2016 TCS New York City Marathon to be Broadcast Live on ABC7, ESPN2 and Available Globally in 175 Countries and Territories on Sunday, November 6
NYRR Press Release
November 2, 2016
Editor’s Note: The race will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2, with coverage beginning at 9 a.m. ET. You can also stream the race online through WatchESPN. Locally, the race will also be shown on ABC7, with coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
The women’s pro race starts at 9:20 am ET. The men’s pro race starts at 9:50 am ET.
New York— The 2016 TCS New York City Marathon will be broadcast live on ABC7, ESPN2 and is available globally in 175 countries and territories on Sunday, November 6, from9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET, with extended coverage until 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC7 in the New York tristate area, it was announced today by New York Road Runners. The 40th running of the five-borough course will also be available via the ABC app in New York and WatchESPN app nationally from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET.
The broadcast, which has been produced by IMG since 1994, will consist of 33 cameras covering the 26.2 mile course, including a camera attached to the chair of professional wheelchair athlete and U.S. Paralympian Josh George. The production staff of 150 will include 16 commentators, reporters, and analysts, with ESPN’s Sage Steele serving as the race-day host for the first time. Steele currently serves as ESPN’s lead host for SportsCenter on the Road and for the weekend editions of NBA Countdown.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson will call the play-by-play on race day for the fourth consecutive year, with marathon analysts Tim Hutchings and Carrie Tollefson providing commentary from the booth and running expert Toni Reavis and three-time New York City Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe serving as lead athlete moto reporters. The group will be joined by a number of reporters stationed along the course, as well as at the start and finish, including Lewis Johnson and ABC7’s Ryan Field, Laura Behnke, Amy Freeze, Anthony Johnson, Kemberly Richardson, and John Del Giorno covering the scene from above in News Copter 7.
A new feature in this year’s broadcast will be an in-depth look at runner biometric data through Performance Metrics Powered by Tata Consulting Services. Ten runners, ranging from pros to everyday athletes, will wear a small electronic device that will collect real-time data for in-race analysis. ESPN “Sports Science” host John Brenkus will break down the Performance Metrics live in the broadcast, which will include pro runners Craig Leon and Esther Atkins along with pro wheelchair athletes Tatyana McFadden and Josh George. The data will focus on heart rate, breathing rate, and cadence and pace relative to the conditions of the course and environment, such as elevation, grade, and weather.
The broadcast will also include features on U.S. Olympians making their marathon debuts – Molly Huddle, Kim Conley and Gwen Jorgensen – along with 17-time Paralympic medalist and four-time New York City Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden.
Reporter David Willey will be catching up with interesting runners throughout the day, bringing a unique in-race element to the broadcast as he interviews a variety of personalities while running alongside them during the race.
In the New York tristate area, ABC7 will air 10.5 hours of race-week coverage, including race day. In addition to the Sunday race broadcast, ABC7 coverage will include the following:
- Friday, November 4: TCS New York City Marathon Opening Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Eyewitness News sports anchor Ryan Field and meteorologist Amy Freeze will kick off the celebration for one of New York City’s greatest sporting events, reporting from the Parade of Nations and the evening fireworks in Central Park.
- Saturday, November 5: Countdown to the Starting Line, 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Live from the marathon pavilion in Central Park, Eyewitness News sports anchors Liz Cho and David Novarro and meteorologist Amy Freeze reveal the big names to watch on race day and look at what it takes to put on the biggest marathon in the world. - Sunday, November 6: Eyewitness News Marathon Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Sports anchors Ryan Field and Laura Behnke will host coverage from Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. Meteorologists Lee Goldberg and Amy Freeze will report from the start, while Kemberly Richardson, Michelle Charlesworth and Anthony Johnson will report from throughout the city. John Del Giorno will cover the race from above in NewsCopter7.
A two-hour condensed encore presentation of the race broadcast will air on ABC affiliate station nationwide on Sunday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. local time.
Internationally, coverage of the race will be available to 850 million homes in the following countries and territories: Australia – Premiere Media Group (Fox Sports), Brazil – Globosat, Canada –CBC.ca, China – LeTV and regional sport channels, Cuba – Tele Rebelde, Europe – Eurosport,Germany – SportA, (news access), India – Star, Italy – RAI, Japan – FujiTV, Mexico – Sky Mexico,Middle East – Dubai Sports, New Zealand – Sky, South Africa – SuperSport, Southeast Asia –Eurosport, Thailand – Cineplex, and Turkey – Dogus.