ALMS on ABC and ESPN in 2012

Four live broadcasts and four ABC shows complement live ESPN3 online programming

Following a successful 2011 season with ABC/ESPN which resulted in a double-digit increase in audience size, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n today unveiled its full broadcast schedule for the 2012 season, highlighted by four live broadcasts, four ABC broadcasts and an entire season of lap-by-lap coverage online.

Live broadcasts for 2012 include the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge on ABC in August. In addition, ESPN2 will air the Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix and Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport live. Additional races on ABC include the Series` opener, the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, the Baltimore Grand Prix and the ALMS finale from Road Atlanta: Petit Le Mans.

American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n 2012 TV schedule

All ALMS races and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live and in their entirety on ESPN3 and for viewers outside the U.S., via ALMS.com. The lone exception will be the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge, which will not be carried on ESPN3 during the live ABC broadcast. Races will remain archived for on-demand viewing at ESPN3 for three weeks following each race and on ALMS.com, for all users, indefinitely. Xbox owners are particularly lucky, as they can watch all ALMS races with an Xbox LIVE subscription and then stage their own race on Forza Motorsport 4 using popular cars and tracks from the Series. Fans can even watch ALMS races on the go with the WatchESPN app for smart phones and iPad.

"Thanks to our growing relationship with ABC and ESPN, we`ve answered our fans` desire for more live TV programming in 2012," ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton said. "The ALMS is fortunate to have a diverse fan base that consumes video in a variety of ways. The enhanced traditional TV package coupled with the live online programming gives our growing fan base a multitude of ways to watch the Series live and on-demand, while at the same time putting our world-class racing in front of new eyes, just as it did in 2011 when our audience grew by 67 percent."

Atherton added that he anticipated details on a very strong international broadcast package to be released shortly, including distribution via ESPN International among others.

The 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n begins with the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 17. The race, set for 10:30 a.m. ET, will broadcast March 18 on ABC at noon ET and will be shown live on ESPN3 (or ALMS.com outside the U.S.). Visit ALMS.com for information on tickets and area accommodations.