ESPN Radio Introduces Content and Associated Delivery System for HD Radio Broadcasting

On
Saturday, June 7, ESPN will launch the ESPN HD Radio network to coincide with
the start of the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. ESPN Radio will make available
sports content for the 1,714 stations broadcasting with HD Radio technology
across the nation via an internet/satellite-based delivery system.

Subscribing
stations will be able to customize and program their own ESPN HD Radio stations
through a content server that allows a station staff member to pre-program
their station(s) on the Internet from a single interface. The content server
will allow affiliate stations to choose from a wide array of live and
pre-recorded sports content options, providing a one-box solution for
generating localized HD Radio programming.

The content server will also give HD Radio stations unique sports data-casting
abilities such as bottom-line data, clock and score information and other
non-audio services. Stations can simplify the process of localizing content and
commercials with automatic settings on the ESPN HD Radio content server.

ESPN’s HD Radio networks will debut June 7 with the live broadcast of the UEFA
Euro 2008 tournament made available to its ESPN HD Radio FM
affiliates. Live play-by-play of the Switzerland-Czech
Republic
match begins at 11 a.m. ET. These broadcasts will be available to any listener
of an ESPN HD Radio FM affiliate who has an HD Radio receiver.

HD
Radio multicasting enables stations to broadcast multiple programs in high
quality in the same frequency. ESPN Radio’s FM affiliates can take
advantage of additional programming provided by ESPN by airing these programs
on their HD Radio HD2/HD3 multicast channels.

“Offering content by utilizing new technologies and new distribution channels
is part of our overall strategy of serving the sports fan,” says Traug Keller,
senior vice president, business units. “Euro 2008 on HD Radio multicast
broadcasting is an opportunity to deliver world class soccer to our ESPN Radio
listeners while still providing regularly scheduled ESPN Radio programs on the
main channel.”