MUMBAI: US sports broadcaster ESPN has launched its first free, downloadable video podcasts available daily via the ESPN PodCenter and soon to be available via the iTunes Store.

The first video podcast offerings include a downloadable version of the ESPN.com SportsCenter Minute, the "Big Finish" from ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption (PTI), the First Word segment from ESPN’s Around The Horn, ESPN Digital Media’s "Fantasy Focus" daily original fantasy sports news and analysis program (also available daily on ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile TV), and the "Mike & Mike Moment" from the popular morning radio and television programme.

Each podcast is between two and seven minutes in length, in MPEG-4 format, and can be watched on fans’ computers or on portable digital devices.

ESPN New Media senior VP John Kosner says, "Sports fans want their video everywhere they are and on any device. Through downloadable video, online video at ESPN.com and on your phone, plus live and on-demand events on ESPN360.com, we continue to bring fans the very best content in sports."

ESPN video podcasting launches in the midst of ESPN’s industry-leading success with audio podcasts and on-demand digital radio initiatives. Since beginning its first audio podcast in July 2005, ESPN has expanded to produce more than 30 original and edited podcasts that account for more than four million downloads each month by more than one million unique users on ESPN’s PodCenter and the iTunes Store.

AndoMedia Web Metrics reported that from January through March, the total amount of time sports fans spent listening to ESPN podcasts equaled 24 years, 308 days and 19 hours.

Like ESPN audio podcasts, ESPN video podcasts will be ad-supported. Since the launch of audio podcasts, advertising for ESPN audio podcasts has grown by more than 200 per cent, driven by sponsorship and advertising from major marketers including: OnStar by GM, AT&T, AutoZone, Nivea For Men, Lamisil AT, Progressive Auto Insurance and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

In addition to free, ad-supported video podcasts, ESPN also offers commercial-free premium downloadable programmes and complete recent and classic games via iTunes, including packages of content tied to great college sports rivalries like North Carolina versus Duke basketball and Ohio State versus Michigan football, major sports events like The Rose Bowl, original ESPN events like the X Games, and ESPN Original Entertainment programming like The World Series of Poker and The Contender