Verizon Wireless Makes ESPN's Summer X Games IX Sizzle With Hot Prizes and Cool Contests

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless provider and operator of the nation's best wireless network, takes it to the extreme this summer by co-sponsoring the definitive action sports event - ESPN's Summer X Games IX. Now through August 17, 2003, X Games fans and spectators can participate in cutting-edge, on-site technology demonstrations and TXT Messaging sweepstakes. Verizon Wireless' affiliation with the X Games is part of the company's ongoing effort to reach out to the young adult market and its marketing relationship with ESPN.

X Games fanatics can test their knowledge of X Games trivia with Verizon Wireless' TXT2WIN Sweepstakes, an interactive trivia challenge. Questions will be announced at the X Games and fans will be asked to TXT message for a chance to win cool prizes. Fans also get a chance to meet X Games' award-winning biker Tommy Clowers at the Verizon Wireless booth daily when he stops by to sign autographs and chat. Throughout the day at the Verizon Wireless booth, X Games die-hards can play the "Spin to Win" sweepstakes for a chance to win a LG VX6000 picture phone, Element skateboards and Tommy Clowers-autographed Motocross gear.

Want to grab some killer snaps at the X Games? Stop by the Verizon Wireless booth to check out the latest picture messaging-capable LG VX6000 handset, which lets users swap pictures with any other Verizon Wireless customer or e-mail address with just four easy clicks. Customers have the option to pay as they go for each picture message, $0.25 for each message sent or received, plus airtime, or select from bundled picture messaging Pix Paks of $2.99 per month for 20 messages, and only $0.25 for each additional message sent or received, plus airtime or $4.99 per month for 40 messages, and only $0.25 for each additional message sent or received, plus airtime.

Verizon Wireless offers the LG VX6000 for $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement. Verizon Wireless products and services are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating RadioShack locations and on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

From August 14-17, 2003, the ninth annual X Games in Los Angeles will showcase more than 300 of the world's best extreme action sports athletes competing in a variety of sports categories for medals and prize money. STAPLES Center will serve as the primary venue for the X Games, and will host competitions in Surfing, Bike Stunt, Moto X, Skateboard and downhill BMX riding.

For television schedules, complete prize information and general information on X Games IX, log on to the official public X Games site at www.expn.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 34.6 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About ESPN's X Games Franchise
ESPN, the worldwide leader in action sports, first developed its X Games franchise in 1995. The X Games, Winter X Games (Winter X Games VII in Aspen, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, 2003), EXPN 2Day, and the newly introduced X Games Global Championship (inaugural event set for May 2003) are just some of the original action sports programming currently shown on ESPN and ESPN2. The brand has also grown to include X Games Skateparks, ESPN's Ultimate X (large-format film), X Games products and more.

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring over 40 multimedia assets. The company comprises seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes (launching the end of 2003), ESPN Now, ESPN Today), ESPN HD (a high-definition simulcast service of ESPN), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (25 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN Broadband, ESPN Wireless, ESPN Video-on-Demand, and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

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