PBA's 33rd Season of ESPN TV Coverage Starts Today

The Professional Bowlers Association's 33rd consecutive season of television coverage on ESPN begins with 16 telecasts, including 11 shows expanded from 90 minutes to two hours, and live coverage of two major championships plus the first round of an all-new team competition.

The winter-spring PBA television season on ESPN begins today, Dec. 9, PBA Commissioner Tom Clark and ESPN Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions Jason Bernstein announced today. Lon McEachern will be announcer and PBA Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen will be color analyst for all ESPN-PBA telecasts.

The schedule announced today includes only the winter and spring segments of the PBA's 2012-13 schedule. Coverage of additional events, including the 70th U.S. Open, will be announced later.

"Since 1979 when ESPN made its debut, the PBA and ESPN have enjoyed a wonderful partnership that has allowed millions of bowling fans to watch the best in bowling," Clark said. "We are, as always, excited to not only continue our relationship, but to expand our Sunday coverage to two hours for 11 of our 16 telecasts this season, and to include an all-new concept in professional bowling as part of our 2012-13 lineup."

"We continue to work with our partners at the PBA to develop new ways of enhancing the bowling product," Bernstein said. "The addition of 30 minutes of action to most of our Sunday shows this season is a great way to serve loyal fans of the sport."

The winter-spring ESPN lineup will include six telecasts originating from the PBA World Series of Bowling IV in Las Vegas, followed by the finals of the Round 1 Japan Cup from Tokyo, the Chris Paul PBA League All Stars, five new PBA League telecasts - including live coverage of the first PBA League event on Sunday, Jan. 27, from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. - and live coverage of the United States Bowling Congress Masters from Brunswick Zone Carolier in N. Brunswick, N.J., on Sunday, Feb. 24, and PBA Tournament of Champions from Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 31.

PBA coverage will take a two-week break in mid-March during the NCAA basketball tournament.

In addition to its ESPN coverage, more than 200 hours of exclusive live coverage of qualifying and match play from PBA Tour events will be webcast to a worldwide audience on pba.com's Xtra Frame online bowling channel.

2012-13 PBA-ESPN TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times ET; all shows are two hours unless noted)