Posted at 12:42 p.m., Thursday, January 4, 2007
Little League extends TV deal with ESPN
Associated Press
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Games from all eight of Little League International's baseball and softball tournaments will be broadcast nationally under an eight-year contract extension the organization signed with ESPN.The extension will put at least 49 games on the air each year starting in August — six more games than in 2006, Little League officials said Thursday.
Under the contract, all 32 games of the Little League World Series will be broadcast along with the semifinals and finals of the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore.
The championship games for six other baseball and softball tournaments for older players will also be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.
"Having Little League games on national television has helped us communicate the benefits of our program to millions of viewers annually since 1963," said Stephen D. Keener, president and CEO of Little League Baseball and Softball.
West O'ahu Little League won the 2005 World Series when the games were broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
