ESPN Will Produce and Televise Over 200 Hours of Original, Multimedia Content of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the Caribbean
12+ Hours Daily; Includes Extensive News and Information on ESPNCaribbean.com
ESPN, the official broadcaster of the 2016 Rio Olympics in the Caribbean, will present unparalleled multiplatform coverage customized for the Caribbean fan while bringing local athletes, their quests and stories closer to fans. ESPN will produce more than 200 hours of exclusive content, 12+ hours of daily coverage, simulcast on ESPN Play, and daily highlights and extensive news and information for ESPNCaribbean.com. Coverage will also be available on cruise ships sailing in the Caribbean Sea. In addition, KLAS Sports Radio 89.9 FM, ESPN’s radio affiliate in Jamaica will broadcast simulcast coverage of the event.
As the official broadcaster, ESPN will also produce and distribute Olympic content that will be available to free to air broadcasters and other pay television providers throughout the region.
The Rio 2016 Olympics, the most anticipated sporting event of the year, is taking place for the first time in South America. Ten thousand athletes from 206 countries will compete for a combined total of 306 medals in 42 disciplines, including rugby and golf which recently rejoined the event. The competitions will take place in four areas of the host city and include 32 tournament sites: 15 in Barra, nine in Deodoro, four in Maracana and four in Copacabana.
More than 200 athletes from the Caribbean are expected to take part in the event including Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Johan Blake and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce in athletics; and Alia Atkinson and Timothy Wynter in swimming. Trinidad and Tobago’s athletics will be represented by Keshorn Walcott, Machel Cedenio, Don Lendore, Michelle-Lee Ahye are among others. Other athletes include Shaunae Miller, Shavez Hart and Tynia Gaither from Bahamas; Tia-Adanna Belle, Sada Williams, Levi Cadogan from Barbados; and Kirani James from Grenada.
ESPN Caribbean’s on-air team includes expert sports journalists with deep Olympics coverage experience, along with Caribbean athletes and Olympians joining as special guest commentators. ESPN FC and ESPNcricinfo veteran Alexis Nunes and England Women’s Cricket World Cup champion Isa Guha will serve as the official hosts. They will be joined by former English steeplechase champion Jo Ankier; Olympian medalist Jamaican Grace Jackson; Dominican-American track and field athlete, Felix Sanchez; TV commentator and Olympic champion, Dwight Stones; Olympian medalist Jamaican Janelle Atkinson; ESPN’ football expert, Trinidadian Shaka Hislop; renowned ESPN analyst, Bernardo Osuna; and Olympic coach and sports medicine physician Trinidadian Dr. Ian Hypolite.
Programming Highlights:
- ESPN’s telecast will be produced from a state-of-the-art studio in Copacabana, exclusively dedicated to Caribbean coverage;
- Coverage begins Aug. 4 with the first round of Men’s soccer at 11:30am ET, followed by the live telecast of the Opening Ceremony on August 5 at 6:30pm;
- Daily coverage on the ESPN Caribbean network beginning August 6 at 11 pm;
- On-going studio coverage featuring recaps, previews and analysis from ESPN’s commentators;
- Extensive coverage of all athletics events, including track and field, as well as swimming competitions and other sports featuring Caribbean athletes;
- ESPN Caribbean will also telecast the Closing Ceremony on August 21 at 7pm.
ESPN Play
- ESPN Caribbean’s broadband network will live stream all TV coverage via computers, smartphones and tablets
- ESPN Play is available to subscribers across major cable providers in the region. Fans can access it by visiting ESPN Play’s site on ESPNCaribbean.com or downloading the app from a mobile or tablet.
- Daily “Up to the Minute” reports from commentators, reporters and Caribbean Olympians
- Daily highlights showcasing the best moments of each competition
- Instant analysis segments and updates on results and medal count
- News reporting focused on local athletes and teams
- Color segments from Rio
- Exclusive photo gallery
- Social media interaction using hashtag #RioESPN
Visit www.espncaribbean.com for the latest news and information.
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