Professional Bowlers Association

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) and ESPN announced today the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour television schedule which features 21 telecasts. All but one show – the Dydo Japan Cup – will be televised live on ESPN and each will run 90 minutes. “We are very much looking forward to our sixth season on ESPN as the network continues to support the PBA and the sport of bowling,” said PBA Commissioner and CEO Fred Schreyer. “Both the PBA and ESPN strive to make the telecast better each season, and we are confident we will continue to expand our viewership in the 2006-07 season through our partnership with ESPN.” For the first time since 1998, the finals of the Japan Cup will be aired. The final round – which takes place Sunday, September 24 in Tokyo, Japan – will be replayed on ESPN Sunday, October 22 at 1 p.m. ET. The first live telecast of the season will take place one week later on Sunday, October 29 at 1 p.m. ET with the finals of the 2006 USBC Masters in Milwaukee, Wis., the first of four Major events. Each of the first 12 telecasts will begin in the same 1 p.m. ET time slot. “The PBA is a strong property for ESPN and continues to show steady audience growth,” said Mike Ryan, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. “We look forward to beginning our sixth season of extensive coverage and returning the Dydo Japan Cup back to television.” The second half of the 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour television schedule includes three Major events, starting with the 64th U.S. Open in North Brunswick, N.J., Sunday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m. ET. Last season, Tommy Jones won his first career Major title when he won the 63rd U.S. Open which propelled him to the 2006 PBA Player of the Year Award. Three weeks later, the finals of the 2007 Denny’s World Championship will be televised Sunday, March 25 at 2 p.m. ET. Walter Ray Williams Jr. won last season’s Denny’s World Championship in dramatic fashion, knocking off fellow PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber to capture his record-tying 41st Denny’s PBA Tour title. The 2006-07 Denny’s PBA Tour season concludes with the 2007 Tournament of Champions telecast Sunday, April 1 at 1 p.m. ET live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Tournament		Dates				ESPN Telecast*
Dydo Japan Cup 2006		Sept. 19-24				Sunday, Oct. 22
Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center						1 p.m.
Tokyo, Japan (Finals at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium)
USBC Masters		Oct. 22-29				Sunday, Oct. 29
AMF Bowlero Lanes						1 p.m.
Wauwatosa, WI
Motor City Classic		Nov. 1-5				Sunday, Nov. 5
Taylor Lanes						1 p.m.
Taylor, MI
Empire State Classic		Nov. 8-12				Sunday, Nov. 12
AMF Thruway Lanes						1 p.m.
Cheektowaga, NY
Lake County Indiana Classic		Nov. 15-19				Sunday, Nov. 19
Stardust Bowl I						1 p.m.
Hammond, IN
Discover® Card Windy City Classic		Nov. 22-26				Sunday, Nov. 26
Hawthorn Lanes						1 p.m.
Vernon Hills, IL
Ace Hardware Championship		Nov. 29-Dec. 3				Sunday, Dec. 3
Freeway Lanes of Wickliffe						1 p.m.
Wickliffe, OH
Beltway Classic		Dec. 6-10				Sunday, Dec. 10
AMF Country Club Lanes						1 p.m.
Baltimore, MD
Columbia 300 Classic		Dec. 13-17				Sunday, Dec. 17
AMF Babylon Lanes						1 p.m.
West Babylon, N.Y.
H&R Block Classic		Jan. 3-7				Sunday, Jan. 7
National Bowling Stadium						1 p.m.
Reno, NV
Earl Anthony Medford Classic		Jan. 10-14				Sunday, Jan. 14
Lava Lanes						1 p.m.
Medford, OR
Dick Weber Open		Jan. 16-21				Sunday, Jan. 21
Fountain Bowl						1 p.m.
Fountain Valley, CA
Motel 6 Classic		Jan. 24-28				Sunday, Jan. 28
Strike Zone at Sunset Station						12:30 p.m.
Henderson, NV
Sun City Classic		Jan. 31-Feb. 4				Sunday, Feb. 4
Oasis Lanes						2 p.m.
El Paso, TX
GEICO Classic		Feb. 7-11				Sunday, Feb. 11
AMF Irving Lanes						12:30 p.m.
Irving, TX
Hawkeye State Classic		Feb. 14-18				Sunday, Feb. 18
Thunderbowl						12:30 p.m.
Council Bluffs, IA
Mountain State Classic		Feb. 21-25				Sunday, February 25
Emerson Lanes						12:30 p.m.
Parkersburg, W.V.
64th U.S. Open		Feb. 25-March 4				Sunday, March 4
Brunswick Zone Carolier						12:30 p.m.
North Brunswick, NJ
Pepsi Championship		March 14-18				Sunday, March 18
Woodland Bowl						12:30 p.m.
Indianapolis, IN
Denny’s World Championship		March 18-25				Sunday, March 25
Spectrum Lanes						2 p.m.
Wyoming, MI
PBA Tournament of Champions		March 28-April 1				Sunday, April 1
Bradley Bowl						1 p.m.
Windsor Locks, CT (Finals at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT)
*All Times Eastern
Subject to Change