ESPN, USGA extend deal through 2014

ESPN, Inc. and the United States
Golf Association have finalized an eight-year extension through 2014, according to George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and
Walter Driver Jr., USGA President. ESPN, which has televised USGA
championships since 1982, will remain the exclusive cable partner of the USGA’s
U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. The terms of the agreement will provide
ESPN with extensive global multimedia rights including increased exposure
through ESPN International and new media offerings.

“We’re thrilled to remain the home
of USGA championships,” said Bodenheimer.
“The USGA has long embraced our multimedia approach which will continue
to provide compelling content to golf fans and present opportunities to expand
the audience of the sport.”

“We have enjoyed a long and
excellent relationship with ESPN,” said Driver. “We are pleased that ESPN continues to
value distributing our national golf championships. We consider ESPN part of the USGA
family.”

ESPN will continue to televise
championship previews, live event coverage – including 14 hours of the U.S. Open
and eight hours of the U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open – and highlight
and preview

shows. ESPN will also hold comprehensive rights
to USGA highlight films and footage both for television and new media (including
ESPN.com, ESPN360, ESPNDeportes.com and ESPN VOD).

New elements include: the right to
stream content on ESPN360 and ESPN-branded
mobile content packages; interactive television offerings of championship
coverage on Thursday and Friday (including multimedia camera angles and
real-time data feed, etc.); ESPN International coverage now includes expanded
rights in Africa, plus continuing coverage in Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin
America and Middle East.

ESPN.com will continue to provide
fans with online USGA content, including scoring and streaming video. ESPN.com and USGA.org will continue its
par-three webcast coverage during Thursday and Friday rounds.

ESPN.com will also offer an extensive
selection of shot packs providing highlights of the championship leaders, as
well as press conferences and expert analysis throughout the
weekend.

ESPN Classic will provide domestic
coverage including USGA highlights with the option of providing re-airs of all
four championship rounds, plus rights to televise the championships in Europe
(excluding the United Kingdom).