ESPN and WCVB Channel 5 will continue serving as the exclusive national and local broadcasters for the Boston Marathon through a new multiyear extension with the Boston Athletic Association. Under this deal, WCVB will be broadcasting exclusive year-round coverage for all B.A.A. events as well, some of which include the B.A.A. 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Coverage of the 129th Boston Marathon taking place on Monday is airing on ESPN2 featuring the commentary team of Hannah Storm and John Anderson. In addition, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe and play-by-play announcer Drew Carter are competing in the race themselves.
“The B.A.A., ESPN, and WCVB have worked collaboratively to bring compelling stories and in-depth coverage around all our events, in particular the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America,” Jack Fleming, president and chief executive officer of the Boston Athletic Association, said in a statement. “We will build on our momentum, recognizing the efforts of those who hold Boston running in such high regard. Together, in fact, we are promoting our sport of running and showcasing the wide range of athletes we reach — no matter where they are on their athletic and fitness journey.”
ESPN had previously broadcast coverage of the Boston Marathon in the early 1980s and resumed its presentations of the action from 1997 until 2004. Two years ago, the network started broadcasting the Boston Marathon again and has been airing the races on ESPN2 with additional coverage on other platforms.
“The Boston Marathon is an iconic event, and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the B.A.A. and WCVB to showcase it across ESPN platforms,” Tim Bunnell, senior vice president of programming and acquisition at ESPN, said in a statement. “From the powerful stories to the incredible athleticism and endurance on display, this race inspires every year—and we’re proud to bring that experience to fans.”
Live coverage of the Boston Marathon will also be airing on WCVB starting at 4 a.m. EST and will be simulcast on Hearst Television-owned sister stations in the region. The Very Local platform will also stream live coverage of the race and other year-round content with the B.A.A. Furthermore, WCVB-TV is also going to become the first exclusive broadcast partner for the Distance Melody races and will provide year-round coverage surrounding B.A.A. races while being focused on the Boston Marathon.
“WCVB is honored to extend our exclusive partnership with the B.A.A. to carry the legendary Boston Marathon, as well as to highlight the remarkable fitness events and public service initiatives that they host all year long,” Andrew Vrees, president and general manager of WCVB, said in a statement. “WCVB has a long history of serving our community as well as covering the market’s beloved, signature events, and our partnership with the B.A.A. ideally suits that mission. We look forward to working with the outstanding teams at the B.A.A. and ESPN for years to come.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
