Spring Schedule Update for ESPN Films' Acclaimed '30 for 30' Series

EDITOR'S NOTE - Schedule change alert for ESPN's "30 for 30" series. New dates in bold.

March 9, 2010

Spring Schedule Update for ESPN Films' Acclaimed '30 for 30' Series Film Added to Schedule to Premiere on ABC; Several Films Shift Air Date

ESPN Films and its acclaimed "30 for 30" series will return this spring with nine films from a star-studded filmmaker roster that includes Ice Cube, Steve James, Dan Klores, Brett Morgen and more. The slate begins with a special presentation Sunday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD with Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks. The schedule continues with a special premiere presentation of Guru of Go on ABC Saturday, April 3, at 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The documentary, directed by Academy Award winner Bill Couturi�, focuses on Paul Westhead's unconventional fastbreak approach and how it turned tiny Loyola Marymount into an overnight sensation before the tragic death of star player Hank Gathers led to an inspirational run through the 1990 NCAA Tournament.

The "30 for 30" series schedule then gets underway again in its regular Tuesday slot on ESPN with No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson April 13 at 8 p.m., along with a special premiere of The Two Escobars June 21, 9 p.m. on ESPN Deportes and some additional schedule changes (in bold):

March 14, 9 p.m. - Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks (Dan Klores)

April 3, 4 p.m. on ABC - Guru of Go (Bill Couturi�)

April 13, 8 p.m. - No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson (Steve James)

April 20, 8 p.m. - Silly Little Game (Adam Kurland and Lucas Jansen)

April 27, 8 p.m. - Run Ricky Run (Sean Pamphilon)

May 4, 8 p.m. - The 16th Man (Cliff Bestall, Lori McCreary and Morgan Freeman)

May 11, 8 p.m. - Straight Outta L.A. (Ice Cube)

June 16, 10 p.m. - June 17, 1994 (Brett Morgen)

June 21, 9 p.m. on ESPN Deportes (June 22, 9 p.m. on ESPN) - The Two Escobars (Jeff Zimbalist)

Each title in the "30 for 30" series will also be offered free on ESPN TV On Demand where available one week after the TV debut and will remain available to viewers for at least 30 days.

Ratings So Far

The December 12, 2009 airing of Billy Corben's The U, posted a 1.8 rating for an average of 1.8 million homes (2.368 M viewers, P2+) making it ESPN's highest-rated documentary of all time (The Greatest Game Ever Played aired December 13, 2008, and earned a 1.4 rating - 1.369 million households, 1.811 M viewers). To date, the series' first seven films earned an average 1.0 rating (1,007,000 homes, 1,258,000 viewers).

"30 for 30"

Other previously announced "30 for 30" projects are: Reggie Rock Bythewood (One Night in Vegas), Academy Award winner Alex Gibney (Steve Bartman: Catching Hell), Jonathan Hock (The Best That Never Was), Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine (Birth of Big Air), two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple (The House That George Built), Academy Award nominee Frank Marshall (Right to Play), Steve Michaels, Joel Surnow and Jonathan Koch (Charismatic), two-time NBA MVP and first-time filmmaker Steve Nash (Into the Wind), Academy Award nominee Ron Shelton (Jordan Rides the Bus) and two-time Academy Award nominee John Singleton (Marion Jones: Press Pause).