NBC Sports and Universal Sports Present Broadcast, Online Coverage of the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday
Universal Sports, UniversalSports.com LIVE Coverage Begins at 9am ET;
NBC Sports to Present a Two-Hour Special Beginning at 2pm ET
Multimedia Coverage Gives Fans Nationally, Globally Unprecedented Access to Iconic Race
LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK – October 27, 2009 – NBC Sports and Universal Sports will provide comprehensive, live broadcast and online coverage of the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday, November 1. Universal Sports and UniversalSports.com will have live coverage from 9am – 2pm ET. NBC Sports will air a two-hour special presentation from 2 – 4pm ET this Sunday, Nov. 1.
The online and broadcast coverage will showcase the 40th running of the 26.2-mile race seen by two million spectators as runners pace through New York City’s five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan, and finish at Tavern on the Green in world-famous Central Park.
Headlining the marathon’s many storylines is the return of world record holder and veteran Paula Radcliffe, who is back after a series of injuries, including foot surgery, to defend her title and earn her fourth overall win. She’ll face tough competition from Boston winner Kenyan Salina Kosgei and a field of other highly talented women. On the men’s side, Brazil’s Marilson Gomes dos Santos returns to defend his title, competing against a field that includes two-time winner Martin Lel of Kenya, 2004 winner Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa, and Olympic Silver Medalist Jaouad Gharibof of Morocco.
“We are proud to support live multi-platform coverage of the ING NYC Marathon, one of world’s greatest road races,” said Universal Sports Chairman and CEO Claude Ruibal. “Universal Sports has established itself as the top destination for competitive running and road racing events such as the World Marathon Majors. We continue to deliver on our mission to elevate and deliver Olympic and lifestyle sports that exemplifies the best of the human spirit.”
COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS: New this year, NBC Sports will increase its national same day taped coverage of the Marathon from one hour to two hours from 2-4pm ET. The two hours of same day coverage is the only national TV network coverage of any major marathon outside of the Olympics. Coverage is hosted by NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts.
COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, available in 56 million homes, will present a live broadcast on its 24-hour television network from 9am - 2pm ET. UniversalSports.com will offer a free, live webcast from 9am - 2pm ET, along with full-length videos, highlights, photos and recaps at UniversalSports.com. The online coverage will include three separate streams: the main broadcast, men’s elite runners and women’s elite runners.
Universal Sports is home to the World Marathon Majors (WMM), offering complete and in-depth television and online coverage of the five marathon majors: Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and the New York City Marathon.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming available on television and online. Universal Sports is available in 56 million homes, including nine of the top 10 DMAs: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. Recent expansion includes launches in Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Denver, Portland, and Jacksonville. Go to UniversalSports.com for a complete list of TV markets. Major world championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports range from track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons and cycling, to volleyball, rowing, triathlon, fencing, speed skating and martial arts. UniversalSports.com delivers an immersive experience via live and on-demand competition coverage, interaction with top athletes through blogs and in-depth access to Olympic sports news and information year round. For more information on the availability of the Universal Sports 24-hour television channel, please visit UniversalSports.com.
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Media Contacts
NBC Sports & Olympics
Adam Freifeld
(212) 664-6772
adam.freifeld@nbcuni.com
Universal Sports
Melisa Mowry
(240) 396-1906
mmowry@universalsports.com
Amy Sorrells
(404) 550-4885
amyssorrells@comcast.net
Greg Hughes
(404) 394-3700
ghughes5425@gmail.com