ESPN announced a significant long-term plans to expand the X Games on a global basis. Beginning in 2013, ESPN will stage six world-class X Games events around the world – two in the US and four events outside the US. ESPN is putting significant resources and focus behind this push for expansion outside the US market and will bring the most prestigious action sports competition to cities and countries around the world. The X Games will continue to showcase and celebrate action sports competition while also showcasing the artistic and social elements inherent in the action sports lifestyle and youth culture. With the announcement, ESPN will conduct a formal bid process to determine the X Games host cities. In addition to the current events in Los Angeles, Aspen and Tignes, France where ESPN is partnered with Canal+, ESPN will add three international events which will be selected through the bid process. Final cities will be selected in 2012 for a three-year agreement and will work with ESPN to stage the event. Along with a commitment to distribute 130 hours of live TV coverage of the six X Games events throughout all of ESPN networks in the US and around the world annually, a year-round action sports website will also help support the appetite for premier action sports content.