ESPN announced today they have reached an agreement with The Boston Athletic Association to broadcast the Boston Marathon. It will be the first time ESPN has broadcast the event since 2004.
“We’re honored to partner with ESPN and WCVB Channel 5, respected market leaders who bring a spirit of innovation and thoughtful storytelling that will propel the mission of the B.A.A. and legacy of the world’s oldest annual marathon forward,” said Jack Fleming, acting Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. “Both have established a tradition of broadcasting world-class athletic events, and we are excited to build on this tradition together into the future.”
ESPN will broadcast the 127th Boston Marathon, scheduled to take place on Monday, April 17, 2023, on its from 8:30 a.m. ET until 1:00 p.m. ET. In addition, ESPN will also have coverage of the race within SportsCenter before the live coverage and later in the day, as well as coverage appearing on other ESPN shows and platforms.
“The Boston Marathon is one of the world’s most recognizable and best-known sporting events and we’re proud to be able to bring it to ESPN viewers for years to come,” said Burke Magnus, President, Programming and Original Content, for ESPN. “We look forward to working with the B.A.A. and WCVB to present the stories and athletic achievements of this classic race.”
ESPN has not broadcast the Boston Marathon since 2004 but it does have a history with the historic race. ESPN aired the event in the early 1980s and then again from 1997-2004. The 2023 race marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon, which will be honored and recognized by the B.A.A.
