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ESPN 2 Caribbean Highlights - October 2015

October on ESPN2 sees the tip off to a new NBA season and the MLB Playoffs, plus more NFL, NCAA College Football, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis, international golf with The Presidents Cup, more action from the Rugby World Cup, Euro 2016 Qualifying and world football from England, Italy, Germany and beyond, the AFL Grand Final and more

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA)

The world´s best basketball tips off a new season on ESPN/ESPN2 with LIVE season coverage of the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) tips off a new season in October, and as always it promises to be stellar. ESPN and ESPN2 are there with LIVE season coverage spotlighting all the top action from start to finish. Last season saw the Golden State Warriors - led by league MVP Stephen Curry and Finals MVP Andre Iguodala - claim their first NBA title since 1975, a 40-year drought they ended by finishing off LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

It promises to be another spectacular season as the Warriors return to face a loaded Western Conference led by the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and a team never to be taken lightly, the San Antonio Spurs. Out East, the Cavaliers can expect the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards to make their march back to another NBA Finals anything but smooth.

NBA Wednesday and NBA Friday season coverage airs LIVE and on short-turnaround on ESPN/ESPN2, tipping off LIVE October 28 at 8:00pm on ESPN2 with a top Western duel as Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Spurs, followed on the 30th by LeBron and the Cavaliers taking on the Miami Heat.

Schedule: LIVE coverage - Host team shown first
Oct 28 08:00pm Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Oct 30 08:00pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB)

The MLB Playoffs are here - catch coverage of the NL Division Series, NL Championship Series and opening games from the World Series on ESPN2 in October

October is an emotional month for fans of Major League Baseball (MLB), and for those with their team on the field in the MLB Playoffs, the feeling can only be described as pure joy. Coverage this month on ESPN2 features the National League (NL) Division Series and NL Championship Series, and the start of the best-of-seven World Series to crown a new champion.

The season has witnessed the usual ups and downs, surges and sinkholes, and the MLB Playoffs are sure to keep the rollercoaster hurtling along at full speed. The AL has seen the Kansas City Royals maintaining last season´s fine form, with the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels all looking to block their path. Meanwhile, the defending champion San Francisco Giants have their hands full in the NL, where the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, not to mention the seemingly unstoppable St. Louis Cardinals, all have their hearts set on nothing less than the NL pennant and a shot at a World Series title.

ESPN/ESPN2’s MLB coverage airs all season, LIVE or on short-turnaround, with October featuring coverage of the MLB Playoffs and opening games from the World Series. Coverage airs LIVE and taped on ESPN2, with the World Series and NLCS airing LIVE on ESPN.

Schedule: MLB Postseason Impact Game
October 2 MLB Wild Card Game
October 6 NL Division Series
October 9 - 15 NL Championship Series
October 18 - 26 MLB World Series (best-of-seven)
October 28, 29, 31, continuing in November Coverage of the NLCS and World Series airs LIVE on ESPN;
ESPN2 coverage airs Live, on Short-turnaround or Taped; Times TBD.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NFL) LIVE coverage of the NFL continues on ESPN/ESPN2 featuring top talents in action led by the Colts vs. the Patriots, Panthers hosting the Eagles and much more

October features more coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 of the National Football League (NFL), and with only 16 games to insure a playoff berth, every one of them counts. Whether because of players, coaches, location or history, rivalries fuel every sport and the NFL is no exception. October is a good month to see one of the best as the Indianapolis Colts host the defending Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, airing LIVE on ESPN2. When star QB Peyton Manning, now with the Denver Broncos, was with the Colts, his matchup with Tom Brady featured two future Hall of Famers. The arrival of Andrew Luck to the Colts - and given the controversy surrounding last season´s AFC Championship Game – keeps this matchup sizzling hot.

Other top games this month on ESPN2 feature the Detroit Lions facing the Seattle Seahawks, the latter Super Bowl winners in 2014 over the Broncos as well as runners-up last season to Brady and the Pats, while October 25 has LIVE coverage of two teams on the rise going head-to-head as the Carolina Panthers take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

Coverage of the NFL airs all season on ESPN/ESPN2, LIVE or on short-turnaround. Games airing on short-turnaround on ESPN air LIVE on ESPN2.

Schedule: Host team shown first
Oct 5 02:00am New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys
Oct 6 03:00am Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions
Oct 18 08:15pm Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots - LIVE
Oct 20 03:00am Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
Oct 25 08:15pm Carolina Panthers vs. Philadelphia Eagles - LIVE
Oct 27 03:00am Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Games air on Short-turnaround unless noted as Live

NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Coverage of NCAA College Football continues in October on ESPN2

Coverage on ESPN2 of NCAA College Football continues in October, LIVE and on short-turnaround, giving fans of American football an early glimpse of future stars of the NFL. Season coverage includes all the major conferences led by the Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC and SEC, plus games spotlighting storied Notre Dame. With the success of last season´s College Football Playoff (CFP) - featuring two semifinal games and the CFP Championship Game - the rich tradition of college football bowl games remains intact while fans enjoy a new postseason format that preserves the best of the regular season.

Last year saw the Big Ten´s Ohio State defeat Pac-12 power Oregon to take the national title. Both return favored to be among the best in the new season, joined by the Big 12´s TCU and Baylor, famed SEC teams like Alabama and Georgia, the ACC´s Clemson, familiar Pac-12 challengers USC and UCLA, and the Big Ten´s Michigan State.

ESPN and ESPN2 present season coverage of NCAA College Football airing LIVE, on short-turnaround and taped. NOTE: Schedule permitting, coverage features Thursday, Friday and Weekend games; times/dates TBD closer to air dates.

TENNIS - 2015 ATP World Tour

Continuing LIVE on ESPN2 in October is more season coverage of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000

October is a busy month on the courts with more of ESPN’s LIVE season coverage of world-class men’s tennis from the ATP World Tour. Featured on ESPN2 is a popular stop on the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 series, the Shanghai Rolex Masters in Shanghai, won last year by Swiss legend Roger Federer, who claimed his 23rd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title (at the time) over France´s Gilles Simon.

Federer has looked strong this season, losing to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, which gave the Serbian dynamo a third Wimbledon title and ninth Grand Slam overall. With Spain´s Rafael Nadal struggling, Djokovic and Federer have climbed to the top of the rankings, joined by Great Britain´s Andy Murray, Swiss talent Stan Wawrinka - the winner over Djokovic at Roland Garros - and other rising stars like Japan´s Kei Nishikori, the Czech Republic´s Tomas Berdych and Spain´s David Ferrer.

ESPN/ESPN2 present ATP World Tour coverage all season, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround. Coverage this month on ESPN2 airs LIVE. NOTE: Schedule subject to change.

Schedule: LIVE coverage
Oct 12 02:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - First Round
Oct 13 01:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - First Round/Second Rd
Oct 14 01:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Second Round
Oct 15 01:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Round of 16
Oct 16 01:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Quarterfinals
Oct 17 04:30am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Semifinal #1
Oct 17 08:00am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Semifinal #2
Oct 18 04:30am Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Final
Oct 18 06:00pm Masters 1000: Shanghai Rolex Masters - Final (R)
NOTE: Schedule subject to change; (R) Re-air

GOLF - The Presidents Cup and 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

The world´s best golfers hit the links for a lively tournament that pits the top U.S. players against their International rivals

Played every two years, The Presidents Cup is a showcase for the world´s most skilled golfers. The top 10 U.S. players who earn the most FedExCup points through the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship (plus two Captain´s selections) and the top 10 international players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of the end of the same tournament (also plus two Captain´s selections) take the links at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Korea to battle for bragging rights as the world´s best… and to receive generous donations to their favorite charities from the PGA Tour.

Although the International team won its lone Presidents Cup back in 1998, that is hardly a reflection of where international golfers stand today. The team promises a smooth mix of experience and youth, led by talents like Australia´s Jason Day - winner in August of the PGA Championship - and Adam Scott, South Africa´s Louis Oosthuizen and most likely South Korean-born rising star Danny Lee, now living in New Zealand. For the U.S., red-hot Jordan Spieth - who went No. 1 in the World Rankings as of mid August - is expected to be joined by Bubba Watson, Jimmy Walker and Jim Furyk, as well as, perhaps, a couple of guys named Phil and Tiger if they move their way up the rankings before the final team is selected.

The Presidents Cup competition consists of 34 matches, with Four-ball and Foursome matches followed by Singles matches on the closing day. ESPN2 features LIVE coverage airing October 8 - 11.

Schedule: LIVE coverage
Oct 8 09:00pm The Presidents Cup - First Round
Oct 9 10:30pm The Presidents Cup - Second Round
Oct 10 06:00pm The Presidents Cup - Third Round
Oct 11 09:30pm The Presidents Cup - Final Round

More golf on ESPN2 - the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship lands in Hong Kong

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), the elite amateur competition in the region, is celebrating its seventh successful edition this year. Since it began in 2009, the tournament has been held in China (twice), Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia, and comes to Hong Kong for the first time this year. The event is organized by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A, with the winner earning an invitation to the Masters Tournament.

As in past editions, the field features up to 120 players including the two top-ranked amateur players from each of the APGC member countries as ranked in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings. In addition to earning a spot in the following year’s Masters Tournament, the winner and runner(s)-up also earn spots in The Open Qualifying Series for The Open. China´s Guan Tianlang, the 2012 winner, went on to play in the 2013 Masters Tournament, at 14 becoming the youngest player in Masters history.

Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club is located in the New Territories, perched on a peninsula that offers impressive views of the South China Sea and Hong Kong. The course itself is divided into two parts: the Highland Nine and the Ocean Nine. Coverage on ESPN2 airs LIVE and on short-turnaround October 1 - 4.

Schedule:
Oct 1 02:00am Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship - First Round (L)
Oct 2 02:00am Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship - Second Round (L)
Oct 3 02:00am Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship - Third Round (S)
Oct 4 02:00am Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship - Final Round (S)
(L) Live; (S) Short-turnaround

IRB RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 - The Rugby Championship 2015

The action never stops - closing coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 from the Rugby World Cup

October brings more hair-raising action, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround on ESPN/ESPN2, of the biggest event in international rugby, the Rugby World Cup 2015 (RWC 2015). This is the eighth RWC, the quadrennial rugby union world championship, which is being hosted this year by England, winners of the title in 2003 and runners-up to champions South Africa in 2007.

England, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and Wales are among the 20 skilled teams continuing their battle this month for the most prestigious trophy in world rugby, with New Zealand´s fearsome All Blacks leading the charge as they seek to defend their hard-won title from 2011, which they narrowly claimed over France.

The 2015 event is featured on ESPN/ESPN2 with 32 matches airing September 18 to October 31, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and the Final, to be played at Twickenham on October 31. Coverage airs LIVE on ESPN, with select matches also airing LIVE on ESPN2.

Schedule:
Oct 4 05:00am RWC 2015: England vs. Australia (S)
Oct 10 11:30am RWC 2015: Australia vs. Wales
Oct 11 05:00pm RWC 2015: France vs. Ireland (S)
Oct 18 07:45am RWC 2015: D1 vs. C2 Quarterfinal - LIVE
Oct 18 10:45am RWC 2015: A1 vs. B2 Quarterfinal - LIVE
Oct 24 10:45am RWC 2015: Qf1 vs. Qf2 Semifinal - LIVE
Oct 25 11:45am RWC 2015: Qf3 vs. Qf4 Semifinal - LIVE
Coverage airs on Short-turnaround unless noted as Live

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - Euro 2016 Qualifiers

Euro 2016 Qualifying continues on ESPN/ESPN2 this month with Matchdays #9 & #10 airing LIVE and on short-turnaround

Euro 2016 Qualifying takes the final steps towards determining the 23 finalists who will be joining France next summer with this month´s action from Matchdays #9 and #10, airing LIVE and on short-turnaround on ESPN/ESPN2. As of September, teams looking good to advance included holders Spain and Group C rivals Slovakia, a soaring England, solid sides from Wales, Iceland, Croatia and Austria, and some familiar talents led by Germany, Italy and Portugal.

Germany, the reigning World Cup champions, have been hotly challenged in Group D by Poland, while Portugal and Denmark have waged an entertaining battle for the top spot in Group I. More surprising has been a struggling Netherlands squad, a recognized power in world football who remain in the race in Group A behind Iceland and the Czech Republic. The nine group winners, nine runners-up and the best third-placed side qualify directly for the final tournament in France, with the eight remaining third-placed teams contesting playoffs in November to determine the last four qualifiers.

Euro 2016 features a qualifying competition, playoffs, and the final tournament. Coverage on ESPN/ESPN2 airs LIVE and on short-turnaround throughout the qualifying stage. Most matches airing on short-turnaround on ESPN air LIVE on ESPN2.

Schedule:
Oct 8 11:50am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Georgia vs. Gibraltar
Oct 8 02:35pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Portugal vs. Denmark
Oct 10 06:00am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Spain vs. Luxembourg (S)
Oct 10 02:35pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Wales
Oct 11 11:50am Euro 2016 Qualifying: Serbia vs. Portugal
Oct 12 07:30pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Ukraine vs. Spain (S)
Oct 13 02:35pm Euro 2016 Qualifying: Wales vs. Andorra
Matches air LIVE or on Short-turnaround

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

The Barclays Premier League continues on ESPN2

English football´s top level of play, the Barclays Premier League, continues on ESPN2, and it shows signs of being a hugely competitive season. The title chase last season was pretty much all about Chelsea, who led wire-to-wire, with Manchester City making a brief insurgence mid-season. But given that Chelsea were the third different Premier League champion in three seasons, with Manchester City and Manchester United claiming the other titles, there´s reason to expect parity and drama in the new season.

The offseason saw Chelsea swap Didier Drogba for Radamel Falcao, but do little more. Manchester City brought in Liverpool´s Raheem Sterling, who should provide some creative spark up front, and Manchester United made a flurry of additions, not the least of which is the addition of top-quality veterans Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield. Arsenal, meanwhile, have brought in famed keeper Petr Cech, making a four-way battle for the title a real possibility, with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also expected to be in the mix.

ESPN’s coverage of the English Premier League airs all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround, featuring 1–2 matches per week. Also featured are select matches from the Capital One Cup. Some matches re-air in prime. NOTES: EPL not available to cruise lines; matches airing on short-turnaround/taped on ESPN Caribbean will air LIVE on ESPN2 Caribbean. Some matches TBD; dates/times subject to change.

Schedule:
Oct 19 08:00pm Swansea City vs. Stoke City
Oct 27 08:00pm Capital One Cup - Round 4
Matches air on Short-turnaround
*NOTE: English Premier League not available to cruise lines; dates/times subject to change.

MORE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1 and Dutch First Division

International football continues on ESPN/ESPN2 with weekly coverage from Germany, Italy, France and more

The world’s top football leagues grab the spotlight all season on ESPN/ESPN2 with weekly action continuing from the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1 and Dutch First Division.

Known for quality and consistency, the German Bundesliga remains a force in world football. Still, although it is home to some very skilled sides, doubts remain if any team has the strength to dethrone Bayern Munich, winner of the last three league titles. Italian Serie A has been much the same story in past years, with mighty Juventus taking the last four ¨scudetti¨ and opening this season with a 2-0 win over Lazio in the Italian Supercoppa.

The French Ligue 1 also saw Paris Saint-Germain win the league title for the third straight year, although with rumors swirling around the possible departure of Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic - with a move back to Italy´s AC Milan just maybe in the works - things could change this season. And in the Dutch First Division, holders PSV Eindhoven will be looking to stay ahead of rivals Ajax, one of the most legendary clubs in world football.

Catch weekly football coverage from around the world airing LIVE and on short-turnaround throughout the season on ESPN and ESPN2; dates/times TBC closer to airdate.

AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (AFL)

The AFL crowns a new champion - the Toyota AFL Grand Final airing LIVE on ESPN2

The Toyota AFL Premiership crowns a new champion this month with LIVE coverage on ESPN2 of the Toyota AFL Grand Final. Twenty-three hard fought rounds and the Toyota AFL Finals Series have brought us to this moment, where a season of sweat and strain comes down to two teams battling for the coveted premiership.

Two-time defending champions Hawthorn and 2012 champs Sydney Swans, runners-up for last year´s title, both have been in sharp form, but they can expect tough obstacles in their path back to the AFL Grand Final, among them a trio who have made some noise this season: Fremantle, West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs, a group that will be pushing hard to still be on the field this month.

ESPN2 features LIVE coverage throughout the season of the Toyota AFL Premiership; one-hour highlight programs also air weekly on ESPN. Catch LIVE coverage October 3 at 5:30am of the Toyota AFL Grand Final airing from the legendary MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).

ESPN NFL LIVE

Airing Monday through Friday throughout the year on ESPN2 is NFL Live, a fast-paced studio show that delves into the latest news making headlines around the NFL. Find out what’s hot, who’s not, and all the rest of the word on the street as host Trey Wingo and an entertaining lineup of top analysts weigh-in with their opinions on players, coaches and current happenings both on and off the field.

NFL Live, a one-hour weekday news show, airs on ESPN2 Monday to Friday at 4:00pm.

ESPN’S AROUND THE HORN

Stay in the loop with Around the Horn, a fast-paced and free-spirited sports talk program where Tony Reali and four leading sports reporters from across the country debate the latest sports issues, rumors and headlines via satellite.

The show is played in rounds, with two columnists ‘Cut’ before the final ‘Showdown’, with Tony giving points for a good argument and happily deducting them when he has to hit ‘mute.’ The winner then gets 30 seconds of ‘Facetime’ to opine on victory. Around the Horn airs Monday to Friday at 5:00pm.

PTI

Pardon the Interruption (PTI) shines a spotlight on the latest, most talked-about happenings in the sports world. Fast-paced, innovative and always provocative, PTI features top journalists Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon facing-off in a lively format devoted exclusively to sports opinions and the latest news making headlines around the world. Mixing insight, analysis and humor, PTI gets inside the stories viewers care most about. PTI airs weekdays at 5:30pm.

ESPN’S MORNING BLOCK - Mike & Mike and ESPN First Take

Start the day on the right foot with ESPN’s morning block, 6am - noon

Rise and shine Monday to Friday, from 6am to noon, with ESPN’s informative and entertaining morning block starring two of the most popular shows on the air - Mike & Mike and ESPN First Take.

Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, the oddest couple in sports, host Mike & Mike, a TV simulcast of their popular sports talk radio show, beginning at 6am. Join the guys for four hours of sports news, culture and controversy that manages to be hilarious and informative in equal measures. Along with regular guest hosts and renowned contributors, the show features weekly segments like Just Shut Up, Monday Morning Quarterback, and the not to be missed Man Up Question of the Day, where male listeners are coached on how to be more manly.

ESPN First Take follows Mike & Mike from 10am to noon, Monday to Friday. Fronted by Cari Champion, Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith and special guests, this entertaining program provides daily debate on the latest sports topics in the news. Held in a roundtable setting, the program delivers opinion and often heated face-offs while discussing the NFL, NBA, NCAA football and more.

NOTE: All TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS.

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