UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The strongest clubs in Spain, England, Italy and beyond take the field as the UEFA Champions League Group Stage begins.
The UEFA Champions League, European football’s premier club competition, launches in September with coverage on ESPN of Matchdays #1 & #2 of the Group Stage.
The qualifying rounds have delivered 32 teams for September’s Group Stage, led by some of the strongest
leagues in world football, among them the Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera League, English
Premier League and German Bundesliga.
Last year’s final was electrifying, as Italy’s Inter Milan and Germany’s Bayern Munich – both on track to win the coveted triple of this title plus the domestic league and Cup – battled to head home as European champion. The German side fought hard, but in the end it was Inter Milan winning their first title since back-to-back championships in 1964 and 1965. Both enter as direct qualifiers in the Group Stage, joined by other powerhouses like England’s Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal and Spain’s Barcelona and Real Madrid.
ESPN’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League airs LIVE, on short-turnaround and taped throughout the season. Games re-air in prime. Stay tuned to ESPN in October for coverage from
Matchday #3.
Schedule: AUS
Sept 15 04:30am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (L)
Sept 15 08:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (R)
Sept 15 06:45am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 15 10:30pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (R)
Sept 15 12:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 15 04:30pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 16 04:30am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (L)
SEPTEMBER 2010
Sept 16 09:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (R)
Sept 16 06:45am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 16 11:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (R)
Sept 16 09:00am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 16 11:00am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 29 04:30am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (L)
Sept 29 08:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (R)
Sept 29 06:45am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
Sept 29 10:30pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (R)
Sept 29 12:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
Sept 29 04:30pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
Sept 30 04:30am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (L)
Sept 30 09:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (R)
Sept 30 06:45am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
Sept 30 11:00pm UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (R)
Sept 30 09:00am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
Sept 30 11:00am UEFA Champions League – Matchday #2 (S)
(L) Live; (S) Short-turnaround; (R) re-air

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SPANISH PRIMERA LEAGUE

Messi and Ronaldo are just the start – the Spanish Primera League continues LIVE all month on ESPN
September on ESPN has more LIVE coverage from the Spanish Primera League, one of the most respected leagues on the world football stage. Last season was a classic battle of giants,
with Barcelona leading Real Madrid in the standings by only one point on the final day of the season. In the end, Barcelona won their final game while Real Madrid could only tie, giving the azulgrana a 20th league title, their fourth in the past six years.
With Argentina’s Lionel Messi – last season’s World and European player of the year, not to mention La Liga’s leading goal scorer – continuing to lead Barcelona, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil’s Kaká fronting Real Madrid (now coached by José Mourinho, fresh from leading Italy’s Inter Milan to UEFA Champions League glory), it’s easy to guess the favorites for this year’s title.
ESPN’s coverage of the Spanish Primera League airs LIVE or on short-turnaround all season.
Kick-off times not confirmed and subject to change.
Schedule: AUS LIVE coverage
Sept 12 03:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 12 05:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 13 00:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 13 04:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 19 03:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 19 05:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 20 00:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 20 04:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 26 03:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 26 05:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 27 00:55am Spanish Primera League Football
Sept 27 04:55am Spanish Primera League Football Back to Top

POKER

ESPN’s Poker Night continues Sunday and Tuesday evenings with action from the 2010 WSOP
ESPN’s Poker Night, featured every Sunday and Tuesday evening, spotlights skilled international card sharps as they ply their trade at leading events around the globe. From the
prestigious World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas to the U.S. Poker Championship, the World Series of Poker–Europe and other major international events, ESPN’s Poker Night delivers all the high-stakes action that poker fans crave.
Continuing this month is coverage from the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), the premiere event in world poker. From May 27 to July 17, the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas hosted the world’s most skilled poker players playing 57 events that culminated with the Main Event, a 13-day spectacle of skill that determines the 9 players for November’s Final Table. September coverage on ESPN features more top action from the Main Event.
Don’t miss a hand with ESPN’s Poker Night airing Sunday evenings from 08:00pm-10:00pm with re-airs on Tuesday nights at 9:00pm. Back to Top

SPORTSCENTER AUSTRALIA

ESPN’s marquee sports news and information program, SportsCenter, continues Monday to Friday at 6:30pm (AUS). Innovative and entertaining, SportsCenter covers major sporting events and stories of special interest to sports fans in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a broad range of international sports that appeal to local viewers.
As with ESPN’s flagship studio show launched in 1979, this version of SportsCenter – hosted by Andrew Orsatti and Jason Bennett – has in-depth reporting and analysis, vast coverage, and a creative and sophisticated production style that is the mark of SportsCenter wherever it is seen around the globe. Back to Top

The UEFA Europa League kicks off in August on ESPN

Last year saw the famed UEFA Cup, European football’s second-tier club competition, become the UEFA Europa League, giving this championship a new format and higher profile it richly deserves. The Group Stage now has 48 teams, with the Round of 32 featuring the two top teams from the 12 groups plus the eight teams who finish in third position in their UEFA Champions League groups. The holders are guaranteed a place in the Group Stage.
The first edition proved to be memorable, full of drama, upsets and lots of goals. From English side Fulham FC’s improbable run to the final – their first European final in 131 years of existence – to the victory over Fulham by Spain’s Atlético de Madrid to claim their first trophy in 14 years, it was an unforgettable inaugural season. As holders, Atlético de Madrid leads the charge in this month’s Group Stage. It promises to be a compelling second season.
ESPN presents coverage, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround, throughout the competition.
Stay tuned to ESPN in October for coverage from Matchday #3.
Schedule: AUS
Sept 17 02:55am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (L)
Sept 17 05:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (L)
Sept 17 07:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 17 09:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (S)
Oct 1 02:55am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (L)
Oct 1 05:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (L)
Oct 1 07:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (S)
Oct 1 09:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (S)
(L) Live; (S) Short-turnaround Back to Top

PTI AUSTRALIA*

Pardon the Interruption Australia shines a spotlight on the latest, most talked-about happenings in the sports world. Fast-paced, innovative and always provocative, PTI Australia features Russell Barwick and Sam Kekovich facing-off in a lively format devoted exclusively to sports opinions and the latest news making headlines. Mixing insight, analysis and humor, PTI Australia delves inside the stories that viewers are talking about.
PTI Australia airs Tuesdays at 7:30pm with a re-air on Wednesdays at 10:00pm.
*airs in Australia only. Back to Top

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Last year saw the famed UEFA Cup, European football’s second-tier club competition, become the UEFA Europa League, giving this championship a new format and higher profile it richly deserves. The Group Stage now has 48 teams, with the Round of 32 featuring the two top teams from the 12 groups plus the eight teams who finish in third position in their UEFA Champions League groups. The holders are guaranteed a place in the Group Stage.
The first edition proved to be memorable, full of drama, upsets and lots of goals. From English side Fulham FC’s improbable run to the final – their first European final in 131 years of existence – to the victory over Fulham by Spain’s Atlético de Madrid to claim their first trophy in 14 years, it was an unforgettable inaugural season. As holders, Atlético de Madrid leads the charge in this month’s Group Stage. It promises to be a compelling second season.
ESPN presents coverage, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround, throughout the competition.
Stay tuned to ESPN in October for coverage from Matchday #3.
Schedule: AUS
Sept 17 02:55am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (L)
Sept 17 05:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (L)
Sept 17 07:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (S)
Sept 17 09:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #1 (S)
Oct 1 02:55am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (L)
Oct 1 05:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (L)
Oct 1 07:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (S)
Oct 1 09:00am UEFA Europa League – Matchday #2 (S)
(L) Live; (S) Short-turnaround Back to Top

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB)

MLB’s last full month of regular season games airing LIVE on ESPN
September can be a cruel month in Major League Baseball (MLB), as teams make that final push for a spot in the playoffs before the final regular season game on October 3. ESPN presents LIVE coverage all month of top games from both conferences, led by the American League (AL) East, where the defending champion New York Yankees have their hands full on all fronts – from their traditional nemesis, the Boston Red Sox, to the hot Tampa Bay Rays and surging Toronto Blue Jays. Throw in the Central’s Minnesota Twins and West’s Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers, and you have what is certain to be a tough fight right up to the regular season’s final out.
In the National League (NL), there are serious contenders on all sides, starting with the Central’s St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds and the Western duo of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. But it has been the East keeping things in the NL churning, as the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, the latter World Series winners in 2008 and runners-up to the Yankees for last year’s title, swap places atop the standings from week to week.
ESPN’s MLB package (airing Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays AUS) airs LIVE, on short-turnaround or taped all season. Most games re-air same day in prime.
Schedule: AUS LIVE coverage
Sept 1 09:00am ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
Sept 1 08:00pm ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 2 09:00am ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
Sept 4 09:00am ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
Sept 4 08:00pm ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 6 10:00am ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
Sept 8 09:00am ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
Sept 8 08:00pm ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 9 12:00pm ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
Sept 11 09:00am ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
Sept 11 08:00pm ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 13 10:00am ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
Sept 15 09:00am ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
Sept 16 12:00pm ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
Sept 18 09:00am ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
Sept 18 08:00pm ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 20 10:00am ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
Sept 22 09:00am ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
Sept 22 08:00pm ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 23 12:00pm ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
Sept 25 09:00am ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball
Sept 25 08:00pm ESPN’s Friday Night Baseball (R)
Sept 27 10:00am ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball
Sept 29 09:00am ESPN’s Tuesday Night Baseball
Sept 30 12:00pm ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball
(R) Re-air Back to Top

30 FOR 30

ESPN’s anniversary celebration continues with 30 for 30 – 30 films from 30 top filmmakers
ESPN’s celebration of 30 years of worldwide growth continues this month with 30 for 30, a fascinating documentary series spotlighting 30 top filmmakers telling intimate stories that form part of the greater mosaic that is global sports over the past 30 years.
Each storyteller – among them famed directors such as Academy Award winner Barry Levinson, documentarians Albert Maysles and Barbara Koppel, and Hollywood names like Frank Marshall
and Ron Shelton – turns their lens on trends, issues and athletes, bringing their personal viewpoint to the bigger picture of what sports has meant to world culture from 1979 to today.
Featured in September are Little Big Men, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Al Szymanski’s investigation into what became of the kids who won the 1982 Little League World Series; The U, a look at the “Bad Boys” who overcame racial tensions to transform the University of Miami football team into national champions; One Night in Vegas, the story of rapper Tupac Shakur’s violent death, explored through his unlikely friendship with boxer Mike Tyson; Run Ricky Run, controversial NFL star Ricky Williams tells his story…in his own words; and The Legend of Jimmy The Greek, an exploration of the rise and tragic fall of Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, the man who became the biggest name in the world of sports handicapping. Films air Thursday nights at 8:00pm. NOTE: Films subject to change.
*Schedule: AUS
Sept 2 08:00pm Little Big Men – Al Szymanski
Sept 9 08:00pm The U – Billy Corben
Sept 16 08:00pm One Night in Vegas – Reggie Bythewood
Sept 23 08:00pm Run Ricky Run – Sean Pamphilon and Royce Toni
Sept 30 08:00pm The Legend of Jimmy the Greek – Fritz Mitchell
*Films subject to change Back to Top

MOTOR SPORTS – IndyCar Series and NHRA Drag Racing

More top-flight open wheel racing on ESPN as the IZOD IndyCar Series
rockets towards October’s season-ender in Miami
ESPN continues its coverage of the IZOD IndyCar Series this month with race action from Kentucky Speedway and Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, two 1.5-mile ovals. Last season’s race in Kentucky was won by one of this season’s hottest drivers, Australia’s Ryan Briscoe, while Twin Ring Motegi saw another favorite for the 2010 title, New Zealand’s Scott Dixon, take the checkered flag. With the season-closer from Miami just around the corner, this month’s racing is sure to be electrifying.
The reigning IndyCar Series champion, Scotland’s Dario Franchitti, put to rest the memory of his disappointing detour into stock car racing in 2008 with a decisive win in the Indianapolis 500 in May, his second Indy 500 victory in four years. Franchitti is on track to capture a third Series championship, but will have to drive smartly to stay ahead of Briscoe and two-time Series champion Dixon, as well as rising Australian talent Will Power and Brazilian star Helio Castroneves.
ESPN’s coverage this month airs LIVE from Kentucky and taped from Japan. Stay tuned to ESPN in October for the season-closer at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the crowning of a new IndyCar Series champion.
Schedule: AUS
Sept 5 10:00am Kentucky Indy 300 – Sparta, KY (L)
Sept 19 01:00pm Indy Japan 300 – Motegi, Japan (T)
(L) Live; (T) Taped

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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)

Holders Real Salt Lake and the streaking LA Galaxy both take the field
as LIVE coverage of MLS continues all month on ESPN Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional league in the United States, continues LIVE all month on ESPN, opening with the defending champions, Real Salt Lake, facing Seattle Sounders FC. While Seattle have fallen short of last year’s impressive form, Real Salt Lake have looked strong in defense of their title. Even so, the Western Conference has been all about the streaking Los Angeles Galaxy, who have seen consistent play from reigning league MVP Landon Donovan and striker Edson Buddle in the absence of injured midfield star David Beckham.
Later in the month sees the Galaxy hosting one of the East’s best, the New York Red Bulls, while the San Jose Earthquakes take on the Chicago Fire. Behind Colombian striker Juan Pablo Ángel,
the Red Bulls have climbed to the top of the Eastern standings, joining the Columbus Crew, Toronto FC and Chicago as teams to watch as the regular season winds down next month.
ESPN’s coverage of MLS airs LIVE all season.
Schedule: AUS LIVE coverage – Host team shown first Sept 10 01:00pm Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake
Sept 25 01:00pm Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls
Sept 30 01:00pm San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire

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SOCCER MAGAZINE PROGRAMS – ESPNSoccernet Press Pass

ESPN’s popular 30-minute LIVE roundtable talk show, ESPNSoccernet Press Pass, continues
on Monday to Friday evenings. Viewer email helps set the agenda as a variety of entertaining hosts – fronted by Derek Rae, Tommy Smyth, Adrian Healey and Janusz Michallik, among other experts – debate the game’s hottest issues.
This program reviews weekend matches and previews upcoming mid-week action from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, Copa Libertadores and other notable national/international matches. Also spotlighted are recaps of mid-week matches and previews of upcoming weekend matches, plus a weekly studio segment from the United Kingdom.
ESPNSoccernet Press Pass airs Monday to Friday at 7:00pm immediately following SportsCenter. Back to Top

GOLF – Champions Tour

A new event comes to the Champions Tour in September
with coverage on ESPN of the Songdo Championship, Korea
The Champions Tour, the top tour for veteran golfers aged 50+, continues on ESPN in September with coverage of the inaugural Songdo Championship, Korea. This event, played at
the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Songdo International Business District (IBD), brings the Champions Tour to Asia for the first time. The 54-hole stroke-play tournament, the Tour’s third international event on the 2010 schedule, is certain to attract all the top-ranked players to South Korea, a hotbed of emerging golf talent.
Leading the battle for the Charles Schwab Cup this season are Zimbabwe’s Nick Price, winner of the Principal Charity Classic in June, and Germany’s Bernhard Langer, always a force on the Tour. They are joined by U.S. pros Mark O’Meara, Tom Watson and Tom Lehman, the latter winner of the season’s first major, the Senior PGA Championship, and impressive rookie Fred Couples, winner of his first three starts on the Tour. Coverage this month airs on short-turnaround.
Schedule: AUS
Sept 11 03:00am Songdo Championship, Korea – First Round
Sept 12 03:00am Songdo Championship, Korea – Second Round
Sept 13 03:00am Songdo Championship, Korea – Final Round
Coverage airs on Short-turnaround Back to Top

CRICKET – ICC Cricket World

ICC Cricket World, the official weekly program of the International Cricket Council, the game’s
governing body, provides in-depth, comprehensive coverage of the “gentleman’s game” of cricket.
Only ICC Cricket World has full access to the sport and its participants, covering cricket news and action around the globe including all Test Matches and One Day Internationals.
With exclusive ICC footage, interviews, plus human interest stories and player features from both on and off the field, ICC Cricket World covers all aspects of this fascinating sport. Also featured are news, highlights, updates on international cricket and high-profile events, regular features on the development of the sport, previews of upcoming happenings and much more. ICC Cricket World airs Friday afternoons. Back to Top

BOXING and MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Step in the ring with ESPN and Friday Night Fights
Friday Night Fights, ESPN’s weekly program featuring live championship bouts, continues all month, giving boxing fans a mainline dose of their favorite sport. In addition to fight coverage spotlighting the sport’s top-rated contenders, Friday Night Fights has news and information, chats with in-studio guests, and features clips of classic fight footage. Friday Night Fights airs Friday
evenings.
Airing Saturdays on ESPN – MMA Live
It’s nothing but action on MMA Live, a fast-paced studio show that keeps fans of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the know about their favorite sport. The roots of this full contact combat sport date back to the early 1900s in Europe, Japan and the Pacific Rim, with the modern MMA competition emerging in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Mixing martial arts traditions and a wide variety of fighting techniques, MMA enjoys huge popularity, especially
among fans of boxing and professional wrestling.
MMA Live, featuring top experts discussing all aspects of the sport as well as fight highlights, airs Saturdays at 5:30pm. Back to Top