DirecTV Doubles Hours For British Open Interactive Coverage

DirecTV will offer golf fans interactive coverage of the 2010 British Open tournament throughout all four days of the prestigious golf tournament.

The satellite company's 35 hours of high definition-based tournament coverage - more than double last year's output -- features its four screens-in-one HD Mix channel incorporating ESPN's live coverage of the Open, according to DirecTV Officials.

In addition, DirecTV will offer full and continuous coverage of action on the 1st and 18th hole, as well as the famed 17th "Road Hole." The coverage will also include an international channel, which features a feed offering European announcers' take on the action.

The service also features a real-time leaderboard that allows viewers to keep up with the action as it happens, along with a five-question British Open tournament quiz and complete scorecards for every player, said the company.

 ESPN will televise 93 live hours of the Championship over six days beginning July 14 across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN
International, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN.com,
ESPNDeportes.com and interactive television.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.