FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2016 TCS New York City Marathon to be Broadcast Live on ABC7, ESPN2 and
Available Globally in 175 Countries and Territories on Sunday, November 6
ESPN commentators John Anderson and Sage Steele to serve as lead announcers
with support from 13 nationally and locally recognized commentators,
reporters, and analysts
10.5 hours of race-weekend coverage planned on ABC7 in New York tristate
area
New York, November 2, 2016- The 2016 TCS New York City Marathon will be
broadcast live on ABC7, ESPN2 and is available globally in 175 countries
and territories on Sunday, November 6, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET, with
extended coverage until 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC7 in the New York tristate area,
it was announced today by New York Road Runners. The 40th running of the
five-borough course will also be available via the ABC app in New York and
WatchESPN app nationally from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET.
The broadcast, which has been produced by IMG since 1994, will consist of
33 cameras covering the 26.2 mile course, including a camera attached to
the chair of professional wheelchair athlete and U.S. Paralympian Josh
George. The production staff of 150 will include 16 commentators,
reporters, and analysts, with ESPN's Sage Steele serving as the race-day
host for the first time. Steele currently serves as ESPN's lead host for
SportsCenter on the Road and for the weekend editions of NBA Countdown.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson will call the play-by-play on race
day for the fourth consecutive year, with marathon analysts Tim Hutchings
and Carrie Tollefson providing commentary from the booth and running expert
Toni Reavis and three-time New York City Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe
serving as lead athlete moto reporters. The group will be joined by a
number of reporters stationed along the course, as well as at the start and
finish, including Lewis Johnson and ABC7's Ryan Field, Laura Behnke, Amy
Freeze, Anthony Johnson, Kemberly Richardson, and John Del Giorno covering
the scene from above in News Copter 7.
A new feature in this year's broadcast will be an in-depth look at runner
biometric data through Performance Metrics Powered by Tata Consulting
Services. Ten runners, ranging from pros to everyday athletes, will wear a
small electronic device that will collect real-time data for in-race
analysis. ESPN "Sports Science" host John Brenkus will break down the
Performance Metrics live in the broadcast, which will include pro runners
Craig Leon and Esther Atkins along with pro wheelchair athletes Tatyana
McFadden and Josh George. The data will focus on heart rate, breathing
rate, and cadence and pace relative to the conditions of the course and
environment, such as elevation, grade, and weather.
The broadcast will also include features on U.S. Olympians making their
marathon debuts - Molly Huddle, Kim Conley and Gwen Jorgensen - along with
17-time Paralympic medalist and four-time New York City Marathon champion
Tatyana McFadden.
Reporter David Willey will be catching up with interesting runners
throughout the day, bringing a unique in-race element to the broadcast as
he interviews a variety of personalities while running alongside them
during the race.
In the New York tristate area, ABC7 will air 10.5 hours of race-week
coverage, including race day. In addition to the Sunday race broadcast,
ABC7 coverage will include the following:
- Friday, November 4: TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony,
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Eyewitness News sports anchor Ryan Field and meteorologist Amy Freeze
will kick off the celebration for one of New York City's greatest
sporting events, reporting from the Parade of Nations and the evening
fireworks in Central Park.
- Saturday, November 5: Countdown to the Starting Line,
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Live from the marathon pavilion in Central Park, Eyewitness News
sports anchors Liz Cho and David Novarro and meteorologist Amy Freeze
reveal the big names to watch on race day and look at what it takes
to put on the biggest marathon in the world.
- Sunday, November 6: Eyewitness News Marathon Sunday,
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Sports anchors Ryan Field and Laura Behnke will host coverage from
Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Meteorologists Lee Goldberg and Amy
Freeze will report from the start, while Kemberly Richardson,
Michelle Charlesworth and Anthony Johnson will report from
throughout the city. John Del Giorno will cover the race from
above in NewsCopter7.
A two-hour condensed encore presentation of the race broadcast will air on
ABC affiliate station nationwide on Sunday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00
p.m. local time.
Internationally, coverage of the race will be available to 850 million
homes in the following countries and territories: Australia - Premiere
Media Group (Fox Sports), Brazil - Globosat, Canada - CBC.ca, China - LeTV
and regional sport channels, Cuba - Tele Rebelde, Europe - Eurosport,
Germany - SportA, (news access), India - Star, Italy - RAI, Japan - FujiTV,
Mexico - Sky Mexico, Middle East - Dubai Sports, New Zealand - Sky, South
Africa - SuperSport, Southeast Asia - Eurosport, Thailand - Cineplex, and
Turkey - Dogus.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road
Runners (NYRR) and the largest marathon in the world. Over 1,000,000 people
have finished the race since its first running in 1970 with just 127
entrants and 55 finishers running four laps around Central Park. The race
expanded to all five boroughs in 1976 and is now in its 40th year as a
five-borough affair. Held annually on the first Sunday of November, the
race features 50,000 runners including the world's top professional
athletes and a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity
runners. Participants from over 125 countries tour the city, starting on
Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and running
through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx before ending
in Manhattan. In 2015, the inaugural NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New
York City Marathon gave young runners the opportunity to run 1.8 miles of
the race course in Central Park, beginning near mile 24 and finishing at
the famed TCS New York City Marathon finish line. More than one million
spectators and thousands of volunteers line the city streets in support of
the runners. The race is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which
features the world's top marathons-Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago,
and New York-and crowns the top professional male and female marathoners
each year. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services,
consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of
NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 46th
running of the TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 6, 2016. To
learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.
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