ESPN’s Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research – in its ninth year across all domestic ESPN platforms to drive awareness of and donations to The V Foundation for Cancer Research – begins on Wednesday, Dec. 2 through Tuesday, Dec. 8. Last year, Jimmy V Week raised a record $2.23 million, bringing the eight-year total of contributions to more than $10.5 million.
“For two decades ESPN has shared the many stories of hope and inspiration during Jimmy V Week, while reflecting on Jim Valvano’s motivating words,” said John Skipper, President, ESPN. “Since losing our colleague Stuart Scott this year to cancer, ESPN has recommitted its efforts with the V Foundation to fight against this horrible disease that impacts us all. The continued response from sports fans each year to this important initiative is both meaningful and moving.”
Highlights
- Simulcast of former NC State coach Jim Valvano’s 1993 ESPYS speech on Wednesday, Dec. 2, with excerpts from ESPN SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott’s 2014 ESPYS speech, will air simultaneously across ESPN networks
- The 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter on Sunday, Dec. 6, will air Scott’s ESPYS speech in its entirety
- Presentation of the Jimmy V Men’s and Women’s Basketball Classics
- Integration in Monday Night Football, NBA on ESPN, MLS Cup and college sports programming
- Features and vignettes in game telecasts and studio programming across platforms
- Activation across ESPN and The V Foundation social media platforms
- Special graphics, including the Jimmy V Week logo and the on-screen watermark
- The Empire State Building will be illuminated in blue in celebration of V Week on Monday, Dec. 7
Jimmy V Roadblock
The week launches with a simulcast of Valvano’s 1993 ESPYs speech across ESPN domestic media networks at 7 p.m. ET. The simulcast of the speech includes an excerpt from Scott’s 2014 ESPYS speech.
- It will air on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, Longhorn Network and WatchESPN
- Additionally, PacRim and ESPN2 Caribbean will carry the Roadblock
- It will also be available throughout Jimmy V Week on ESPN.com and ESPN3
- A captioned Roadblock will also be available on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square and from all Disney Resort rooms on Wednesday
Jimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics presented by Corona
Jimmy V Week concludes with the two annual Classics, which will include several check presentations totaling over $1 million in donations.
- Three-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Connecticut hosts No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN
- The men’s event will showcase four top college basketball programs – No. 20 West Virginia vs. No. 10 Virginia and No. 2 Maryland vs. UConn on Tuesday, Dec. 8. ESPN and ESPN Radio will offer both games from New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden in New York City, beginning at 7 p.m.
- College GameDay Covered by State Farm will be live for the first time from the Jimmy V Men’s Classic
- The ABC SuperSign will air the men’s Classic from its Time Square location
Game Telecast Integration
The custom PSAs and Jimmy V Week content, graphics and executions will appear on Monday Night Football, NBA on ESPN, the MLS Cup and college sports programming throughout the initiative.
- Monday Night Football integration will include the Monday, Dec. 7, game, when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Redskins
- A NBA doubleheader showcasing the Brooklyn Nets at the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, Dec. 4
- Part of the MLS Cup on Sunday, Dec. 6, on ESPN
- The ACC/Big Ten Challenge presented by The United States Marine Corps on Wednesday, Dec. 2, as well as many regular-season games from ESPN’s extensive men’s and women’s basketball coverage through Tuesday, Dec. 8
- Throughout the Women’s College Cup on Friday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 6, on ESPNU
- During ESPN’s coverage of the final weekend of college football, regular-season hockey and high school basketball games
Vignettes & PSA Integration
- Our Fight Is Your Fight: The emotionally-charged vignettes are from the view of real cancer patients and their support system showing the raw emotion that comes from a cancer diagnosis, going through radiation/chemo and finally being in remission
- A replay of Valvano’s speech with ABC’s Robin Roberts and a host of athletes, coaches, celebrities and ESPN personalities reciting his memorable words in features will air during the week
Scott’s ESPYS speech will air in its entirety during the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter on Sunday, Dec. 6, and the 4:15 p.m. NFL Live on Tuesday, Dec. 8. In addition, Jimmy V Week integration will be included across multiple ESPN studio and ESPN Radio programming with content and special guests.
Additionally, ESPN Classic will carry 17 memorable NC State games, Jimmy V’s iconic speech and reairs of the 30 for 30 documentary Survive and Advance over a four-day period. The story – which will lead into the Roadblock on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 – focuses on the 1982-83 college basketball season with Jim Valvano and his North Carolina State Wolfpack.
ESPN BottomLine
Across all ESPN networks, the BottomLine will encourage viewers to join ESPN and The V Foundation in the fight against cancer
- Calling (800) 4-JIMMY-V or visiting Jimmyv.org
- The message will also run in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, in addition to messaging on Longhorn Network