ESPN Full Circle

Megacast, formerly known as ESPN Full Circle, is a multi-network simulcast of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and services—with each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features, functions or perspectives. Eleven networks and services have been involved with these specials, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile, ESPN3/WatchESPN, ESPN.com ESPN International and ESPN Deportes.

ESPN Full Circle debuted with ESPN Full Circle: North Carolina at Duke on March 4, 2006, on the one-year anniversary of ESPNU. The game was the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Duke Blue Devils in college basketball. A month later the second installment of ESPN Full Circle showed ESPN Full Circle:Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2006. The game featured the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. The third edition of ESPN Full Circle showed ESPN Full Circle: Florida State vs. Miami on September 4, 2006. The game featured a college football game between Florida State Seminoles at the Miami Hurricanes. The fourth installment featured the Florida Gators vs. the Auburn Tigers on October 14, 2006 and was entitled ESPN Full Circle: Florida vs. Auburn. The fifth Full Circle broadcast was on March 4, 2007, with the NASCAR Busch Series Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200.^[1] The sixth "Full Circle" event was the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game on April 3, 2007. After a seven-year hiatus, full-circle broadcasts resumed under the Megacast branding in 2014.

North Carolina at Duke

The first Full Circle telecast covered the college basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Duke Blue Devils, to honor the 1 year anniversary of the launch of its collegiate sport focused service ESPNU.

ESPN aired the game's traditional coverage (along with live "look-ins" to the other views, simulcast in 120 countries through ESPN International), ESPN 2 featured an "Above the Rim" camera, and ESPNU featured a split-screen with the "Cameron Crazy Cam". ESPN360 offered additional stats, hosted by ESPN Radio's Jeff Rickard, Mobile ESPN featured game alerts, live updates and in-game polling for a replay of a classic Duke-North Carolina game, and ESPN.com featured live chats, in-game polling and highlight

The game was seen by an average of 3.78 million households on ESPN and ESPN2 making it the most-viewed men's college basketball game ever combining the networks. There were also two million page views on ESPN.com and one million video streams across ESPN.com and ESPN 360. ESPN's single network coverage garnered a 3.5 rating, the network's highest-rated men's college basketball game in more than four years (Maryland at Duke posted a 3.5 in January 2002). ESPN2's "Above the Rim" coverage generated a 0.7 rating, 40% higher than the network's per-game season average. Brad Nessler called the game along with Dick Vitale and Erin Andrews. This game is significant since it was the last time to date that Nessler called a Saturday Primetime game.

Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs

This was the second installment of ESPN Full Circle, which aired on April 22, 2006. The official name of this one was ESPN Full Circle: Bulls-Heat NBA Playoffs and the game was the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat. The game was seen by an average of 2,648,000 households on ESPN and ESPN2, marking a 45% increase when compared to the equivalent NBA playoff telecast the previous year. In addition, ESPN.com's ESPN Motion received nearly 600,000 video streams for Bulls/Heat content. Mike Tirico called the game along with Bill Walton and Steve "Snapper" Jones and Jim Gray as the sideline reporter.

Coverage

• ESPN featured standard coverage of the game
• ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) featured the Above the Rim cam along with commentary from NBA Shootaround commentators John Saunders, Greg Anthony, Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith.
• ESPN360 featured additional stats, hosted by ESPN Radio's Jeff Rickard and NBA insider John Hollinger.
• ESPN Deportes simulcast the game in Spanish with Álvaro Martín and Carlos Morales.
• ESPN.com coverage included live chats with NBA on ESPN analysts during the game, in addition to GameCast information and in-game fan polling.
• ESPN Radio provided on-site updates during ESPN Radio's GameNight.
• ESPNEWS featured in progress highlights and analysis from ESPN NBA analysts.
• Mobile ESPN provided in-progress video highlights throughout the game and halftime analysis. It also had a live scoreboard and an in-game box score.

Florida State at Miami

This was the third installment of ESPN Full Circle, which aired on September 4, 2006. The official name of this one was ESPN Full Circle: Florida State at Miami and the game was a college football matchup between the Florida State Seminoles at the Miami Hurricanes. ESPN's coverage of the game averaged 6,330,000 households (a 6.9 rating), making it the network's most-viewed college football game (including regular season and bowl games) ever. It is the network's second highest-rated college football game (including regular season and bowl games) ever (behind a 7.7 rating for Florida State at Miami on ESPN October 8, 1994)[Edit: outdated with 2011 BCS Rose and Championship games] . The telecast was television's most-viewed program of the night across key male 18-to-34 (1,687,000 average), 18-to-49 (3,466,000) and 25-to-54 (3,453,000) demographics and fourth most-viewed program in households. Mike Patrick called the game along with analysis from Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe reporting from the sideline.

Coverage

• ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of a not so regular football game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities were covering the game
• ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) offered coverage of the game utilizing multiple camera angles in a mosaic-style presentation. The screen featured the primary ESPN telecast surrounded by seven additional camera angles that include isolations of the coaches, quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and other key offensive and defensive matchups. The screen at the bottom featured the SkyCam angle throughout the entire game.
• ESPNU televised the game from the SkyCam angle and feature the unique commentary and perspectives of ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd. He reacted to the game and was joined by special guests.
• ESPN 360 offered a simulcast feed of ESPNU's SkyCam presentation with extra stats during commercial breaks.
• ESPN Deportes offered traditional game coverage with Spanish language commentary.
• Mobile ESPN targeted specifically to sports fans will provide a variety of content, including game alerts, live updates and in-game polling.
• ESPN International had a traditional telecast offered to approximately 54 countries worldwide.
• ESPN.com had a live chat with Jim Donnan, reports from Ivan Maisel, GameCast's real-time animated game representation and in-game polling.
• ESPNEWS offered frequent updates and analysis.
• ESPN Radio provided in-game updates from GameNight, on-site reports and periodic live audio of Colin Cowherd's commentary from ESPNU.

Florida vs. Auburn

This was the fourth installment of ESPN Full Circle, which aired on October 14, 2006. The official name of this one was ESPN Full Circle delivered by The New AT&T: Florida vs. Auburn and the game was a college football matchup between the Florida Gators at the Auburn Tigers. It generated the lowest ratings of any of the Full Circle telecasts with a 3.3 rating. This was also the second college football game on Full Circle. Mike Patrick called the game along with analysis from Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe reporting from the sideline.

Coverage

• ESPN (ESPNHD) featured the traditional coverage of the college football game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities were covering the game
• ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) featured the traditional game coverage surrounded by four other angles in smaller screens in a mosaic-style presentation that will isolate the head coaches, the quarterbacks as well as provide the full-time view from Skycam. ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd provided commentary and react to the game and was joined by special guests including Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Mark May, Lou Holtz and Mel Kiper Jr..
• ESPNU will feature the traditional game coverage on the main screen surrounded by five smaller screens, including isolation angles of the head coaches, the quarterbacks, and other storyline-driven views plus the full-time view from Skycam.
• ESPN 360 offered a simulcast feed of ESPNU's SkyCam presentation with extra stats during commercial breaks.
• Mobile ESPN televised live full game coverage streamed live on the phone, plus in-game alerts and highlights, as well as preview video clips and interviews.
• ESPN International had a traditional telecast offered to approximately 175 countries worldwide and at US Naval ships around the world.
• ESPN.com had a live chat with Pat Forde, reports from Ivan Maisel, GameCast's real-time animated game representation and in-game polling.
• ESPNEWS offered game highlights and opinions from ESPN's college football commentators, pre- and post-game analysis and live press conferences.
• ESPN Radio provided in-game updates from GameNight, on-site reports and periodic live audio of Colin Cowherd's commentary from ESPNU.
• College GameDay was broadcast live from the campus of Auburn University at the usual time of 10 a.m. ET and signed off at 12:01 PM.

NASCAR Busch Series Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200

The fifth installment of ESPN Full Circle aired on March 4, 2007, a NASCAR Busch Series race held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. This was the first NASCAR race on Full Circle. ESPN's regular NASCAR announce team of Dr. Jerry Punch called the race along with analysis from Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Allen Bestwick, Mike Massaro, Jamie Little, and Dave Burns reported from pit lane.

Coverage

• ESPN (ESPNHD) and ESPN Deportes featured a simulcast of the traditional race coverage in the Spanish language. This was the first event not covered in English by ESPN. During the race, viewers were asked to call 1-800-DEPORTES or log on to the network's website to express interest in adding it to their providers' channel lineups.
• ESPN2 (ESPN2HD) had the traditional race coverage in English.
• ESPN360 offeres different camera views from the regular race.
• ESPNEWS provided updates through the event.

NCAA Women's Basketball Championship

The sixth installment of ESPN Full Circle was on April 3, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. The official name of the telecast was ESPN Full Circle: NCAA Women's Championship and the game was between No. 1 Tennessee Lady Volunteers and No. 4 Rutgers Scarlet Knights. It was the first women's event presented as an ESPN Full Circle telecast. Mike Patrick called the game along with Doris Burke and reporters Holly Rowe and Mark Jones. Tennessee defeated Rutgers, 59-46, winning its seventh national title.

Coverage

• ESPN featured the traditional coverage of a regular college basketball game. It also had "look-ins" to how other entities are covering the game.
• ESPN2 had six coverage boxes; two with isolated shots of players (mainly Matee Ajavon of Rutgers and Candace Parker of Tennessee, isolated shots of the opposing coaches (C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers and Pat Summitt of Tennessee), another alternating statistics and replays in the lower center, and a simulcast of the traditional game coverage on ESPN. This feed had separate commentators, Doug Gottlieb and Carolyn Peck. Gottlieb and Peck were also joined by guests for interviews throughout the game; he also jokingly called the setup "The Matrix". Enhanced graphics were available for those viewing the game in high definition with full-time integrated stats pillars on each side of the screen.
• ESPNU presented the Above the Rim camera angles as well as a simulcast and statistics. This feed also had commentary from Mike Hall and Charlene Curtis.
• ESPN360 offered enhanced statistics.
• ESPN.com provided in-game fan polls and live chats with, among others, Nancy Lieberman.

College football Megacasts

BCS National Championship Game

In December 2013, ESPN announced that it would cover the 2014 BCS National Championship Game with what it branded as a Megacast:^[2]

• ESPN carried traditional coverage of the game with Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit, and ESPN Deportes broadcast the game in Spanish.
• ESPN2 aired BCS Title Talk, a broadcast of the game with special guests (such as celebrities and coaches) providing analysis
• ESPNU aired BCS Film Room, which featured expert analysis of plays hosted by Chris Spielman and Tom Luginbill
• ESPN Classic carried the game without commentary, in the style of the Announcerless Game
• ESPN Goal Line carried BCS Command Center, a split-screen view with live, on-screen statistics
• WatchESPN carried several online-exclusive feeds, including a Spidercam-only feed, and team feeds focusing on the Auburn Tigers and Florida State Seminoles with a simulcast of their respective radio networks.

2014 Iron Bowl

In November 2014, ESPN broadcast that season's edition of the Iron Bowl rivalry game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers.The game was accompanied by a special simulcast on SEC Network, the Finebaum Film Room, which featured analysis by SEC Network correspondent and ESPN Radio host Paul Finebaum, Cole Cubelic, Greg McElroy, and viewer calls.^[3]

2015 College Football Playoff National Championship

The Megacast returned for the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship;^[4]

• ESPN carried traditional coverage of the game with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit. The Film Room moved to ESPN2, ESPN Classic carried the commentary-free "sounds of the game" feed, and ESPN Goal Line again carried Command Center, a split-screen view with live, on-screen statistics and ESPN Radio audio.
• ESPNews carried Off The Ball, which carried person-on-person analysis of players not near the ball, hosted by Bob Wischusen
• ESPNU carried "Voices", which featured special guests providing analysis (similar to 2014's BCS Title Talk)
• WatchESPN carried several online-exclusive feeds, including the Spidercam, team feeds with simulcasts of their respective radio networks, and Taco Bell Student Section (focusing on the teams' student sections).

2016 College Football Playoff

For 2016, enhanced feeds were expanded to the College Football Playoff semi-final bowl games, the 2015 Orange Bowl and 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic. ESPN2 aired a simulcast of ESPN Deportes' Spanish-language coverage, and home and away radio broadcast feeds were carried on WatchESPN. The Cotton Bowl broadcast additionally featured the return of the Finebaum Film Room on SEC Network, as previously featured during the 2014 Iron Bowl.^[5]

ESPN provided enhanced feeds during the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship;^[6][7]

• As with the previous year, ESPN carried traditional coverage of the game, ESPN2 carried the Film Room with Brian Griese, Chris Spielman, and Jim McElwain, ESPN Deportes carried the game in Spanish, ESPN Classic carried a feed without commentary, and ESPN Goal Line carried the Command Center.
• ESPNews carried ESPN Voices, with special guests discussing the game.
• ESPNU carried the Homer Telecast, with Joe Tessitore on play-by-play and discussion of the game from the opposing viewpoints of Clemson alumni Tajh Boyd and Alabama alumni Barrett Jones (Alabama).
• SEC Network carried the Finebaum Film Room, with Paul Finebaum, Greg McElroy, Booger McFarland, and Bret Bielema analysizing the game from the SEC perspective and taking viewer calls.
• WatchESPN carried several online-exclusive feeds, including the Spidercam, Pylon Cam (which feature feeds from cameras installed within the pylons at the sides of the field), team feeds with simulcasts of their respective radio networks and focus on star players, the Data Center with advanced statistics, and the Student Section cam. A new addition for 2016 was the Mock Replay Booth, which featured former ACC official Ralph Pickett, current SEC official Ben Oldham, and ESPN rules analyst Doug Rhoads providing an "inside look at the review process in which replay officials review every play of the game."^[6][7]

In Canada, the Film Room feed was carried for the first time by TSN2 (a sister network to the ESPN-affiliated TSN, which simulcast the ESPN broadcast across its main regional channels), while the TSN website carried ESPN Voices, Homer Telecast and Finebaum Film Room online.^[8] RDS carried a French language broadcast.^[9]

References

2. "ESPN 'Megacast' to show BCS title game in 6 ways on 6 channels". SB Nation. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
3. "Paul Finebaum hears 'train wreck' predictions for live Iron Bowl show, phones ready this time". AL.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
4. Everything you need to know about the ESPN CFP Megacast. Awful Announcing. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
5. "ESPN planning mini-Megacasts for College Football Playoff semifinals". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
6. "ESPN brings the Megacast back for the College Football Playoff National Championship". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
7. "Details for ESPN's Megacast of the College Football Playoff title game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
8. "College Football Playoff Championship: Bonus Megacast Coverage". TSN.ca. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
9. http://www.rds.ca/communiques/tsn-et-rds-prolongent-leur-entente-de-contenu-avec-espn-1.818804

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