Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

The World Equestrian Games television broadcast schedule for the United States was released Monday and includes limited and delayed dressage highlights.

The WEG organizing committee is paying an undisclosed amount to NBC Sports to air television coverage along with its affiliated Universal Sports whose availability throughout the United States is limited–for example, it is not available in many equestrian-heavy markets. In addition to paying NBC Sports for air time, WEG has hired Carr-Hughes Productions to produce the material for broadcast.

Eurosport, the largest European sports network, announced its WEG broadcast schedule that includes dressage team final live 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (CET) Tuesday, Sept. 28, Grand Prix Special live 9:35 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29 and highlights of the musical freestyle during the eventing cross country broadcast 5 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.

At the 2006 WEG in Aachen, Germany, 70 hours of coverage was televised on ARD and ZDF nationally with coverage provided in a total of 157 countries.

The schedule on NBC that WEG has promoted as the “largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history” with 6 1/2 hours of coverage and Universal Sports Network with 20 1/2 hours is:

NBC:

– Sunday, Sept. 26 – noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern time – Team reining is the “live” program element with a look at the opening ceremonies plus a look ahead for the two weeks.

– Sunday, Oct. 3 – 1:00-4:00 p.m. – Eventing Jumping is the “live” element with Eventing cross country on tape plus a look back at the previous week.
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Freestyle dressage (held Friday, Oct. 1) and individual reining plus a look ahead to the final week.

– Sunday, Oct. 10 – 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Show Jumping is featured element with the closing ceremonies “live” as a backdrop; vaulting and driving plus an event recap.

UNIVERSAL SPORT NETWORK:

– Saturday, Oct. 2  – 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Reining Freestyle Final, Taped

– Monday, Oct. 4 – 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p..m. – “Live” Jumping Speed Competition, part 1
2:30 – 5:00 p.m. – “Live” Jumping Speed competition, part 2

– Tuesday, Oct. 5 – 10:00 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. – “Live” Team Jumping, part 1
2:30–5:00 p.m. – “Live” Team Jumping, part 2

– Wednesday, Oct. 6 – 5:00-6:00 p.m. Dressage Grand Prix Final, Taped
7:00–9:30 p.m. – “Live” Team Jumping, finals

– Friday, Oct. 8 – 5:30–7:00 p.m. – “Live” Jumping Individuals

– Saturday, Oct. 9 – 8:00–9:30 p.m. – “Live” Jumping, Rolex Top Four

– Thursday, Oct. 14 – 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Driving Finals, Taped

– Friday, Oct. 15 – 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Vaulting Final

Dressage-news.com conducted a random check by zip code of communities in the USA with significant equestrian activities to determine availability of Universal Sports. The results:

Dover, Massachusetts – Not available

Gladstone, New Jersey – Not available

Saugerties, New York – Available on Time Warner

Middleburg, Virginia – Not available

Raleigh, North Carolina – Available on Time Warner

Ocala, Florida – Not available

Wellington, Florida – Not available

Wayne, Illinois – Available on Comcast

Lexington, Kentucky – Not available

Houston, Texas – Available on Comcast

Parker, Colorado – Available on Comcast

San Diego, California – Available on Cox, Time Warner

San Juan Capistrano, California – Not available

Moorpark, California – Available on Time Warner

Menlo Park, California – Available on Comcast, Sky Angel

Auburn, Washington – Available on Comcast