ESPN Brings 2008 Bassmaster Classic to Fans Across Diverse Multimedia Platforms

February 14, 2008 -- The drama of the weigh-in stage is always the high point of a day at the Bassmaster Classic, and the 2008 edition in Greenville, S.C., will be no exception. But this year, nail-biter weigh-ins are not the only parts of the Feb. 22-24 event that fishing fans near and far will be able to experience.

Every minute of the excitement of the 38th Bassmaster Classic, from multiple Classic venues, will be presented by ESPN2, ESPN Radio and Bassmaster.com. ESPN2 will provide 11 hours of programming through the three days of competition, topping off the extensive coverage with two more hours Feb. 28 (see full schedule below).

“As always, ESPN is dedicated to providing sports fans with a multitude of ways to get the information and entertainment they want from bass fishing’s ultimate event, the Bassmaster Classic,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager, BASS. “We’re looking forward to delivering up-to-the-minute news, photos, video, interviews – everything they’re looking for and more.”

ESPN2 outdoors personality Tommy Sanders will anchor the coverage, while Mark Zona will serve as analyst. The duo can be seen on The Bassmasters Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Also on board as reporters are Robbie Floyd and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Byron Velvick, former star of ABC’s The Bachelor.

On the first day of Classic competition, fans at Hartwell’s Portman Marina will be treated to a live production of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. Host Mike Golic, who’s also an analyst for NFL and college football programming on ESPN and ESPN2, will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to more than 355 affiliates nationwide. ESPN’s Erik Kuselias will co-host with Golic.

For fans who can’t make the trip to Greenville, www.Bassmaster.com is the ultimate fix. Hooked Up will present five days of action from several locations, including Lake Hartwell, the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo and the Bi-Lo Center, where weigh-ins will take place. Real-time blogs and up-to-the-minute photos will be continuously available, along with the Webcasts, at www.Bassmaster.com.

Hooked Up’s coverage from the lake starts Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m., during the one official practice day. And while Thursday is an off day for contenders, Hooked Up won’t slow down. A special segment at 11:30 a.m. will feature exclusive interviews with many of the Classic anglers.

The Webcast shifts into high gear Friday through Sunday. Hourly updates of the action on the lake will be shown from 6:30 a.m. to about 1 p.m. The cameras will switch to the Classic Outdoors Expo at 2 p.m., then back to the lake at 3 p.m., when contenders come off the water.

Back in Greenville, Hooked Up will go behind the scenes at the Bi-Lo Center for exclusive interviews with contenders as they arrive at the weigh-ins. When the weigh-in begins each day at 4:30 p.m., www.Bassmaster.com will switch to continuous, up-close video, including the Feb. 24 finale, when the next champion will lift the Classic trophy in triumph to the roar of the crowd.

Additionally, on www.Bassmaster.com, fishing fans can access real-time leaderboards for both the Bassmaster Classic and Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors. Users can also access photo galleries, editorial coverage and podcasts that will originate from Greenville.

For even more in-depth coverage, members of BASS Insider will be treated to daily video interviews with Classic contenders, on-the-water commentary and a wealth of live blogs and fantasy fishing scout reports from the event. Also on Insider, members get an up-close account of the hottest products and events at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo. A list of Insider benfits can be found below.

ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature live sports broadband network, also will feature live online coverage of the daily Bassmaster Classic weigh-ins from the Bi-Lo Center. ESPN360.com delivers more than 2,500 live global sports events per year, and is available at no additional charge to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. It is available in 20 million households nationwide via more than 20 Internet service providers including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and more.

International networks ESPN Atlantic (sub-Sahara Africa), ESPN Israel, ESPN Pac Rim (Australia/New Zealand) and ESPN2 Caribbean will air the Classic, reaching 75 Countries and more than 5.6 million households.

The 2008 Bassmaster Classic will be hosted by the Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau. The tournament will receive 13 hours of television coverage on ESPN2.

Official sponsors for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic: Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter and Yamaha.

2008 Bassmaster Classic Multimedia Coverage (all times Eastern)

ESPN Radio

Friday, Feb. 22

6 a.m.-10 a.m.: Mike & Mike in the Morning live from Lake Hartwell

ESPN2

Saturday, Feb. 23

7 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: Day 1
8:30-10 a.m.: Day 1
10 p.m. to midnight: Day 2

Sunday, Feb. 24

6 a.m.-8 a.m.: Day 2
8-10 a.m.: Day 2
10 p.m.-midnight: Day 3

Thursday, Feb. 28

4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Day 3

Hooked Up at www.Bassmaster.com

Wednesday, Feb. 20

2-2:20 p.m.: from-the-lake reports
3-3:30 p.m.: from-the-lake reports

Thursday, Feb. 21

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Classic contender interviews

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 22-24

6:30 a.m.-8 a.m.: from-the-lake reports
9 a.m.-1 p.m. (at approximately 15-minute intervals): from-the-lake reports
2 p.m.: from the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo
3-4 p.m.: from-the-lake reports
4 p.m.-end of weigh-in: streaming video from the weigh-in stage

BASS Insider:

* Classic Raw — video interviews of Classic contenders each day
* Ride Along with Marty — On-the-water commentary during the practice round, in which Marty Stone will analyze each contender’s techniques in short video segments
* Classic Flashback — Video and audio interviews with past Classic Champions
* Notes & Quotes — A blog-type collection of quotes, notes and observations from Classic staff, contenders and others
* Barone Blog — Former ESPN writer Don Barone’s unique commentaries on sportfishing's biggest event
* Staff blogs — Editors and senior writers provide their insights on Classic Week and the competition for more than $1 million in prize money
* What’s Hot at the Expo — Fishing Tackle Retailer Editor Ronell Smith will write a blog on new products being introduced at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo
* Insider Fantasy Scouting Report — A team of pundits, including Mark Zona, Steve Price and others, offer their predictions on who'll win the Classic and which Elite Anglers will vie for Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year in 2008

2008 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo

Carolina First Center

1 Exposition Ave., Greenville, S.C.

Noon-9 p.m., Feb. 22

10 a.m.-6 p.m., Feb. 23

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 24

About BASS
For 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive web properties in www.Bassmaster.com and www.ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women's Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers a wide array of services to its more than 525,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

Source: ESPN

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