Note: For downloadable ESPNU Campus Connection logo, go to: http://media.espn.com/MediaZone/UConnection.htm

ESPNU TO LAUNCH “CAMPUS CONNECTION” PROGRAM
10 Schools To Participate In New Professional Development Initiative

This summer, ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network and multimedia franchise, will launch a new professional development and awareness initiative called “ESPNU Campus Connection.” In its first year, the program will choose one student from 10 schools throughout the country to participate, including Alabama A&M University (Normal, Ala.), Howard University (Washington, D.C.), Morehouse College (Atlanta, Ga.), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Northwestern University (Chicago, Ill.), Penn State University (University Park, Pa.), University of Southern California (Los Angeles, Calif.), Southern University (Baton Rouge, La.), Texas Southern (Houston, Texas) and the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.).

The students will be selected by a panel consisting of representatives from ESPN’s human resources, marketing, affiliate sales and programming departments. Once chosen, each “Campus Connection” participant will complete ESPN’s summer internship program (June-August) at one of the ESPN offices where he or she will receive training and materials to manage the program at his or her school for the entire academic year.

Each student will be primarily responsible for generating awareness about ESPNU at his or her respective college or university by coordinating on-campus activities at various school sporting events, such as promotional contests and hospitality events. In addition, the “Campus Connection” representative will contribute content ideas for various ESPNU platforms, including the television network and ESPNU.com. The representative will also keep the school informed of relevant ESPNU news and information through marketing and promotional materials, while also gaining valuable hands-on professional experience in the cable and sports industry.

“The ESPNU Campus Connection program will give each participant an opportunity to gain invaluable professional experience, while also contributing to the growth of the ESPNU brand on college campuses, which is at the heart of what we do,” said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. “We look forward to expanding the program and its offerings to more schools with every passing year.”

Of the 10 schools chosen for the program’s inaugural year, five are Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institutions. ESPNU features a number of live HBCU events during the year.

About ESPNU:
ESPNU was launched in March 2005. The ESPNU schedule featured 477 live events (regular-season and championships) in the network’s first year. ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, such as the soon-to-be launched SportsCenterU, replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television games, plus specials and more. In addition, the network has a wide-ranging, long-term agreement with the NCAA calling for extensive coverage of numerous NCAA Championships, including sports from each of the three collegiate seasons.

ESPNU.com, a new online college sports hub that will join the ESPN.com family in the fall, will be the online companion to the one-year-old ESPNU college sports television network, functioning as an online home for college sports multi-media content. ESPN.com and ESPNU will also work with XOS Technologies, to expand online content across ESPN.com, ESPNU.com and the XOS network of college athletics websites – allowing the parties to share online news, information and features, video and audio assets.

ESPNU has secured distribution agreements with DIRECTV (Channel 609), Echostar’s DISH Network (Channel 148), Adelphia, Insight Communications, Mediacom, Verizon, several smaller affiliates and is close to distribution agreements with others. The 24-hour television network is the key component of the multi-media ESPNU initiative that will deliver college sports content across ESPN’s family of services, such as ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, Mobile ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Interactive, ESPN360, merchandising and more.

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Contact: Tilea Coleman (tilea.coleman@espn.com) at (860) 766-3438