10-29-2008, 03:10 PM
In a groundbreaking effort to further expand the popularity of saltwater fishing, ESPN announces that, starting in 2009, the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will be aired in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, making it the first outdoors-related programming carried by the Hispanic network.
ESPN Deportes will air a total of six 30-minute episodes starting April 4, 2009, at 6 a.m. ET. The half-hour program will be hosted by ESPN Outdoors personality Jose Wejebe. Born in 1958 in Havana, Cuba, Wejebe has hosted Spanish Fly on ESPN2 for 13 years and is one of the most respected fishing guides in the world. Wejebe has traveled the world fishing exotic locations and served as a guide, tournament angler and TV personality throughout his diverse career.
"We are growing the ESPN Deportes and ESPN Outdoors businesses across our multimedia platforms," said Traug Keller, senior vice president, production business units. "By adding the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series to ESPN Deportes it reiterates our commitment to serve the U.S. Hispanic sports fan. This also provides ESPN and our sponsors a great opportunity to reach an untapped audience. We are honored that Jose Wejebe has agreed to join us for our telecasts to offer a culturally relevant perspective on the sport."
The coverage will highlight six world-class, stand-alone events of the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series. Participants will include accomplished professional anglers and renowned guides from the sportfishing industry as well as celebrities from the sports world. The ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will focus on several types of sportfish, including redfish, tarpon, bonefish, sailfish, sea trout and permit.
"I'm excited in trying something new to reach the Latino market and to expand the allure," Wejebe said. "Saltwater fishing takes place in some beautiful and exotic places and it's commendable to bring this to the Hispanic markets."
In addition to ESPN Deportes, the EOSS will be aired on ESPN2 in April 2009 and ESPN Outdoors is set to unveil an annual publication devoted to the Series in the Spring of 2009, titled the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series. Additionally, ESPNOutdoors.com will provide daily tournament coverage including photo galleries, analysis and game stories for the remainder of the season.
About ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes is ESPN's multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan via television, radio, online, print, and wireless. Sports media assets include ESPN Deportes television which offers unparalleled Spanish-language sports programming, featuring more than 1,500 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually; ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S.; ESPNDeportes.com, the #1 Spanish-language sports Web site among Spanish-preferred fans in the U.S.; ESPN Deportes La Revista, the first general sports Spanish-language magazine in the U.S.; and ESPN Deportes Mobile, the brand's emerging business which offers Spanish-language sports content to fans via wireless devices.
About ESPN Outdoors<br />
Since its inception in 1980, ESPN Outdoors has strived to inform and entertain anglers, hunters and people of all ages who enjoy the outdoors. ESPN Outdoors is committed to increasing awareness of and participation in outdoor activities, a direction best exemplified by television programming on ESPN2. Each year, ESPN Outdoors stages more than 30 marquee events, including the Bassmaster Classic. ESPN Outdoors is comprised of BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and a growing array of multimedia platforms, including Bassmaster.com, ESPNOutdoors.com and programming on ESPN2, in addition to promotions and activities that deliver a clear message of conservation and ethical sportsmanship.
-30-
ESPN Deportes Contact: Santa Brito (212) 456-0252 or santa.brito@espn.com<br />
ESPN Outdoors Contact: Anthony Bartkowski (407) 566-2135 or anthony.a.bartkowski@espn.com
REMAINING ESPN OUTDOORS SALTWATER SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE LOCATION EVENT NAME EVENT TYPE<br />
Nov. 7-9 Islamorada, Fla. Mercury Redbone Series Redbone Celebrity Tournament Redfish, Bonefish<br />
Nov. 21-24 Grand Bahama, Bahamas Fall Deep Water Cay Celebrity Bonefish Classic Redbone @ Large Bonefish
Dec. 12-14 Islamorada, Fla. Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic Redbone @ Large Sailfish
Media Contact<br />
ESPN Deportes Contact: Santa Brito (212) 456-0252 or santa.brito@espn.com<br />
ESPN Outdoors Contact: Anthony Bartkowski (407) 566-2135 or anthony.a.bartkowski@espn.com
ESPN Deportes will air a total of six 30-minute episodes starting April 4, 2009, at 6 a.m. ET. The half-hour program will be hosted by ESPN Outdoors personality Jose Wejebe. Born in 1958 in Havana, Cuba, Wejebe has hosted Spanish Fly on ESPN2 for 13 years and is one of the most respected fishing guides in the world. Wejebe has traveled the world fishing exotic locations and served as a guide, tournament angler and TV personality throughout his diverse career.
"We are growing the ESPN Deportes and ESPN Outdoors businesses across our multimedia platforms," said Traug Keller, senior vice president, production business units. "By adding the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series to ESPN Deportes it reiterates our commitment to serve the U.S. Hispanic sports fan. This also provides ESPN and our sponsors a great opportunity to reach an untapped audience. We are honored that Jose Wejebe has agreed to join us for our telecasts to offer a culturally relevant perspective on the sport."
The coverage will highlight six world-class, stand-alone events of the Mercury Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series. Participants will include accomplished professional anglers and renowned guides from the sportfishing industry as well as celebrities from the sports world. The ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series will focus on several types of sportfish, including redfish, tarpon, bonefish, sailfish, sea trout and permit.
"I'm excited in trying something new to reach the Latino market and to expand the allure," Wejebe said. "Saltwater fishing takes place in some beautiful and exotic places and it's commendable to bring this to the Hispanic markets."
In addition to ESPN Deportes, the EOSS will be aired on ESPN2 in April 2009 and ESPN Outdoors is set to unveil an annual publication devoted to the Series in the Spring of 2009, titled the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series. Additionally, ESPNOutdoors.com will provide daily tournament coverage including photo galleries, analysis and game stories for the remainder of the season.
About ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes is ESPN's multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan via television, radio, online, print, and wireless. Sports media assets include ESPN Deportes television which offers unparalleled Spanish-language sports programming, featuring more than 1,500 live and/or original hours of sports programming presented annually; ESPN Deportes Radio, the only around-the-clock national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S.; ESPNDeportes.com, the #1 Spanish-language sports Web site among Spanish-preferred fans in the U.S.; ESPN Deportes La Revista, the first general sports Spanish-language magazine in the U.S.; and ESPN Deportes Mobile, the brand's emerging business which offers Spanish-language sports content to fans via wireless devices.
About ESPN Outdoors<br />
Since its inception in 1980, ESPN Outdoors has strived to inform and entertain anglers, hunters and people of all ages who enjoy the outdoors. ESPN Outdoors is committed to increasing awareness of and participation in outdoor activities, a direction best exemplified by television programming on ESPN2. Each year, ESPN Outdoors stages more than 30 marquee events, including the Bassmaster Classic. ESPN Outdoors is comprised of BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, and a growing array of multimedia platforms, including Bassmaster.com, ESPNOutdoors.com and programming on ESPN2, in addition to promotions and activities that deliver a clear message of conservation and ethical sportsmanship.
-30-
ESPN Deportes Contact: Santa Brito (212) 456-0252 or santa.brito@espn.com<br />
ESPN Outdoors Contact: Anthony Bartkowski (407) 566-2135 or anthony.a.bartkowski@espn.com
REMAINING ESPN OUTDOORS SALTWATER SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE LOCATION EVENT NAME EVENT TYPE<br />
Nov. 7-9 Islamorada, Fla. Mercury Redbone Series Redbone Celebrity Tournament Redfish, Bonefish<br />
Nov. 21-24 Grand Bahama, Bahamas Fall Deep Water Cay Celebrity Bonefish Classic Redbone @ Large Bonefish
Dec. 12-14 Islamorada, Fla. Don Gurgiolo Sailfish Classic Redbone @ Large Sailfish
Media Contact<br />
ESPN Deportes Contact: Santa Brito (212) 456-0252 or santa.brito@espn.com<br />
ESPN Outdoors Contact: Anthony Bartkowski (407) 566-2135 or anthony.a.bartkowski@espn.com