Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) games will be broadcast on ESPN’s online network, with the potential for games to be broadcast on a cable station.
The Skeeters become the first minor-league baseball team to showcase full-season live coverage on ESPN3, ESPN’s online channel. The deal gives ESPN the exclusive rights to place Sugar Land games on its digital and television networks. The deal will begin with Skeeters home game coverage throughout the 2014 season. Additionally, ESPN will host exclusive coverage of the Roger Clemens Celebrity Slam Softball Game (July 15) and the 2014 Atlantic League All-Star Game (July 16) live from Constellation Field.
“Forging a media relationship with ESPN is a huge step in the development of our brand,” said Sugar Land Skeeters President Jon Danos. “We can now visually deliver a high quality production to our fans everywhere, which is a great opportunity given the Skeeters stories that have been told on a nation-wide stage. I think fans will love our unique approach, which will feature elements never seen before in professional baseball. ESPN is the gold standard and we’re proud to be working with them.”
Each of the 72 interactive events are set to include unique, in-game featured interviews, first-hand information regarding strategy on the field, as well as a look inside the dugout with Skeeters Manager Gary Gaetti. All games will be produced live and may be accessed online at WatchESPN.com and SugarLandSkeeters.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Very quietly ESPN3 has become a major force in sports programming: the network is currently available to more than 92 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!