessment of Top 20 players;
  • Penn will show viewers how Sabermetrics are used by current NBA general managers.

Multiplatform coverage

• ESPN Audio
  • ESPN Radio will broadcast the NBA Draft with host Marc Kestecher, analystWill Perdue and Ryen Russillo (SVP & Russillo). Additionally, ESPN.com’sMarc Stein will contribute updates on trades and other behind-the-scenes stories as the Draft continues.

• The ESPN NBA Draft podcast will be available this week, previewing Thursday’s event. Various ESPN basketball commentators are featured, including Katz, Seth Greenberg, Bruce Bowen and Israel Gutiérrez.

• ESPN.com
  • ESPN NBA Insider and Draft expert Chad Ford will have pick-by-pick analysis and NBA Draft Grades for every team;
  • Ford and Stein will provide breaking news reports.

• ESPNU will televise a daily NBA Draft special from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

• WatchESPN on smartphones, tablets and computers, will simulcast the NBA Draft.

• ESPN will also televise an NBA Draft Preview Show on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m.

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