by Larry Eder
Universal Sports Network Announces Coverage Plans for 2015 Boston Marathon
Network Kicks Off Month-Long National Campaign Featuring Marathoners Meb Keflezighi, Tatyana McFadden and Shalane Flanagan Rallying Everyday Runners – Watch the spot on YouTube
Network’s Distribution Partners Join Forces to Bring Event Coverage into as Many Homes as Possible
LOS ANGELES (March 25, 2014) – Universal Sports Network, the exclusive national television and digital media home of the Boston Marathon, announced today television and online coverage plans for the 119thBoston Marathon which will take place on Monday, April 20. LIVE race day coverage from Copley Square begins at 8:30 a.m. ET and includes pre- and post-race shows followed by a wrap-up show at 4 p.m. ET. Network coverage also includes a preview show on Sunday, April 19 at 4 p.m. ET LIVE from the finish line on Boylston Street.
With just under four weeks to go to Boston’s epic event, the network also launched its month-long campaign “Let’s Do This, Boston!” nationwide. The advertising and promotional campaign celebrates the sport of running while solidifying Universal Sports as the home to Olympic and endurance sports by speaking directly to the personal interests of its viewers.
At the heart of the multi-media campaign is a :60 spot that illustrates the dedication and sacrifice runners make in their efforts to train for competition, and features defending Boston Marathon champions Meb Keflezighi and Tatyana McFadden, and hometown favorite Shalane Flanagan alongside everyday runners. Spots will run strategically on Universal Sports within like programming as well as with commercial and affiliate partners leading up to the April 20 race. The on-air campaign also features :30 versions, and will be complemented by an extensive digital, print and outdoor campaign in top U.S. media markets.
“Meb’s emotional victory in 2014 surely inspired thousands of runners to train for this year’s Boston Marathon, which is one of the most anticipated events on the international running calendar,” said Scott Brown, President of Universal Sports. “For both elite athletes and amateur runners, months of preparation will culminate on April 20 as they make their way down Boylston Street toward the race’s iconic finish line.Universal Sport’s coverage of this year’s event will celebrate the running community, and we look forward to showcasing the sport and the City of Boston to viewers across the country.”
Additionally, Universal Sports is available nationwide and will be in free preview with many of its distribution partners during the 2015 Boston Marathon. TV providers offering free previews during the month of April include DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Google Fiber, and numerous regional cable and IPTV operators in markets across the country.
Universal Sports Network Broadcast Schedule: 2015 Boston Marathon
Subject to change – all times Eastern.
Sunday, April 19
4 p.m. – Boston Marathon Preview Show-LIVE
Monday, April 20
8:30 a.m. – Pre-Race Show-LIVE
9:30 a.m. – 2015 Boston Marathon-LIVE
12:30 p.m. – Post-Race Show-LIVE
4 p.m. – Boston Marathon Wrap-Up Show-LIVE
8 and 11 p.m. – 2015 Boston Marathon (Encore Presentation)
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About Universal Sports Network
Universal Sports Network, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, is the premier multi-platform media destination for Olympic-related sports programming in the United States. Offering more than 1,200 hours of original programming each year, Universal Sports has exclusive rights to world and national championship events in a wide array of sports, including swimming, track and field, gymnastics, cycling, skiing, figure skating and rugby. Whether on television, online, or on the go with mobile and tablet applications, Universal Sports offers a four-screen experience to fans of global sports every day of the year. For more information, please visit UniversalSports.com.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2015. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.
