ESPN Launches ESPN3 Player on Facebook Platform

Just as college basketball tournaments get into full swing, sports fans in the U.S. will be able to watch live Championship Week 2012 games directly through Facebook via the launch of a syndicated ESPN3 player that will be available throughout the week. This marks the first time live, streaming sports games from an ESPN network will be available through the social networking platform. ESPN3 is a live, multi-screen network featuring more than 4,000 live events per year. In order to access the content, Facebook users must receive ESPN3 through an affiliated provider.

Beginning Thursday, fans will begin to discover the ESPN3 player by going to one of ESPN's Facebook pages. Teams and conferences will also be able to display the ESPN3 player on their official fan pages to highlight live games for their fans. Replays of recently concluded events will be available as well.

For users who receive ESPN3 through an affiliated Internet service provider, the player will be able to automatically identify them as an authenticated user. Users whose subscription is tied to their video account will be directed to www.watchespn.com to authenticate.

Facebook's mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Facebook users communicate and share information through the social graph, the network of connections and relationships between people. It is the fourth- most trafficked website in the United States.

In 2007, Facebook launched Facebook Platform to empower developers and entrepreneurs around the world make the Web more social for users. Millions of Facebook users return to the site each day, providing unparalleled distribution potential for applications and the opportunity to build a business that is highly relevant to people's lives.

ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a 24/7 destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com. It is currently available to 72 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks. It is also accessible through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app through an affiliated provider.

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