Wednesday, October 13
America's Cup 2000 set to begin
 
 Veteran America's Cup commentators Jim Kelly and Gary Jobson will return to their familiar roles for the more than 70 hours of ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Classic coverage of the America's Cup 2000 from New Zealand. They will be joined by native Kiwis Peter Montgomery and Suzy Aiken for the coverage, which will culminate with the best-of-nine finals televised live in prime time commencing next February 18.

Kelly and Jobson have worked together as ESPN's host and analyst on the America's Cup since the memorable 1986-87 event in Fremantle, Australia. At times during the telecasts, Jobson and Montgomery, New Zealand's foremost yachting broadcaster, will switch roles, with Montgomery joining Kelly and Jobson working on New Zealand's domestic coverage. Aiken, a fitness and lifestyle reporter/host in Auckland, will provide feature reports. In addition, Geoff Mason also returns to the event as executive producer. A competitor aboard Nefertiti in 1962, Mason headed ESPN's America's Cup telecasts in 1987 and the international broadcasters' world feed in 1992 and '95.

"As we have uniquely done in the past, we look forward to following the America's Cup storylines and using our expert commentary and tremendous technology to build interest in the event," said John Wildhack, ESPN senior vice president, programming. "More people than ever before will be able to watch the America's Cup, once again following the U.S. efforts to bring the trophy back. The only change from Australia in '87 is that primetime telecasts mean viewers will be able to watch the Cup Match without losing sleep."

Programming summary

  • Coverage will begin with America's Cup 2000: Breaking the Spell on ESPN Classic Monday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. The one-hour show will review the historic 1983 and 1987 America's Cup events, when the U.S. first lost, and then regained, the Cup. It includes a great deal of never-before-seen footage.

  • ESPN2 will air America's Cup 2000 Preview: Long Shot Down Under, a one-hour show Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. That day, round-robin racing among 11 yacht clubs from seven countries -- including five from the U.S. -- will begin in Auckland.

  • During that stage of the event, five half-hour highlight programs will be aired on ESPN2 -- on November 1, 22 and 28 and December 19 and 26. (There is no defender selection tournament as 1995 winner New Zealand is fielding only one team.)

  • ESPN will televise a 60-minute special to summarize the round-robin racing and previewing the Challenger Semifinals Sunday, Dec. 19 at 4 p.m.

  • ESPN2's nightly race coverage will start with the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Semifinals January 2 (Jan. 1 at 9:30 p.m. PT), followed by the Challenger Finals (best of nine, January 24 - February 4). Most telecasts will begin at 12:30 a.m. ET (9:30 p.m. PT).

  • The best-of-nine America's Cup Match between New Zealand and the top challenger will begin February 18 on ESPN2 live in primetime (telecasts will begin at 7 p.m. ET).

    America's Cup personnel
    Jim Kelly...host...previously hosted ESPN's America's Cup telecasts in 1986-87, 1988, 1992 and 1995...following the event in Australia, won the 1987 CableACE Award in the Sports Host category...also hosts ESPN's extensive PGA and Senior PGA Tour golf schedule...joined ESPN in 1985, covering a variety of sports, including college football and basketball, the NHL, French Open tennis and horse racing...previously hosted sports updates on CBS Radio (1974-85), handled play-by-play commentator for CBS-TV (1979-85) and worked as a sports anchor at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia (1978-82).

    Gary Jobson...analyst...winning tactician for skipper Ted Turner aboard Courageous in 1977...has worked for ESPN since 1985, covering the America's Cup and hosting a wide variety of sailing programming...a frequent public speaker on sailing...his 12th book will be published in December, An America's Cup Treasury, reviewing the 1893 - 1937 regattas...has produced or narrated 35 home videos...has also worked for ABC, NBC and TBS...All-American sailor three times at the State University of New York Maritime College...raced competitively for more than 30 years.

    Peter Montgomery...analyst...New Zealand's foremost yachting broadcaster for nearly three decades, covering seven America's Cups...will sometimes trade roles with Jobson during the telecasts...in his native land, hosts SportsWorld on NewsTalk ZB and Radio Sport...has been named Sports Journalist of the Year and was inducted into the Radio New Zealand Hall of Fame...appeared in motion picture Wind as a sailing commentator.

    Suzy Aiken...feature reporter...10 years of experience in New Zealand television as host and reporter in a variety of programming, including news magazine, lifestyle and fitness shows...currently host of Getaway on Television New Zealand...the 1994 National Aerobics Pairs champion in her homeland...has a degree in physiotherapy and has produced and hosted four top-selling aerobics videos...author of Healthy Body, Healthy Mind.

    Geoffrey Mason...executive producer...one of sports' television's most accomplished and honored production executives with 20 Emmy Awards...ESPN's executive producer for the America's Cup from Australia 1986-87 and served the same role for the international broadcasters in 1992 and '95...executive producer of ESPN International since 1995...added ESPN Regional Television, the country's largest sports syndication company, to his responsibilities in 1997...ESPN's executive producer of the 1998 World Cup in France and of the FIFA Women's World Cup this year...has worked on seven Olympic Games and was executive producer of ABC Sports from 1988 to 1991...crew member on Nefertiti in 1962 Defender Trials...graduate of Duke University.

    ESPN and the America's Cup
    ESPN has brought unprecedented attention to the America's Cup, the oldest trophy in sports -- helping to transform the America's Cup from a sport followed by few outside the sailing community to a cultural phenomenon documented on newspapers' front pages -- and has won many awards for its revolutionary telecasts.

    In 1983, ESPN interrupted scheduled programming to carry the seventh and decisive race in which Australia defeated the United States and received record ratings. Based upon that experience, ESPN acquired the rights to the 1987 America's Cup from Australia and earned three CableACEs and numerous other awards with its breakthrough late-night coverage. The network also televised the 1988, 1992 and 1995 events from San Diego.

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    ALSO SEE
    ESPN/ESPN2 America's Cup 2000 broadcast schedule

    America's Cup 2000 preview