ESPN Deportes Kicks off Coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Using a full collection of its multimedia assets, ESPN Deportes will provide comprehensive Spanish-language news and information coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup from South Africa June 11 – July 11, 2010.  ESPN Deportes' month-long news and information World Cup coverage will originate from a picturesque view of Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg, as well as from studios in Buenos Aires, Dallas, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami and Bristol, Connecticut. In addition, to complement its comprehensive Spanish-language news and information coverage of the quadrennial sports event, ESPN Deportes will provide Portuguese-language telecasts of 56 live World Cup matches, starting with the opener as host nation South Africa plays Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg June 11 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Highlights:

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• World Cup-related content across ESPN Deportes TV, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPNdeportes.com, ESPN Deportes La Revista and ESPN Deportes Movil;
• More than 1100 hours of World Cup-related news and information programming on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio combined – the most number of hours the network has ever dedicated to covering a single sporting event;
• More than 70 on-air commentators (hosts, analysts, reporters and contributors) – 20 providing reports from site; nine newsgathering units covering specific teams throughout the tournament;  
• Coverage will be presented by an experienced commentator team, including Mario Kempes (Argentina 1974, 78-Champions and 82; '78 Golden Boot winner); Quique Wolff (Argentina 1974), Jose Ramon Fernandez (covered every FIFA World Cup since 1978); Jorge Ramos (covered every FIFA World Cup since 1986); David Faitelson (covered every FIFA World Cup since 1986), Fernando Schwartz (covered seven FIFA World Cup); John Sutcliffe (four FIFA World Cups: '94, '98, '02, '06);
• Live 7:30a.m. – 9 p.m. windows of news and information, including eight daily World Cup-centric editions of SportsCenter (five on TV,  three on Radio); onsite production of Fuera de Juego and Cronometro and significant portions of Futbol Picante;
• Portuguese-language telecast of 56 FIFA World Cup matches featuring commentator team led by former soccer players Zinho, a member of Brazil's 1994 FIFA World Cup-winning team and Favio Batata;  
• ESPN Deportes Radio, the only all-sports 24/7 Spanish-language radio network in the U.S., will offer around-the-clock World Cup-related news and info, anchored by the broadcast of its signature soccer talk show, Jorge Ramos y Su Banda, from South Africa throughout the tournament;
• ESPNdeportes.com is providing complete coverage and analysis of the tournament on a World Cup-dedicated microsite that features breaking news, game analysis, and much more;
• ESPN Deportes Movil, the network's emerging mobile platform, will offer ESPN Deportes Alerts where fans can sign up for free Spanish language text message updates to receive select scores and news by texting FUTBOL to 43776;
• ESPN La Revista 2010 FIFA World Cup Guide featuring a detailed profile on the 32 teams.

ESPN DEPORTES NEWS & INFO. (All times Eastern)

• SportsCenter (9:30 a.m.; 12 p.m.; 4:30 p.m.; 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.) five editions daily – including a 90-minute edition at the conclusion of the last match of the day at 4:30 p.m.;  
• Jorge Ramos y su Banda (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) ESPN Deportes Radio's soccer talk-show (simulcast on ESPN Deportes) will originate from South Africa and feature co-hosts Jorge Ramos and Hernan Pereyra with live guests, entertaining discussions of the day's sports news and analysis. The program will be broadcast each day in-between the early matches. A second edition will be broadcast on ESPN Deportes Radio (only) from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.;
• Fuera de Juego (6 p.m.) the network's international soccer show co-hosted by World Cup legend and Mario Kempes and ESPN Deportes soccer commentator Fernando Palomo will be produced from site throughout the tournament with ESPN Deportes commentators Andres Agulla, Jose Hernandez, Jose Antonio Noriega, Richard Mendez and Ricardo Ortiz joining from Bristol;
• Sudafrica Al Dia (6:30 p.m.) a 30-minute recap show airing during the tournament and featuring hits from site on relevant news surrounding all the action;
• Juego Cruzado (7 p.m.) the network's program modeled after Around the Horn will feature the show's daily panelists from newspaper newsrooms in New York, Miami and Mexico.  Rafa Ramos of La Opinion newspaper will join the show from ESPN Deportes' studios in South Africa;
• Cronometro (7:30 p.m.) the network's program modeled after Pardon the Interruption will originate entirely from South Africa featuring co-hosts Jose Ramon Fernandez and David Faitelson debating the hottest topics of the day throughout the tournament;
• Futbol Picante (8 p.m.) the network's Mexican soccer news program will be aired daily and follow Mexico's National Soccer team and their journey through the World Cup and feature co-hosts Jose Ramon Fernandez, Rafa Puente (former player and coach), Daniel Brailovsky (former player and coach) and Ciro Procuna from South Africa.  The show will be expanded to 90 minutes on days Team Mexico plays.

LIVE FIFA WORLD CUP GAMES IN PORTUGUESE

In addition comprehensive Spanish-language news and information, ESPN Deportes will present live coverage of 56 matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, from the opener (South Africa vs. Mexico) on June 11 through the Final in July 11.  Veteran ESPN Brasil soccer commentators Flavio Pereira and Jose Werneck will handle the play-by-play joined by former soccer players Crizam Cesar de Olivereira Filho, better known as Zinho and Favio Batata. Zinho, who most recently served as the manager of Miami FC of the USL First Division, was a member of the 1994 FIFA World Cup winning team.  He was capped 57 times between March 1989 and February 1998.  Batata started his career with Santos in 1977. In 1978 he won the championship with Sao Paulo and was with Vila Belmiro for three years.  He played with Mexico's Club America from 1980-1984, returning that year to Brazil to play with Parana Clube.  

ESPN Deportes Radio:

The only 24/7 Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S. will feature around-the-clock World Cup news and information coverage to 43 affiliates nationwide, anchored by three daily live editions of its soccer talk show, Jorge Ramos y Su Banda from studios at Nelson Mandela Square.   ESPN Deportes Radio will have at least two reporters live from ESPN Deportes Radio studios in Nelson Mandela Square participating on shows throughout the day. Radio coverage will include:

• Al Despertar en Sudafrica (5 a.m.-7 a.m.) – Co-hosted Kenneth Garray, Humberto Carrera, Andres Agulla and Pedro Vita, the morning-drive show will provide a recap of all the matches from the previous day;
• SportsCenter (8 a.m.; 3 p.m.; 12 a.m.) three, one-hour editions providing the latest news and information surrounding the event in addition to SportsCenter updates every 20 minutes;
• Raza Mundialista (9 a.m.-1 p.m.) the radio network's talk show will be broadcast in-between the early matches featuring up-to-the-minute news and information with program's co-hosts David Faitelson and Rafa Ramos joining in live from South Africa;
• Jorge Ramos y su Banda (1 p.m.-3 p.m.; 4 p.m.-7 p.m.) ESPN Deportes Radio's soccer talk-show (simulcast on ESPN Deportes) will originate from South Africa and feature co-hosts Jorge Ramos and Hernan Pereyra with live guests, entertaining discussions of the day's sports news and analysis. The program will be broadcast each day in-between the early matches and at the conclusion of the last match of the day;
• Destino Sudafrica (7 p.m.-9 p.m.) will be fully dedicated to covering all the World Cup action from the fan's point of view.  The show will be fueled by fan interaction, giving fans the opportunity to call-in and give their opinion on the tournament;
• Balon 2010 (9 p.m.-12 a.m.) this talk-show will be broadcast exclusively during the World Cup and feature a recap of all the matches of the day;
• Zona Mixta (1 a.m.-5 a.m.) ESPN Deportes Radio's evening daily program will provide a recap of the day's matches and feature special guests from South Africa.

ESPN DEPORTES MOVIL

ESPN Deportes' emerging platform will offer for the first time ESPN Deportes Alerts where fans can sign up for free Spanish language text message updates to receive select scores and news by texting FUTBOL to 43776.  

ESPNDEPORTES.COM

At ESPNdeportes.com Mundial 2010 soccer fans will also be able to access complete on-the-ground Spanish language coverage from a team of writers, correspondents and on-air commentators for ESPNdeportes.com, including renowned coach Carlos Bianchi and ESPN Deportes analysts D. Brailovsky, D. Faitelson, J.R. Fernandez, F. Palomo, J. Ramos and F. Schwartz.

Other features available from ESPNdeportes.com Mundial 2010 include:

• Expert analysis and opinion from exclusive video segments produced in South Africa;
• Real-time enhanced GameCast of all 64 games with an enhanced chat application where users can post comments, send tweets or follow a Facebook feed from their friends;
• Live tweets from South Africa with commentary on the matches, news from South Africa and World Cup-related programming updates by following @ESPNdeportes/mundial2010;
• Photo galleries capturing all the action of every match;
• A comprehensive look at every team and the top players of the tournament;
• Worldwide contributions from ESPN experts in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, London, Bristol and South Africa;
• Spanish-language versions of the four fantasy games developed for the World Cup.

ESPN DEPORTES LA REVISTA

The June issue of ESPN Deportes La Revista, on newsstands this week, features Lionel Messi (Argentina), Andres Guardado (Mexico), David Villa (Spain) and Yoann Gourcuff (France) on the cover.  ESPN Deportes La Revista's World Cup Preview provides a group-by-group breakdown of the 32 teams that will be battling it out for the World Cup trophy—predictions and analysis.  Articles in this issue include:

• "Historia de la Redonda" - an in-depth look at the World Cup over the past 50 years;
• "Anejas Rivalidades" – In their quest for conquering the most coveted trophy, the World Cup has left historic rivals --- in-and-off-the-field. This issue explores how the major rivalries came to being;
• "Carteles mundialistas" – The power of soccer expressed through art – this issue reports on how artists use the World Cup as a platform to inspire and sometimes foster a social movement through soccer;  
• "La Soledad del Portero" – Being a goalkeeper is considered by many the loneliest position in sports --- profile on Guillermo Ochoa, goalkeeper of the Mexican National Team.
• "Sudafrica entre la libertad y el futbol" – First they fought for their independence and now South Africa, the first African nation to host a World Cup, wants to make history on the field.

SOURCE ESPN Deportes