CBS, ESPN2 and Tennis Channel to Broadcast Sony Ericsson Open

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CBS, ESPN2 AND TENNIS CHANNEL TO BROADCAST SONY ERICSSON OPEN
73.5 Total Hours of U.S. Coverage Scheduled for Miami’s ATP/WTA 2-Week Tennis Event

MIAMI, Fla. (www.sonyericssonopen.com) – The Sony Ericsson Open, one of the largest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world has announced its 2012 TV Schedule. ESPN2 will return also joining Tennis Channel and CBS in broadcasting 73.5 thrilling hours of domestic coverage.

Broadcast coverage begins March 24 on Tennis Channel and moves over to ESPN2 beginning March 28; both the women’s and men’s final will broadcast live on CBS March 31 and April 1, respectively (complete schedule below).

Tennis Channel will kick-off coverage with a 13-hour live broadcast hosted by Ted Robinson, Lindsay Davenpot, and Justin Gimelstob of both men's second round and women's third round matches on Saturday, March 24 beginning at 11:00 a.m.

ESPN2 will begin its coverage hosted by Chris Fowler, Patrick McEnroe, Cliff Drysdale, and Mary Joe Fernandez on Wednesday, March 28 at 1:00 p.m. with eight total hours of live action. ESPN2’s broadcast will conclude Friday, March 30 with live coverage of both men's semi-final matches. The first semi-final match will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the nightcap starting at 7:00 p.m.

CBS will broadcast live coverage of the women’s final on Saturday, March 31 at 12:30 pm, and the men’s final on Sunday, April 1, at 1:00 pm, both hosted by Bill Macatee, Mary Carillo, and Mary Jo Fernandez.

Close to 4,900 hours of Sony Ericsson Open matches were broadcast worldwide last year to more than 42.9 million viewers.

To see all the action in person, tickets to the Sony Ericsson Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or via the internet at www.sonyericssonopen.com.

2012 Domestic Broadcast Schedule

Tennis Channel: 50.5 hours / ESPN2: 18 hours / CBS: 5.0 hours / Total Hours: 73.5 hours

ABOUT THE SONY ERICSSON OPEN: The 2012 Sony Ericsson Open will be played March 19-April 1 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Miami. The two-week combined event, founded by Butch Buchholz in 1985, is owned and operated by IMG. The Sony Ericsson Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men's and women's tennis players in the world. In 2011 Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal for his second Sony Ericsson Open title, while Victoria Azarenka knocked off Maria Sharapova to capture her second title in Miami. For ticket information, call (305) 442-3367 or visit the website at www.SonyEricssonOpen.com.

ABOUT SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS: Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Through its Xperia™ smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information: www.sonymobile.com

ABOUT IMG: IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging:  IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing.  More information is available at www.imgworld.com.