ESPN to debut innovative DISH Tech Center
The ESPN' DISH Tech Center, a collaboration with EchoStar Communications Corporation’s DISH Network™ (NASDAQ: DISH), will travel to all of ESPN's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race venues and will be utilized by ESPN's producers and announcers for content segments to air during race telecasts. In addition to ESPN and ESPN on ABC's coverage of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races, segments from the DISH Tech Center will also air during coverage of NASCAR Busch Series races that are held at the same tracks. The unit also will be used throughout a broad range of ESPN's leading non-television media platforms.
"The ESPN DISH Tech Center is a unique and significant element of our NASCAR coverage," said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and remote production. "We will now present segments within the telecasts that originate from a specially-designed environment with no exterior interference, allowing us to add to the viewing experience and give NASCAR fans even more information."
The enclosed studio will contain the ESPN Chevy Cutaway Car that has been used this year in ESPN's NASCAR coverage as well as a cutaway of a Chevrolet Car of Tomorrow that is racing in selected NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events this season and will be used in all races starting in 2008. The studio also will have room for displays of other race car elements such as engines, transmissions and shock absorbers. ESPN's Tim Brewer, a two-time NASCAR champion crew chief, and other ESPN analysts will report from the Tech Center during race telecasts to help viewers better understand the technical and mechanical aspects of NASCAR racing.
“DISH Network is thrilled to partner with ESPN to provide NASCAR fans with one of the most cutting-edge and educational race viewing experiences ever developed," said Carl Vogel, president of DISH Network. “The ESPN DISH Tech Center is a strong complement to our sponsorship of Roush Racing and the Team DISH All-Stars, including Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray and Busch points leader Carl Edwards."
ESPN's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup coverage begins with the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard July 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will include all 10 races in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" televised by ESPN on ABC.
The tech center is the highlight of a multi-year, multimedia agreement for NASCAR on ESPN between ESPN and EchoStar Communications Corporation consisting of media in all NASCAR races on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes; exposure on ESPN Audio and in ESPN The Magazine; a SportsCenter weekly-sponsored NASCAR report; a custom promotion on ESPN.com; and six in-car cameras per season to be featured within the NASCAR Busch Series.