NEWS RELERSE

ESPN, INC. COMMUNICRTIONS OEPRRTMENT

ESPN PLRZR, BRISTOL, CT OEOfO-7454

[BGtJ] 7GG-ZOOD THE WORLDWIDE LEADER IN SPORTS

Editor's Note: For an ESPNU logo and photos, go to http://media.espn.com/MediaZone/ESPNU photos.htm

For Immediate Release January 11, 2005 ESPNU TO LAUNCH WITH COLLEGE GAMEDAY FROM OKLAHOMA ST. ON "03-04-05" LIVE AT 7 P.M. ET ESPN2 To Simulcast First Show Of New 24-Hour College Sports Initiative

ESPNU, will launch on "03-04-05" - Friday, March 4, 2005 - with a two-hour live special edition ESPNU College GameDay from Stillwater, Okla. at 7 p.m. ET, it was announced by Burke Magnus, ESPNU Vice President and General Manager. Magnus also announced that the debutshow, staged from the campus site of the next day's Texas at Oklahoma State men's college basketball game, will be simulcast on ESPN2. Following the show, ESPNU, will complete its opening night by presenting two live conference tournament basketball games. The new 24-hour television network is a key- component of, the multi-media ESPNU college sports initiative. The ESPNU College GameDay premiere telecast will be a one-time extension of ESPN's new weekly (Saturday) College GameDay college basketball series, which will debut Saturday, Jan. 22 and originate from the campus/home site of ESPN's new Saturday > Primetime game-of-the-week. The debut ESPNU show will feature College GameDay commentators host Chris., Fowler, analysts Jay Bilas, , and ESPN.com seniorwriter . After the7-9 p.m. College GameDay show, ESPNU will present its first live event telecasts -- a men's semifinal game from the Tournament.(Nashville, Tenn.) at 9 p.m. followed by a first round men's basketball game from the Tournament (Santa Clara, Calif.) at 11 p.m. "It's fitting that our launch originates from a college campus, the place where the ultimate sports traditions and the most passionate fans converge," Magnus said. "On top of that, the ESPN2 simulcast will allow for viewers in greater numbers to learn more about the exciting plans for ESPNU." ESPNU's "03-04-05" launch date will help tip off the start of Championship Week, ESPN and ESPN2's annual franchise featuring comprehensive coverage of men's and women's college basketball conference tournaments. ESPNU's first week of programming will include approximately 25 additional live conference tournament games (not currently on ESPN or ESPN2), including at least 12 games during ESPNU's first three days.

OPENING NIGHT SCHEDULE - ESPNU "03-04-05" - Friday, March 4, 2005 Time (ET) Program 7 p.m. ESPNU College GameDay Wye from Stillwater, Okla.(simulcast on ESPN2) 9 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference Tournament (Men's Semifinal) from Nashville, Tenn. 11 p.m. West Coast Conference Tournament (Men's First Round) from Santa Clara, Calif.

EBPN.COM ESPNU In addition to the TV network, ESPNU content and components will be featured across ESPN's family of services, such as ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Mobile (wireless), ESPN Radio, ESPN Interactive, ESPN Broadband, merchandising and more. On the 24-hour ESPNU TV network, event programming will be the cornerstone, highlighted by approximately 300 live events (regular season and NCAA Championships) in the network's first year. Action will include a variety of top Division I football and men's and women's basketball mixed with baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, wrestling and more. ESPNU will also offer comprehensive studio programming, replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television games, plus specials and more. Cross-promotion for ESPNU, supporting television and other media, will extend across all entities.

ESPN REGIONAL TELEVISION ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, Inc., will handle the primary production responsibilities for the ESPNU television network out of its Charlotte, N.C. headquarters. ERT is the nation's largest syndicator of college sports programming with more than 740 events produced each year, accounting for more than 2,000 live and/or original hours.

-30-

Contact: Josh Kruiewitz at (860) 766-2000; josh.krulewitz@.com