ACURA CLASSIC ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF EXTENSIVE 2006 TELECASTS

-- 3 Days on ESPN2, Plus 4 Days on The Tennis Channel, New ESPN2 Host Cliff Drysdale --

SAN DIEGO, CA, July 13, 2006 – The Acura Classic today announced that fans will be able to watch extensive televised coverage of this year’s tournament, to be held July 29 - August 6 at the La Costa Resort & Spa. Coverage will include three days of matches on ESPN2 as well as four days on The Tennis Channel. With all the broadcasts combined, it is expected that there will be approximately 16 hours of coverage of the popular tournament.  Highlights will include three live broadcasts on ESPN2, including the Championship Final on Sunday, August 6th, a Semifinal Match on Saturday, August 5th and a Quarterfinal Match on Friday August 4th.
                                         
On-air commentators for ESPN2 will include Pam Shriver and Mary Joe Fernandez. In addition, popular on-air host Cliff Drysdale will make his San Diego debut covering the Acura Classic this year.

The Tennis Channel’s four-day coverage will run from Thursday to Sunday and will include a night Semifinal match on Saturday and the Doubles Final following the Singles Final on Sunday.  Leif Shiras and Katrina Adams will host the telecasts.

Additionally, for the first time this year, the Acura Classic will enjoy pre-match coverage on Saturday and Sunday when ESPN2 will cut from its live broadcast of the Legg Mason Classic from Washington, D.C. to a U.S. Open Series anchor desk at La Costa, where announcers will provide viewers with news and insight about each day’s upcoming matches.

As previously announced, the Acura Classic will employ live Hawk-Eye “Instant Replay” technology on this year’s ESPN2 broadcasts. The use of this technology will include the player challenge protocol that was a proven success when it debuted in Miami in March.
The Acura Classic is also part of the WTA Tour's international tennis package, which will reach a potential international viewership of over 457 million homes.  The tournament will be televised in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, the Middle East, Russia, South America and South Africa.

Following is the broadcast TV schedule for the 2006 Acura Classic.

ESPN2

The Tennis Channel