ESPN3 to Provide Coverage of International Swimming League

ESPN3 will provide streaming coverage of the ISL meet this weekend in Indianapolis. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The International Swimming League (ISL) and ESPN have reached an agreement to provide U.S. coverage of the world’s first team-oriented professional swimming league, with the initial meet happening October 5–6 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

ESPN will offer live and delayed streaming coverage of all regular season matches via ESPN3, its multi-screen digital network on the ESPN App. ESPN3 is accessible to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. ESPN3 is also available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via on-campus educational and on-base military broadband networks.

The ISL is a ground-breaking global professional team competition launching this fall that is set to revolutionize the sport of swimming. Star swimmers will be competing on behalf of eight clubs (Cali Condors, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions, Energy Standard, LA Current, NY Breakers, Iron, and London Roar) to win points in regular season matches across Europe and the United States in October and November. The season culminates with the championship event in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on December 20 and 21, featuring the top four teams (two U.S.-based teams, two Europe-based teams) competing to be the first-ever ISL Champions. Approximately $180,000 USD in prize money will be awarded at each regular season meet, with nearly $1.5 million USD in prize money available at the championship.

“We are very happy to work with ESPN to ensure that U.S. swim fans will be able to watch the first season of the International Swimming League,” said ISL President Konstantin Grigorishin said.

“The U.S. audience is vitally important for us as we look to grow our revolutionary new league, and we are delighted that millions of sports fans in the U.S. will be able to access their favourite stars compete against other elite swimmers in the world.”

THE SEASON

Group A: Indianapolis, USA | October 5-6 | 14:00 local time
Group A: Naples, ITA | October 12-13 | 19:00 local time
Group B: Lewisville-Dallas, USA | October 19-20 | 14:00 local time
Group B: Budapest, HUN | October 26-27 | 18:00 local time

Knockout stages:

USA: Washington DC, USA | November 16-17 | 14:00 local time
Europe: London, GBR | November 23-24 | 17:00 local time

FINAL MATCH

Showdown Match: Las Vegas, USA | December 20-21 | 13:00 local time

Where to watch:

Live TV (Australia): Channel 7
- ISL Highlights on 7TWO and 7plus
Live TV Europe – Eurosport:
Live – Day 1
Live – Day 2
Eurosport schedule: 1-hour of highlights at 10pm local time on Sunday
Live Stream (Canada): CBC
Live Television (Latin America): Claro Sports – link to come
Live Television (Brazil): TV Globo – link to come
Live Stream (USA): ESPN3

THE SCHEDULE

All events are women followed by men in the same strike/distance (unless stated)

Day 1

100 butterfly
50 breaststroke
400 medley
4×100 freestyle relay (women)
10-minute break
200 backstroke
50 freestyle
4×100 medley relay (men)
10-minute break
200 freestyle
50 backstroke
200 breaststroke
4×100 freestyle relay (men)

Day 2

100 freestyle
100 breaststroke
400 freestyle
4×100 medley relay (women)
10-minute break
200 medley
50 butterfly
100 backstroke
4×100 mixed free relay
10-minute break
200 butterfly
50 freestyle skins
4×50 Mixed Medley (if tie-break required)

The world’s best swimmers – approximately 75 percent of all current Olympic Games Champions – will compete in the league, with men and women sharing equal prize money and media attention as they do battle for their respective clubs. The ISL will engage sports fans each weekend with high-tempo two-hour matches, cutting-edge television production including a unique camera plan and behind-the-scenes access, and a never-before-seen live show. The U.S. will be represented by athletes on five of the eight ISL teams in the 2019 season:

U.S. athletes will be competing alongside some of the world’s finest swimmers including Adam Peaty, Sarah Sjostrom, Cate Campbell, Federica Pellegrini and Florent Manaudou. Here is the full list of competing U.S. swimmers, and their respective ISL teams:

Los Angeles Current:

Nathan Adrian
Michael Chadwick
Jack Conger
Matt Grevers
Ryan Held
Chase Kalisz
Will Licon
Ryan Murphy
Blake PieroniJosh Prenot
Andrew Seliskar
Tom Shields
Kathleen Baker
Amy Bilquist
Ella Eastin
Margo Geer
Annie Lazor
Katie McLaughlin
Leah Smith
Kendyl Stewart
Aly Tetzloff

DC Trident:

Zach Apple
Kevin Cordes
Abrahm DeVine
Ian Finnerty
Zane Grothe
Zach Harting
Robert Howard
Jay Litherland
Cody Miller
Giles Smith
Emma Barksdale
Lisa Bratton
Natalie Coughlin
Bethany Galat
Sarah Gibson
Madison Kennedy
Katie Ledecky

Cali Condors:

Bowen Becker
Caeleb Dressel
Nic Fink
Townley Haas
Justin Ress
John Shebat
Andrew Wilson
Mallory Comerford
Kelsi Dahlia
Hali Flickinger
Molly Hannis
Natalie Hinds
Lilly King
Melanie Margalis
Olivia Smoliga

New York Breakers:

Michael Andrew
Justin Lynch
Jacob Pebley
Ali DeLoof
Catie DeLoof
Gabby DeLoof
Emily Escbedo
Breeja Larson
Lia Neal

Aqua Centurions:

Gunnar Bentz

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the International Swimming League. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Mark Wilkens

4 years ago

Brittany Suits Jeff Heurung