ESPN and ESPN2 will televise 24 hours of live programming from Winter X Games 15, Jan. 27-30, in Aspen, Colo. The network also will present 18 hours of Winter X 15 competition in 3-D on ESPN 3D. In addition, content will be distributed across ESPN3.com, ESPN.com/Action, ESPN Mobile TV and "X Center," reaching more than 382 million homes, and will be televised live to 154 countries.
"It is always our mission to serve the fan," said Scott Guglielmino, senior vice president, programming and global X events. "With the addition of 18 hours of original 3-D coverage, including all the ski and snowboard action from the SuperPipe, Slopestyle and Big Air events, and exclusive content on ESPN3.com, we will once again deliver the most compelling winter action sports content to fans on more platforms than ever."
Television: ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to televise 24 hours of live Winter X 15 action, and will produce eight individual windows of original competition. Additionally, ESPN 3D will feature nine windows of original competition. "X Center," ESPN2's Winter X Games highlight show, also will air each night of the event.
Hosted by Sal Masekela, the X Games telecast will once again feature a talented collection of on-air commentators. ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson will return to host Jeep "X Center" nightly on ESPN2; the program will run for one hour and will air a short time after the Winter X Games telecast. Veteran X Games commentators Keir Dillon, Chris Ernst and Jamie Little will collectively host 18 hours of live Winter X Games 15 coverage on ESPN 3D.
A roster of action sports experts including Kevin Pearce, Mike Douglas, Zach Crist, Keir Dillon and Chris Burandt will join Masekela for the Winter X 15 telecast and serve as analysts for the skiing, snowboarding and snowmobile events. Winter X Games athlete Sarah Burke will join the telecast as a reporter.
In 2010, ESPN recorded its highest-rated and most-viewed Winter X Games. On ESPN, Winter X Games 14 averaged a 1.2 rating, 1,147,000 homes and 1,628,000 viewers (P2+). On ESPN2, last year's Winter X averaged a 0.5 rating, 465,000 homes and 635,000 viewers (P2+).
ESPN3.com: ESPN3.com will distribute 34 hours of coverage from Winter X Games 15, including 10 hours of exclusive content and streaming video of competition.
Online: ESPN.com/Action will provide on-site event coverage every day of Winter X Games 15. The 24/7 action sports website will feature live results, athlete chats, live video hosted by ESPN3.com, expert commentary with audience participation, event recaps, ZOOM photo galleries, feature stories and exclusive behind-the-scenes video. ESPN.com/Action also will be the exclusive home for Snowboard Real Snow fan voting.
Mobile: ESPN Mobile TV will carry 23 hours of live coverage of Winter X Games 15, in addition to four hours of simulcast coverage of days one through four late-night highlight shows. ESPN Mobile TV also will deliver encore content from Winter X Games 14 Classix. ESPN Mobile TV viewers will be able to participate in text voting opportunities and receive 24/7 mobile alerts. The Winter X Games 15 mobile app will be available on Android and iPhone/iPod Touch devices. The app features complete venue info, customizable schedules, athlete bios, results, photo galleries and more. The app can be downloaded for free by texting GUIDE to 43776 or visiting XGames.com/App.
ESPN On Demand: TV and Mobile On Demand will carry new Winter X Games 15 content, including daily highlights, Best of Ski, Best of Snowboard and Best of Snowmobile. On Demand also will carry past highlights from previous Winter X Games and Shaun White titles.
ESPN International: Winter X Games 15 will be televised in more than 154 countries and territories to more than 60 million homes, including live coverage in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Israel, Mexico, Middle East, New Zealand and South America. The event also will be simulcast on ESPN's international broadband platforms in 12 countries.
iTunes: From Jan. 26 through 30, iTunes will feature a Winter X Games 15 page. The page will include current Winter X Games 15 content (daily highlights and discipline highlights), ESPN Films 30 for 30's "The Birth of Big Air," "Shaun White: Don't Look Down," "Moto X: Evolution of the Trick" and "Down the Barrel." The Winter X Games page also will feature Winter X 15 music playlists from our on-air broadcast and Winter X 15 phone apps. www.iTunes.com/WinterXGames
Xbox LIVE: Winter X Games 15 content will include daily highlights, Best of Ski, Best of Snowboard and Best of Snowmobile. Live coverage on ESPN3.com is also available to Xbox LIVE Gold level members who receive their Internet service from an affiliated provider.
YouTube: ESPN will produce exclusive behind-the-scenes segments from Winter X Games 15, which will live on ESPN's X Games YouTube channel.
Social Media: The X Games page on Facebook will feature a Winter X Games 15 photo gallery, live streaming video of events on the "X Cast" tab, athlete chats and a daily X Fest show: "Inside X." The page also will host a custom tab integrating ESPN.com/Action's headlines, the X Games YouTube channel and direct links to XGames.com event information. Facebook.com/XGames
Fans who follow the X Games on Twitter will be provided with instant event updates, breaking news, results and a behind-the-scenes look at Winter X Games 15. Twitter.com/XGames
ESPN has produced an official X Games brand page at Foursquare.com/xgames, which will allow fans, athletes and spectators to check in at the Winter X Games while in Aspen.
Commentators and Analysts
Sal Masekela has served as host of the Winter X Games since 2002. In addition to serving as host, Masekela's responsibilities include serving as play-by-play for the Snowboard SuperPipe, Slopestyle and Big Air events, and providing reports on "SportsCenter."
Dana Jacobson, an ESPN anchor since 2002, joined the X Games team in 2006 as the first host of "X Center," ESPN2's nightly highlight show. At Winter X Games 15, Jacobson will host Jeep "X Center."
Kevin Pearce, who has five Winter X medals to his name, will serve as an analyst for the snowboard competitions at Winter X 15. At Winter X 13, he was the first athlete to compete in three Winter X Games competitions in a single day and earned three medals in the three events.
Zach Crist was a member of the U.S. Ski Team for seven years, and he went on to earn three Winter X Games medals, including Skier X gold in 2001. Crist will work as an analyst for the X Course competitions.
Chris "Uncle E" Ernst will serve as the commentator for the freeski sports competitions at the Winter X Games. A former ski aerialist, Ernst is a live event announcer for numerous winter sports events and is the founder of EXP Productions.
Mike Douglas has been an integral part of the Winter X Games telecast team since 2001. A member of the Canadian Freestyle Ski team in the early 1990s, he helped usher in the twin tip revolution. Douglas also competed twice at the Winter X Games in the Skiing Big Air. Douglas will serve as an analyst for the Ski Slopestyle, Ski SuperPipe and both Big Air events at Winter X Games 15.
Chris Burandt helped pioneer the sport of snowmobile freestyle in the early 2000s. Before moving into the Winter X television booth in 2010, Burandt stood atop the podium in the Winter X Games 11 Snowmobile Freestyle contest. Burandt will serve as an analyst for select snowmobile events at Winter X Games 15.
Keir Dillon competed in nine Winter X Games, collecting a pair of Snowboarding SuperPipe medals in the process. Three years ago, Dillon added TV reporter to his resume and is now a fixture of both the X Games and Winter X Games telecasts. In 2010, Dillon was named as the host for the ESPN 3D telecast of X Games 16. Dillon will also serve as an analyst for the snowboarding events on the ESPN and ESPN 3D telecasts.
Sarah Burke was named one of the most influential skiers of the past 35 years by Powder magazine and was the first woman to land a 720, 900 and 1080 in competition. Burke has five Winter X Skiing SuperPipe medals, including three consecutive gold medals and back-to-back silvers before that. Burke will serve as an analyst for specific freeski competitions at Winter X Games 15.