ESPN Launches Local Podcast Network Featuring Affiliate Station Programs From Around The Nation

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESPN, the premiere sports podcast provider, has launched the first phase of a nationwide local podcasting network. For the first time, local ESPN Radio programs like Pittsburgh’s Mark Madden Show, New York’s Michael Kay Show, and Los Angeles’ The Big Show with Mason and Ireland, as well as other select ESPN radio affiliate shows, are now available at the ESPN.com PodCenter and via Apple’s iTunes Music Store to download or listen to on portable devices and personal computers. Additionally, ESPN will debut a new ESPNdeportes.com PodCenter next week, dedicated to providing Spanish-language downloadable digital audio content (further information below).

“Sports is both national and local in its appeal, and by creating this local podcasting network we enhance our multimedia offerings, serve local fans in great sports towns, and open up these outstanding local shows to a national audience”

Radio shows previously heard only locally in New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago are now available for fans nationwide to download, with local ESPN Radio shows from Los Angeles and Dallas joining the ESPN podcasting lineup by the end of November. Expanding ESPN’s already leading podcasting and digital audio lineup, this marks a first step in a long-term effort to create an ESPN local podcast network.

Local market ESPN Radio shows available for download currently or in the near future include:

New York – 1050 WEPN - The Stephen A. Smith Show and The Michael Kay Show
Los Angeles – 710 KSPN – The Big Show with Mason & Ireland
Chicago – 1000 WMVP – Salisbury & Rosenbloom and Mac, Jurko & Harry
Dallas – 103.3 KESN – Galloway and Company
Pittsburgh – 1250 WEAE – Mark Madden and The Junker & Crow Show

“Sports is both national and local in its appeal, and by creating this local podcasting network we enhance our multimedia offerings, serve local fans in great sports towns, and open up these outstanding local shows to a national audience,” said Marc Horine, general manager of new media, ESPN Radio. “As the industry leader, we made an early and extensive commitment to digital audio media and will continue to expand upon that commitment and drive industry advancement.”

All ESPN podcasts are available to download for free via the ESPN.com PodCenter, the online hub for ESPN’s library of downloadable digital content; iTunes, where ESPN podcasts are among the most-downloaded content; or online at each local station’s Web site.

ESPN will develop a wider network of local podcast offerings in the future, with Boston, Cleveland, Phoenix and Milwaukee as potential markets in the near future.

In just over a year, ESPN has established itself as a clear industry leader in podcasting and digital online audio. ESPN produces more than 20 podcasts that collectively account for millions of downloads each month. Additionally, ESPNRadio.com’s live online radio stream averages more than 170,000 online listeners a month, according to Ando Media’s Webcast Metrics (out of nearly 1500 measured online stations and networks). By integrating the ESPN Radio network with the company’s new media assets, sports fans are served with instant access to award-winning content over the air, online and on portable devices.

PodCenter En Español

ESPNdeportes.com also debuted a new PodCenter this week, dedicated to providing material derived from its Spanish-language radio properties. Podcasts available are centered around popular programs from ESPN Deportes Radio in the United States, ESPN Radio Fórmula in Mexico and ESPN Radio en Rivadavia from Argentina, and will include content from the Jorge Ramos y su banda show, ESPN Radio en Rivadavia’s Oral Deportiva, ESPN Deportes Radio SportsCenter, athlete interviews, and more. The ESPNdeportes.com PodCenter is designed to provide a digital online destination for the millions of U.S. and international fans that listen to ESPN’s Spanish-language radio programming and demonstrates ESPN’s expanding international programming.

Additionally, ESPNdeportes.com provides a live, 24/7 live online stream of ESPN Deportes Radio.