ESPN PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW
TERM:
5 years beginning 2018-19 academic year
REQUIRED EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FOR ESPN PLATFORMS:
Football—All remaining regular season games (approximately 40 games/year) Men’s Basketball —60 regular season games, minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 games per school. Women’s Basketball —28 regular season games, minimum of 2 per school Conference Championship Events as follows: o Men’s Soccer—all games (QF, SF and Championship) o Women’s Soccer—all games (QF, SF and Championship) o Volleyball—all games (QF, SF and Championship) o Men’s Basketball—first round games only o Women’s Basketball—first round games only o Baseball—all games OTHER than the Championship (12-14 games) o Softball—all games OTHER than the Championship (9 games) o Wrap-up Shows (1-2 minutes each) for M/W Cross-Country, Women’s Swimming/Diving, M/W Indoor/Outdoor Track + Field, M/W Golf and M/W Tennis (11 shows)
PRODUCTION:
C-USA and C-USA member institutions produce all content and deliver each live game/ show to ESPN for minimum distribution obligation on an ESPN Digital Platform (ESPN3 or ESPN+) Production standards are on the following page Schools producing exclusive content will not receive a production stipend
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT - COMMERCIAL/PROMOTIONAL INVENTORY:
The host institution retains 4 x :30 spots in each game and may use these spots for the standard two participating team institutional spots and two C-USA PSAs – or convert promo time into sellable commercial inventory to sponsors
NON-EXCLUSIVE/ADDITIONAL CONTENT – COMMERCIAL/PROMOTIONAL INVENTORY:
Any events produced for an ESPN Digital Platform once the required exclusive content listed above is fulfilled, is considered non-exclusive content C-USA and C-USA member institutions retain the right to offer ESPN non-exclusive national distribution rights (with no blackout obligations) to additional games, produced by the member institutions and licensed by the members for local, in-market distribution (e.g., broadcast TV, etc) If offered to ESPN on a non-exclusive basis with local/regional distribution, C-USA and its member institutions retain all commercial/sponsorship opportunities with C-USA’s local/regional distribution of said additional game and ESPN shall be obligated to pass through any in-content sponsorship elements, but ESPN retains the right to insert ESPN’s own national commercial inventory in commercial breaks with ESPN’s distribution of said additional game These games cannot be made available on C-USA.tv Schools producing non-exclusive content will not receive a production stipend
ESPN SCHOOLS Minimum Standard Guideline (1/12/18)
EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
Video Switcher 10 inputs 2 keyers 1 ME 8 aux buses for iso’s, monitors and transmission All switchers must be 720p or 1080i / 59.4 frames per second (minimums) Optional router depending on production needs
Cameras Four minimum, with operator for each. 2 Handheld, 1 Hard lens, 1 handheld buildup. Some sports may require a higher minimum. Depending on the sport, 3 cameras must have a minimum of a 14x 4.3 lens. One camera 40x. All “tight” lenses must be of no less than 40x and must include extender feature.
Graphics The ESPN insert graphic look must be used, unless prior approval is given by Production. Exceptions may be made for world feed graphics. The ESPN look is only distributed in formats used on Viz RT or Ross XPression graphics packages. You can use your own graphics systems to create a graphics look for these packaged games for ESPN3. You may be asked to incorporate sponsorship logos for sales or billboards, if necessary
Note: ESPN does NOT supply clock/score units. Schools/Packagers are responsible for that execution on one of their graphics platform channels.
Replay system (Digital server based) Minimum of one DVR Unit with minimum 4 input / 2 output DVCPRO machine (1 minimum) (ESPN animation reels are distributed in this format) Master Record devices (final show copy and melt reels)
Audio Consoles 24 inputs 8 sub mixers 2 output Additional audio to complement production – camera microphones, crowd microphones ESPN3 preferred audio configurations are as follows: Ch. 1 STEREO Mix (Left) Ch. 2 STEREO Mix (Right) Ch. 3 Int’l Sound (STEREO Left) Ch. 4 Int’l Sound (STEREO Right) • Talent headsets, one for each talent; at least one stick mic for guest interviews. Effects mics.
ESPN3 content Minimum Specs
Sport Baseball Basketball Bowling Fencing Field Hockey Football Cameras 2 (CF / Hi home) 4 2 (behind/lane) 1 (game) 2 (game/tight) 4 Replay 0 1 0 0 0 1 Commentary PxP only PxP and Analyst Nats PxP only PxP only PxP and Analyst Graphics Clock/Score Clock/Score and inserts Scoring Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score and inserts
Sport Golf Gymnastics Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Cameras 3+ (pending) 3+ (pending) 2 (game/tight) 2 (game/tight) 2 (game/tight) 2 (CF / Hi home) Replay 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commentary Nat sound Nat sound PxP only PxP only PxP only PxP only Graphics Scoring Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score
Sport Swimming Tennis T&F Volleyball Water Polo Wrestling Cameras 2 (pending) 2 (pending) 3+ (pending) 2 (game/tight) 2 (game/tight) 1 (game) Replay 0 0 0 0 0 0 Commentary Nat sound Nat sound Nat sound PxP only PxP only PxP Graphics Clock/Score Scoring Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score Clock/Score
TRANSMISSION ● Must feed by satellite truck, Fiber or IP which meet ESPN minimum requirements.
Satellite: HD and SD Feeds: C Band or Ku Band 36 MHz Carrier (MPEG-2) Single-Feed Service: DVB-S/QPSK, FEC 5/6, Symbol Rate 28.8, Data Rate 44.235, Roll Off 25% (MPEG-4) Single-Feed Service: DVB-S/QPSK, FEC 5/6, Symbol Rate 28.8, Data Rate 44.235, Roll Off 25% (MPEG-4) Multiple Service: DVB-S2/8PSK w/pilots, FEC 5/6, Symbol Rate 29.9, Data Rate 72.426, Roll Off 20%
18 MHz Carrier (MPEG-2) Single-Feed Service: DVB-S/QPSK, FEC 5/6, Symbol Rate 15, Data Rate: 23.039, Roll off 20% (MPEG-4) Single-Feed Service: DVB-S2/8PSK, FEC 5/6, Symbol Rate 15, Data Rate: 36.33, Roll Off 20%
Fiber: Coordinate the receive loop with ESPN Remote Traffic Kevin Hatcher (860-766-5403) or Oscar Serrano (860-766-8694) prior to booking the circuit with the fiber provider.
IP: Before committing to IP, you should discuss with ESPN Remote Traffic - Kevin Hatcher (860-766-5403) or Oscar Serrano (860-766-8694). Coordinate the receive loop with ESPN Network Traffic (860-766-2555) prior to booking the circuit.
COMMERCIAL BREAKS AND FORMATS Discuss the format in advance with Coordinating Producer Stos Hall. (860-766-0651)
Some events have commercial breaks while others do not. You will be supplied with a format in advance. If breaks are rolled by ESPN, the producer or AD must be assigned to be in contact with ESPN throughout the event. In some cases, breaks will be rolled from site.