ESPN�S SECOND DRAMATIC SERIES: TILT

JANUARY DEBUT; WORLD SERIES OF POKER THE SETTING

In January, ESPN will debut its next scripted dramatic series, Tilt, set at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Tilt will be aired on Thursday nights beginning January 13 at 9 p.m. ET, with one-hour shows that will explore the drama of high-stakes gambling, as well as the action away from the table where greed and revenge fuel conflict, power plays and deal making.

�The launch of our next drama underscores ESPN�s commitment to scripted entertainment,� said Mark Shapiro, ESPN executive vice president, programming and production. �Capitalizing on the incredible popularity of the World Series of Poker and PLAYMAKERS, Tilt promises to put the audience at the table and into the lives of the characters.�

Brian Koppelman and David Levien wrote and will direct the pilot episode. They will also serve as executive producers and write a number of the episodes for the ESPN Original Entertainment series. Koppelman and Levien wrote the screenplay for Runaway Jury, last year�s adaptation of the John Grisham novel starring Gene Hackman, John Cusack and Dustin Hoffman, and wrote Rounders, the 1998 film which starred Matt Damon and Edward Norton which also focused on poker. They also wrote and directed Knockaround Guys which starred Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, John Malkovich and Dennis Hopper.

Tilt will take place in Las Vegas in the days leading up to the World Series of Poker. The viewer will see an inside look at this sometimes glamorous and sometimes dangerous world through the eyes of the players. In addition to the competition in cards, the central characters will battle for control, money and fame.

ESPN ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT
ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) was created in January 2001 to develop a wide-variety of branded programming to supplement the network�s traditional event and sports news coverage. On September 25, EOE will present Hustle, a movie based on the life of Pete Rose and on December 11, 3 will focus on legendary driver Dale Earnhardt.

Since it began July 6, the 2004 World Series of Poker has averaged a 1.5 rating for 14 episodes on ESPN. ESPN�s first scripted dramatic series, PLAYMAKERS, averaged a 1.9 rating for 11 episodes August - November 2003, including a 2.2 average for men 18-34.