ESPN Full Circle

"ESPN Full Circle" was a presentation of a sporting event that airs on every ESPN network. Each network presents a different angle of the game being broadcast. There are twelve networks involved including: ESPN, ESPNHD, ESPN2, ESPN2HD, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile, ESPN360, ESPN.com ESPN International and ESPN Deportes.

"ESPN Full Circle" debuted with "ESPN Full Circle:North Carolina at Duke" on March 4, 2006, on the one year anniversary of ESPNU. The game was the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Duke Blue Devils in college basketball. A month later the second installment of "ESPN Full Circle" showed "ESPN Full Circle:Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs" on April 22, 2006. The game featured the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. The third edition of "ESPN Full Circle" showed "ESPN Full Circle: Florida State vs. Miami" on September 4, 2006. The game featured a college football game between Florida State Seminoles at the Miami Hurricanes. The fourth installment featured the Florida Gators vs. the Auburn Tigers on October 14, 2006 and was entitled "ESPN Full Circle: Florida vs. Auburn". The fifth Full Circle broadcast was on March 4, 2007, with the NASCAR Busch Series Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200. [http://media.espn.com/MediaZone/PressKits/NASCAR/Releases/FullCircle.htm] The sixth "Full Circle" event was the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game on April 3, 2007.

The current status of this package is uncertain. No Full Circle events have been broadcast, or even announced, since April 2007. There is also no mention on the [http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnShows page that lists current ESPN programs] .

North Carolina at Duke

This was the first ever "ESPN Full Circle", which aired on March 4, 2006. The game was seen by an average of 3.78 million households on ESPN and ESPN2 making it the most-viewed men's college basketball game ever combining the networks. There were also two million page views on ESPN.com and one million video streams across ESPN.com and ESPN 360. ESPN's single network coverage garnered a 3.5 rating, the network's highest-rated men's college basketball game in more than four years (Maryland at Duke posted a 3.5 in January 2002). ESPN2's "Above the Rim" coverage generated a 0.7 rating, 40% higher than the network's per-game season average. Brad Nessler called the game along with Dick Vitale and Erin Andrews. This game is significant since it was the last time to date that Nessler called a Saturday Primetime game.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of a regular college basketball game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities are covering the game
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) featured the "Above the Rim" cam for the first time in television history.
*ESPNU featured a split screen with the traditional view of the game on the left side and the "Cameron Crazy Cam" on the right with a camera on the Duke student section the whole game.
*ESPN360 featured the traditional game feed on ESPN's customized broadband service enhanced with extra stats not featured on telecast, hosted by ESPN Radio's Jeff Rickard.
*Mobile ESPN featured game alerts, live updates and in-game polling for a replay of a classic Duke-North Carolina game.
*ESPN International was covered in over 120 countries around the world.
*ESPN.com featured live chats, in-game polling and highlights on

Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs

This was the second installment of "ESPN Full Circle", which aired on April 22, 2006. The official name of this one was "ESPN Full Circle: Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs" and the game was the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat. The game was seen by an average of 2,648,000 households on ESPN and ESPN2, marking a 45% increase when compared to the equivalent NBA playoff telecast the previous year. In addition, ESPN.com's ESPN Motion received nearly 600,000 video streams for Bulls/Heat content. Mike Tirico called the game along with Bill Walton and Steve "Snapper" Jones and Jim Gray as the sideline reporter.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of a regular basketball game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities are covering the game
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) featured the "Above the Rim" cam along with commentary from "NBA Shootaround" commentators John Saunders, Greg Anthony, Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith.
*ESPN 360 featured the traditional game feed on ESPN's customized broadband service enhanced with extra stats not featured on telecast, hosted by ESPN Radio's Jeff Rickard and NBA insider John Hollinger.
*ESPN International was covered in over 125 countries around the world.
*ESPN Deportes offered a simulcast of the traditional game telecast with commentators Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales.
*ESPN.com coverage included live chats with ESPN NBA analysts during the game, in addition to GameCast information and in-game fan polling.
*ESPN Radio provided on-site updates during ESPN Radio's GameNight.
*ESPNEWS featured in progress highlights and analysis from ESPN NBA analysts.
*Mobile ESPN provided in-progress video highlights throughout the game and halftime analysis. It also had a live scoreboard and an in-game box score.

Florida State at Miami

This was the third installment of "ESPN Full Circle", which aired on September 4, 2006. The official name of this one was "ESPN Full Circle: Florida State at Miami" and the game was a college football matchup between the Florida State Seminoles at the Miami Hurricanes. ESPN's coverage of the game averaged 6,330,000 households (a 6.9 rating), making it the network's most-viewed college football game (including regular season and bowl games) ever. It is the network's second highest-rated college football game (including regular season and bowl games) ever (behind a 7.7 rating for Florida State at Miami on ESPN October 8, 1994). The telecast was television's most-viewed program of the night across key male 18-to-34 (1,687,000 average), 18-to-49 (3,466,000) and 25-to-54 (3,453,000) demographics and fourth most-viewed program in households. Mike Patrick called the game along with analysis from Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe reporting from the sideline.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of a not so regular football game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities were covering the game
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) offered coverage of the game utilizing multiple camera angles in a mosaic-style presentation. The screen featured the primary ESPN telecast surrounded by seven additional camera angles that include isolations of the coaches, quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and other key offensive and defensive matchups. The screen at the bottom featured the SkyCam angle throughout the entire game.
*ESPNU televised the game from the SkyCam angle and feature the unique commentary and perspectives of ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd. He reacted to the game and was joined by special guests.
*ESPN 360 offered a simulcast feed of ESPNU's SkyCam presentation with extra stats during commercial breaks.
*ESPN Deportes offered traditional game coverage with Spanish language commentary.
*Mobile ESPN targeted specifically to sports fans will provide a variety of content, including game alerts, live updates and in-game polling.
*ESPN International had a traditional telecast offered to approximately 54 countries worldwide.
*ESPN.com had a live chat with Jim Donnan, reports from Ivan Maisel, GameCast's real-time animated game representation and in-game polling.
*ESPNEWS offered frequent updates and analysis.
*ESPN Radio provided in-game updates from "GameNight", on-site reports and periodic live audio of Colin Cowherd's commentary from ESPNU.

Florida vs. Auburn

This was the fourth installment of "ESPN Full Circle", which aired on October 14, 2006. The official name of this one was "ESPN Full Circle delivered by The New AT&T: Florida vs. Auburn" and the game was a college football matchup between the Florida Gators at the Auburn Tigers. It generated the lowest ratings of any of the Full Circle telecasts with a 3.3 rating. This was also the second college football game on "Full Circle". Mike Patrick called the game along with analysis from Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe reporting from the sideline.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of the college football game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities were covering the game
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) featured the traditional game coverage surrounded by four other angles in smaller screens in a mosaic-style presentation that will isolate the head coaches, the quarterbacks as well as provide the full-time view from Skycam. ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd provided commentary and react to the game and was joined by special guests including Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Mark May, Lou Holtz and Mel Kiper Jr..
*ESPNU will feature the traditional game coverage on the main screen surrounded by five smaller screens, including isolation angles of the head coaches, the quarterbacks, and other storyline-driven views plus the full time view from Skycam.
*ESPN 360 offered a simulcast feed of ESPNU's SkyCam presentation with extra stats during commercial breaks.
*Mobile ESPN televised live full game coverage streamed live on the phone, plus in-game alerts and highlights, as well as preview video clips and interviews.
*ESPN International had a traditional telecast offered to approximately 175 countries worldwide and at US Naval ships around the world.
*ESPN.com had a live chat with Pat Forde, reports from Ivan Maisel, GameCast's real-time animated game representation and in-game polling.
*ESPNEWS offered game highlights and opinions from ESPN's college football commentators, pre- and post-game analysis and live press conferences.
*ESPN Radio provided in-game updates from "GameNight", on-site reports and periodic live audio of Colin Cowherd's commentary from ESPNU.
*"College GameDay" broadcasted live from the campus of Auburn University at the usual time of 10 a.m. ET and signed off at 12:01 PM.

NASCAR Busch Series Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200

The fifth installment of "ESPN Full Circle" aired on March 4, 2007, a NASCAR Busch Series race held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. This was the first NASCAR race on "Full Circle". ESPN's regular NASCAR announce team of Dr. Jerry Punch called the race along with analysis from Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Mike Massaro, Jamie Little, and Dave Burns reported from pit lane.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD)and ESPN Deportes featured a simulcast of the traditional race coverage in the Spanish language. This was the first event not covered in English by ESPN. During the race, viewers were asked to call 1-800-DEPORTES or log on to [http://www.espndeportes.com the network's website] to express interest in adding it to their providers' channel lineups.
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) had the traditional race coverage in English.
*ESPN360 offeres different camera views from the regular race.
*ESPNEWS provided updates through the event.

NCAA Women's Basketball Championship

The sixth installment of "ESPN Full Circle" was on April 3, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. The official name of the telecast was "ESPN Full Circle: NCAA Women's Championship" and the game was between No. 1 Tennessee Lady Volunteers and No. 4 Rutgers Scarlet Knights. It was the first women's event presented as an "ESPN Full Circle" telecast. Mike Patrick called the game along with Doris Burke and reporters Holly Rowe and Mark Jones. Tennessee defeated Rutgers, 59-46, winning it's seventh national title.

Coverage

*ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of a regular college basketball game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities are covering the game.
*ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) had six coverage boxes; two with isolated shots of players (mainly Matee Ajavon of Rutgers and Candace Parker of Tennessee, isolated shots of the opposing coaches (C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers and Pat Summitt of Tennessee), another alternating statistics and replays in the lower center, and a simulcast of the traditional game coverage on ESPN. This feed had separate commentators, Doug Gottlieb and Carolyn Peck. Gottlieb and Peck were also joined by guests for interviews throughout the game; he also jokingly called the setup "The Matrix," as in the movie series. Enhanced graphics were available for those viewing the game in high definition with full-time integrated stats pillars on each side of the screen.
*ESPNU presented the Above the Rim camera angles as well as a simulcast and statistics. This feed also had commentary from Mike Hall and Charlene Curtis.
*ESPN360 offered enhanced statistics.
*ESPN.com provided in-game fan polls and live chats with, among others, Nancy Lieberman.

Trivia

Mike Patrick and Holly Rowe have made three appearances on Full Circle, the most of any of the network's on-air personalities. Todd Blackledge is the only other commentator to appear more than once.

References

* [http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/Apr_06/nba_fullcircle.htm Press Release:ESPN TO PRESENT FULL CIRCLE COVERAGE OF NBA PLAYOFF GAME APRIL 22]
* [http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/Feb_06/espnu_anniversary.htm Press Release:HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO “U” -- ESPNU TO CELEBRATE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY MARCH 4 AS COMPANY UNVEILS FULL CIRCLE FRANCHISE]
* [http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/Aug_06/cfb_full.htm Press Release:EVERY ESPN OUTLET TO COVER FLORIDA STATE VS. MIAMI SEPTEMBER 4]
* [http://media.espn.com/ESPNToday/2006/Oct_06/fullcircle.htm Press Release: ESPN FULL CIRCLE PRESENTATION OF FLORIDA - AUBURN OCTOBER 14]