ESPN3 Brings Roller Derby Back to National Network TV

The Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) announced a deal today with ESPN to deliver the final round of the 2015 International WFTDA Championships on ESPN3, making the most anticipated games of the WFTDA season easily accessible to millions of households in the United States. This is the first time flat track roller derby games will be carried live on a national network.

"We're thrilled to work with ESPN3 this year to bring the dynamic athleticism of flat track roller derby to new audiences," WFTDA Director of Broadcast Erica Vanstone said. "After 10 years of the WFTDA bringing the highest level of roller derby competitions to the world, it made sense for us to collaborate with the worldwide leader in sports media."

The WFTDA has produced high-quality live coverage of its Playoffs and Championships since 2012, available via Pay-Per-View on WFTDA.tv. However, this is the first time that coverage has been made available to ESPN3 viewers.

The WFTDA Playoffs season begins Aug. 21-23 in Cleveland, Ohio, with the first round of the Division 2 Playoffs. The D2 Playoffs continue Aug. 28-30 in Detroit, Michigan.

Division 1 Playoffs begin Sept. 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona, followed by D1 Playoffs in Dallas, Texas, Sept. 11-13; Jacksonville, Florida, Sept. 18-20; and Omaha, Nebraska, Oct. 2-4.

The top teams from each playoff location will advance to the Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota, Nov. 6-8. Live coverage on ESPN3 will feature the final day of competition Nov. 8, the most highly anticipated games of the WFTDA season.

Watch live on ESPN3 on Sunday, Nov. 8, starting at 12 pm Central.

Additional details about attending the WFTDA Playoffs and Championships or watching via WFTDA.tv and ESPN3 are available at WFTDA Tournament Central. Action photos and video highlights are available upon request.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Jenna Cloughley, WFTDA Marketing and Communications Manager - jenna@wftda.com

ABOUT WFTDA: The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body for the sport of women's flat track roller derby. The WFTDA sets standards for rules, seasons, and safety, and determines guidelines for the international athletic competitions of member leagues. There are more than 400 WFTDA-affiliated leagues worldwide.

ABOUT ESPN3: ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The network is currently available to more than 99 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, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.

SOURCE Women's Flat Track Derby Association

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