NBC and ESPN Radio each win Media Eclipse Awards

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - NBC Sports and ESPN Radio have each been recognized with 2009 Media Eclipse Awards as voted on by the NTRA, National Turf Writers Association and Daily Racing Form.

NBC Sports won the Media Eclipse Award in the National Television Feature programming category for its documentary "The Story of Mine That Bird, 50-1". The documentary aired at the beginning of the Preakness Stakes telecast on Saturday, May 16, 2009.

"In conversations with Sam Flood (NBC Sports Coordinating Producer), we had to tell the story of a how a 50-1 longshot came to win the Derby, said co- producer Rob Hyland. "There were so many layers of the story, filled with high drama, that we needed to let the viewers know.

"Telling this story is the true essence of horse racing. It reminds us that anything can happen on any given day. For me, personally, it's a true honor to win an Eclipse Award because my wife's father is a horse trainer." Hyland's father-in law is Michael Matz who trained 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

NBC previously won the National Television Feature Media Eclipse Award in 2002 and 2005.

ESPN Radio won the Media Eclipse Award in the Audio/Multi-Media Internet category for its live coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3.

"We're thrilled and gratified to win the Eclipse Award," said John Martin, Sr. Director and Executive Producer of ESPN Radio Event Production. "It's a tremendous honor for ESPN radio and everyone who worked on the broadcast. Radio is theatre of the mind. What we try to do with the Derby is to convey to the listener just how great it is to be part of what is transpiring - the ambient sound of the jockeys, trainers and the fans."

The 39th Annual Eclipse Awards will be held on Monday, January 18, 2009 at the at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.