"CHICAGO, Feb 24 - The major U.S. beach volleyball tour, AVP, has signed a two-year broadcast deal with ESPN and ABC, the companies said on Wednesday.
The agreement with Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) ESPN and ABC networks includes 13 AVP events in 2010 -- four on ABC and nine on ESPN2 -- beginning with the tour's season opening event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 18 and including the championship in Chicago. The terms were not disclosed.
"This new agreement gives us a consistent national reach that will be essential to our growth as a sport," AVP Chief Executive Jason Hodell said in a statement. "The 2010 season will showcase the veterans and new stars of the AVP to a very large audience."
The sport is trying to build on momentum from last year's Beijing Summer Olympics, when the U.S. men's and women's teams, including fan favorites Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, won gold medals.
The weak U.S. economy has hurt all sports over the past year as fans cut back on games or spending at events, while corporate backers reduced what they spent on sponsorships and pricey tickets. Sponsorship revenue at AVP, which is owned by private equity firm RJSM Partners, was down double digits percentage wise last year." ~ Reuters.com
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