Working with ESPN Channel to Promote Taiwan Tourism

Taiwan's Tourism Bureau has recently reached an agreement with ESPN in the United States to produce a special series of documentary shorts on Wang Chien-ming in 2007. The production aims to focus on the background and establishment of the famous baseball star, and to use his outstanding performance as a professional baseball pitcher in the American major leagues to draw international attention to Taiwan's spectacular scenery, fine cuisine and other unique tourist attractions. The goal of the production is to forge an alluring image of Taiwan tourism in the baseball-loving United States.

Wang Chien-ming scored 19 wins in the United States in 2006 -- a record that was equaled by only one other pitcher -- drawing intense interest from the American sports media and sports-loving public. When the post-season games were broadcast, the programs showed local maps of Taiwan and Wang's home county of Tainan, arousing a high level of interest in the United States about the land where Wang was born and educated. This is the reason why the documentary series is to be produced -- to give Wang's fans in the United States a deeper understanding about his homeland, Taiwan, and to help them learn more about the island's beautiful tourist environment.

The production is expected to follow Wang Chien-ming from the time of his first contact with baseball up to his 19-win series in 2006. The entire production consists of eight to ten three-minute shorts, and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2007. The series will be aired throughout the American area on the "ESPN Baseball Tonight" program, under the sponsorship of the Tourism Bureau, from June to October 2007. It will also be broadcast on the ESPN channel during prime time in Taiwan. Prior to the first broadcast of the series, a joint press conference will be held by the Tourism Bureau and ESPN.