October 29, 2009

VIA FACSIMILE AND FIRST-CLASS MAIL

Mr. George Bodenheimer, President
Mr. Len DeLuca, Senior Vice President for Programming and Acquisitions
ESPN, Inc.
935 Middle Street
Bristol, CT 06010-1001

            Re: ESPN Coverage of Playoff PAC

As a week-old organization, Playoff PAC is flattered by the amount of air time that ESPN has spent discussing our group. We have been disappointed, though, that your network has thus far refused Playoff PAC any opportunity to respond to your commentators’ on-the-air statements about our organization, which include:

§         “This new political action committee championed by Orrin Hatch, among other politicos, is the biggest hot air hoax since we thought little Falcon was floating in that balloon.” (Rece Davis, College Football Extra Point, ESPN2, October 23, 2009).

§         “Supporters of a college football playoff have actually formed a political action committee to help elect legislators who also support a playoff. Forget health care. Even when they're really sick, all people really want is for their team to get a fair shot at the title.” (Stan Verritt, SportsCenter, ESPN, October 21, 2009).

§         As part of a discussion about Playoff PAC that is usually a point-counterpoint format, “As a taxpayer, I have very low expectations. I don't expect our congress to read a 1,500 page stimulus bill before they spend $787 billion we don't have. I don't expect them to read the 2,500 pages in the health bill before we spend a trillion dollars. I don't expect them to recognize how we went $1.4 trillion in debt in the last four months, but I expect them to read the 32 pages of the constitution, and I defy you to find somewhere in there where you should be worried about the BCS system.” (Lou Holtz, College Football Final, ESPN, October 25, 2009).

§         Again, as part of a discussion about Playoff PAC that is usually a point-counterpoint format, “And here is the bottom line. We expect our politicians to govern. We don't expect hem to be involved in entertainment or sports.” (Mark May, College Football Final, ESPN, October 25, 2009).

§         “It's been announced that a political action committee has been formed. Its goal, create enough pressure that the BCS system could be replaced by a playoff… I will rule in favor of Mr. May and Mr. Holtz and issue a restraining order for the politicians to stay out of college football. Court is adjourned. One time in the whole history of that that both of you [Mark May and Lou Holtz] leave happy. Have to do that more often.” (Rece Davis, College Football Final, ESPN, October 25, 2009).

To be clear, we are not complaining about criticism. That is to be expected in a political context. Our objection is that, despite this one-sided coverage and our repeated attempts to reach out to your network, ESPN has not afforded any opportunity to respond.

We assume that only mid-level managers have made the decision to exclude Playoff PAC—and any opposing dialogue on this issue—from your programs up until now. We wanted to alert you to this situation because you will realize that there are larger issues at stake for ESPN. We are confident that you recognize your responsibility to present all of the facts to your viewers. We are also hopeful that you will appreciate the need for ESPN to air opposing views and to demonstrate that you are not advancing the agenda of your new contract partners.

Sincerely,

Playoff PAC