Broadcasts include 27 original programs on NBC, ESPN and OLN
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association boasts an expansive television schedule this year, with 27 programs scheduled for broadcast throughout the 2003-04 season. Original programming includes eight hours of events on NBC and 17 events on ESPN. At least 16 of these programs will be rebroadcast on the Outdoor Life Network. In addition, OLN is committed independently to broadcast 16 European World Cup races this winter.
“We are ecstatic about the volume of coverage and support from our broadcast partners,” said Ted Morris, vice president of corporate sales and marketing for USSA. “It will go a long way in building the visibility of our athletes and events. The U.S.
Ski and Snowboard Teams had tremendous success last year, and this year is going to be even better. We have More stars than ever before, and these athletes are going to be visible for everyone to follow throughout the year.”
Morris said being on NBC is terrific placement for ski racing programming as the network recently signed a deal to broadcast the Olympic Games through 2012. He also noted the value of programming on ESPN, considering its status as “the world-wide leader in sports,” and the network’s partnership with USSA, which has existed since 1984.
OLN’s coverage puts ski racing in primetime thanks to its independent commitment to broadcast select European and Canadian Alpine World Cup races. In addition to re-airing programming from NBC and ESPN, OLN will be on location this season with same-day, in-depth coverage of 16 World Cup events. Events will air Saturdays at 7 p.m. EST, and will re-air Sundays at 5 p.m. The OLN broadcast team features Chad Fleisher, Pam Fletcher and Steve Porino.
USSA believes in the value of television exposure, said Morris, and has invested about $5 million in programming. Several of USSA’s long-term corporate partners, including Chevy Truck, Visa, Sprint, Charles Schwab, Earthlink and Anheuser-Busch, also support this belief and are on board with advertising during programming.
“It’s obvious by the numbers that our sports have incredible visibility worldwide through multiple European and Asian broadcasters,” he said. “Alpine World Cups generate viewership numbers of 15-20 million per race worldwide and jumping events range from 20-35 million worldwide.”
However, Morris said he hopes to see more representation and support from the ski industry itself, similar to the support golf and tennis sees in their programming. “If skiing and snowboarding are going to survive and ultimately proliferate on U.S. television, it’s going to take substantial support from the ski industry,” Morris said.
2003-2004 Broadcast Schedule (all times EST)
DECEMBER
Thu. Dec. 4, ESPN, 2 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (men’s Downhill), Park City, UT
Thu. Dec. 4, ESPN, 3 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (wmn’s Giant Slalom), Park City, UT
Sat. Dec. 6, OLN, 7 pm (Dec. 7, 5 pm), World Cup (wmn’s Downhill), Lake Louise, ALB
Thu. Dec. 11, ESPN, 2 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (wmn’s Slalom), Park City, UT
Thu. Dec. 11, ESPN, 3 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (men’s Giant Slalom), Beaver Creek, CO
Sat. Dec. 13, OLN, 7 pm (Dec. 14, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Val-d’Isere, FRA
Sat. Dec. 20, NBC, 2 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (men’s Giant Slalom), Park City, UT
Sat. Dec. 20, OLN, 7 pm (Dec. 21, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Groden, ITA
Sun. Dec. 21, NBC, 3 pm, Chevy Truck World Cup (men’s Downhill), Beaver Creek, CO
Sat. Dec. 27, NBC, 3 pm, Chevy Truck Snowboard Grand Prix (Half Pipe, Parallel Giant Dlalomiant Slalomalom), Park City, UT
Sat. Dec. 27, OLN, 7 pm (Dec. 28, 5 pm), World Cup (wmn’s Giant Slalom), Lienz, AUT
JANUARY
Thu. Jan. 1, ESPN, 2 pm, Chevy Truck Disabled Nationals (Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom), Vail, CO
Sat. Jan. 3, OLN, 7 pm (Jan. 4, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Giant Slalom), Flachau, AUT
Sat. Jan. 10, OLN, 7 pm (Jan. 11, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), ChaMogulsnix, FRA
Sat. Jan. 17, OLN, 7 pm (Jan. 18, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Wengen, SUI
Sun. Jan. 25, NBC, 3:30 pm, Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup, Lake Placid, NY
Sat. Jan. 30, OLN, 7 pm (Feb. 1, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Garmisch, GER
FEBRUARY
Sun. Feb. 1, NBC, 3 pm, Chevy Truck Snowboard Grand Prix (Half Pipe, Snowboard Cross), MamMogulsth, CA
Thu. Feb. 5, ESPN, 1:30 pm, Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge, Lake Placid, NY
Thu. Feb. 5, ESPN, 2 pm, Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge, Deer Valley, UT
Sat. Feb. 7, OLN, 7 pm (5 pm), World Cup (men’s Giant Slalom), Adelboden, SUI
Sat. Feb. 14, OLN, 7 pm (Feb. 15, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Saint Anton, AUT
Thu. Feb. 19, ESPN, 1 pm, Chevy Truck Snowboard Grand Prix (Snowboard Cross), Mammoth, CA
Sat. Feb. 21, NBC, 3:30 pm, Sprint Freestyle World Cup (AE, Moguls, Dual Moguls), Deer Valley, UT
Sat. Feb. 21, OLN, 7 pm (Feb. 22, 5 pm), World Cup (wmn’s Giant Slalom), Aare, SWE
Sun. Feb. 22, NBC, 2 pm, Chevy Truck Snowboard Grand Prix (Half Pipe), Mtn. Creek, NJ
Tue. Feb. 24, ESPN, 2 pm, Snowboard Big Air, Park City, UT
Tue. Feb. 24, ESPN, 2:30 pm, Snowboard Big Air, Mammoth, CA
Sat. Feb. 28, OLN, 7 pm (Feb. 29, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Giant Slalom), Kranjska Gora, SLO
MARCH
Sat. Mar. 6, NBC, 2 pm, Visa International Jumping World Cup (K120), Park City, UT
Sat. Mar. 6, OLN, 7 pm (Mar. 4, 5 pm), World Cup (men’s Downhill), Kvitfjell, NOR
Sat. Mar. 13, OLN, 7 pm, FINALS Alpine Men’s Giant Slalom, Sestrieres, ITA
Sun. Mar. 14, OLN, 7 pm, FINALS Alpine Men’s Slalom, Sestrieres, ITA
Wed. Mar. 24, ESPN, 2:30 pm, Chevy Truck Snowboard World Cup (Parallel Giant Slalom, Snowboard Cross), Mt. Bachelor, OR
APRIL
Thu. Apr. 1, ESPN, 12 pm, Snowboard Big Air, Mt. Bachelor, OR
Thu. Apr. 8, ESPN, 2:30 pm, Chevy Truck Freestyle Nationals (Moguls, Aerials, Dual Moguls), Heavenly, CA
Tue. Apr 13, ESPN, 12:30 pm, Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge, Heavenly, CA
Thu. Apr. 15, ESPN, 1 pm, Chevy Truck Cross Country Nationals, Rumford, ME
Thu. Apr. 15, ESPN, 1 pm, Chevy Truck Nordic Nationals (K88/7.5-km), Steamboat, CO
Fri. Apr. 16, ESPN, 1 pm, Chevy Truck Alpine Nationals (Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom), Alyeska, AK
TBA, syndicated, various times, Chevy Truck Return of the Champions, Alyeska, AK
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