ESPN to offer multimedia coverage of 2009 World Baseball Classic.

ESPN will present multimedia coverage of the 2009 World Baseball Classic including coverage across ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPNEWS, ESPNEWS HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile Properties and more.

World Baseball Classic coverage highlights include:

— Up to 39 games via ESPN International distribution;
— ESPN and ESPN2 combining to televise 23 games in the U.S. beginning March 5, 2009;
— The semifinals – Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22 – and final, Monday, March 23, from Dodger Stadium;
— All ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts simulcast via ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV;
— ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language network in the U.S., televising 23 games;
— 23 games (ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts) available in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands; 23 games available on ESPN Deportes in Puerto Rico.
“ESPN looks forward to working with the World Baseball Classic to buildon what we started in 2006,” said Len DeLuca, ESPN Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. “We have more games for ESPN, a deeper multimedia offering, and wider international rights. We look forward to collaborating to make this the best global championship in March.”

“ESPN has the proven ability to convey the excitement and national pride that the World Baseball Classic generates among the players and
fans,” said Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Officer.

“‘Baseball Spoken Here’ is our motto, and so we’re delighted that once again we are partnering with ESPN to bring the world the games, and the thrills, of the second World Baseball Classic,” said Gene Orza, MLBPA Chief Operating Officer. “No one ‘speaks baseball’ better than ESPN.”

Additional World Baseball Classic coverage will include:

— ESPN Radio broadcasting the semifinals and final, along with three additional games;
— Comprehensive highlights within SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and ESPNEWS;
— Extensive ESPN.com content featuring highlights, news and information.

ESPN International will televise up to 39 games in Africa, Australia, Europe (via NASN, which will become ESPN America on Feb. 1), Latin America, the Middle East and New Zealand.