Universal Sports Network Expands to More Than 30 Million Households
* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.
Encore of NBC's Olympic Games Coverage Kicks Off New Distribution
in Nine Top-Tier Markets Including Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and
Washington DC
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
Universal Sports, the preeminent multiplatform destination for
Olympic-related sports programming, announced today the addition of
nine new television markets, boosting its distribution to more than 30
million television households.
"Significantly adding to our market reach is a key component of
our plan for Universal Sports Network to be seen on a widespread
national scale," said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. "There is
a considerable appetite for coverage of Olympic-related sports and the
incredible athletes that compete as they progress toward the next
Olympic Games."
The Universal Sports Network will now be available in the
following markets, which includes coverage on the digital tiers of
nine NBC Universal owned-and-operated television stations:
-- New York
-- Los Angeles
-- Chicago
-- Philadelphia
-- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
-- Washington, D.C.
-- San Diego
-- Dallas-Ft. Worth
-- Hartford & New Haven
-- Omaha
-- Las Vegas
"We're delighted to add top quality content to our stations'
digital tiers that significantly enhances the entertainment experience
for our local viewers and brings even greater value to our
advertisers," added John Wallace, President of NBC Local Media.
ENCORE PRESENTATION OF BEIJING GAMES:
To kick off the distribution in these new markets, Universal
Sports Network will deliver encore presentations of NBC Universal's
coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games available through the end
of September.
"Expanding our distribution while providing a second chance to
watch the historic moments from the Beijing Olympic Games makes
Universal Sports Network the place where athletes and fans can truly
immerse themselves in the sports they love," said Claude Ruibal, CEO
of Universal Sports.
NBC Universal made U.S. television history with 214 million
viewers tuning into its presentation of the Beijing Olympic Games
(over the course of 17 days), and Universal Sports will let fans
relive the excitement with encore coverage of NBC Universal's 2008
Beijing Olympic Games. As part of the encore, Universal Sports Network
will create special theme nights catering to fans of particular
sports, such as swimming and gymnastics, where fans will be able to
catch the excitement of Beijing again.
Universal Sports Network will provide spotlights of Beijing's big
moments including Michael Phelps' unprecedented 8 gold medals, stellar
performances from U.S. beach volleyball champions Misty May-Treanor,
Kerri Walsh, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, as well as Nastia Liukin
winning the all-around gold in women's gymnastics among others. More
highlights include the U.S. men's volleyball team capturing an
emotional gold medal and Usain Bolt's epic sprint toward world records
in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4X100 meter relay.
Prime time highlights of Beijing Games Encore programming on
Universal Sports Network this week include:
(a) all start times ET
-0-
*T
Monday, Sept 15 8:00 p.m. Canoe / Kayak
9:00 p.m. Rowing - Single Sculls
9:30 p.m. Rowing - Women's 8's
10:00 p.m. Fencing Women's Individual Sabre
11:00 p.m. Women's Diving
Tuesday, Sept 16 8:00 p.m. Men's Gymnastics Team Finals
10:00 p.m. Fencing Women's Team Sabre
11:00 p.m. Women's Diving
Wednesday, Sept 17 8:00 p.m. Men's Gymnastics All Around
10:00 p.m. Men's Water Polo
11:00 p.m. Women's Track & Field
Thursday, Sept 18 8:00 p.m. Men's Gymnastics Individual
9:30 p.m. Men's Trampoline
10:00 p.m. Women's Water Polo
11:00 p.m. Women's Track & Field
Friday, Sept 19 8:00 p.m. Men's Basketball Gold Medal
10:00 p.m. Sync. Swimming - Duet Women
10:30 p.m. Sync. Swimming - Team Women
11:00 p.m. Women's Track & Field
Saturday, Sept 20 8:00 p.m. Women's Soccer Gold Medal
10:00 p.m. Men's Marathon
11:00 p.m. Women's Track & Field
Sunday, Sept 21 8:00 p.m. Michael Phelps Special
9:30 p.m. Rowing - Single Sculls
10:00 p.m. Gold Medal Moments
11:00 p.m. Men's Track & Field
*T
For more information on current encore programming schedules and
channel listings please visit www.UniversalSports.com.
About Universal Sports:
Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia
Partners, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for
Olympic-related and lifestyle sports programming. Universal Sports
Network and UniversalSports.com delivers an immersive experience via
exclusive live and on-demand coverage of world-class competitions
including encore coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2008
Beijing Paralympics, interaction with top athletes and in-depth access
to sports news and information year round.
Offering over 1,000 live events, with more than 7,000 hours of
annual original event programming including in excess of 5,000 hours
of archival programming, Universal Sports delivers the content sports
participants and fans want whenever, wherever they are. Whether in
front of the television, online, on a mobile device or listening to
satellite radio, Universal Sports provides comprehensive coverage of
more than 60 sports disciplines. Currently Universal Sports
holds exclusive long-term programming agreements across a number of
key International Sports Federations; including the International
Rowing Federation (FISA), International Swimming Federation (FINA),
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF),
International Ski Federation (FIS), the International Cycling Union
(UCI) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
Major championship and Olympic qualifying events found on
Universal Sports range from Track and Field, Skiing, Swimming,
Gymnastics and Cycling, to Volleyball, Karate and Taekwondo. Along
with event coverage, Universal Sports gives participants and fans a
complete value-added content offering, allowing them to interact with
their favorite world-class champions, as well as become familiar with
up-and-coming athletes through the site's blogs and interviews. For
more information, please visit www.UniversalSports.com.
About NBC Universal:
NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and
entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing
of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed
in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal
Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of
news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company,
significant television production operations, a leading television
stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%
owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.
NBC Universal Sports & Olympics presents viewers with a lineup of
prestigious sports properties. As America's Olympic Network, NBC will
bring television's most powerful property to hundreds of millions of
viewers through 2012, including the recently concluded 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing, which was watched by more than 214 million people to
make it the most viewed event in U.S. television history, the 2010
Vancouver Winter Games and the 2012 London Games. In September 2006,
NBC kicked off "NBC Sunday Night Football," the premier primetime game
of the week. The unprecedented six-year NFL deal, which includes
innovative flexible scheduling, continues through the 2011 season with
Super Bowls in 2009 and 2012. NBC's associations with the USGA, PGA of
America and PGA TOUR were all recently extended: the USGA and PGA of
America through 2014 and PGA TOUR through 2012. Under the agreements,
NBC Sports more than doubled its golf coverage beginning in 2007 and
broadcast premier events such as the U.S. Open, Ryder Cup, The Players
Championship, The Presidents Cup and the final three season-ending PGA
TOUR Championship Series events featuring The Tour Championship.
Other premier NBC Sports properties include Notre Dame football,
Wimbledon, the French Open, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness
Stakes. NBC Sports and the NHL entered a revenue sharing partnership
in 2004. The network presents regional regular season coverage,
Stanley Cup playoff games and primetime coverage of Games 3-7 of the
Stanley Cup Final. In February 2004, NBC Sports announced the
breakthrough AST, a five-month pro tour of action sports.
The NBC Sports Digital Network consists of a powerful group of web
and mobile platforms that reach sports fans wherever and whenever they
want. On the web, NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com, UniversalSports.com,
Rotoworld.com and Sandbox.com offer video, breaking news, biting
commentary and insightful analysis, photos, standings, in-depth
features, fantasy sports news and information, fantasy games, social
tools and NBC Sports' coverage of major professional and amateur
sports. On your phone, NBC Sports Mobile delivers live streaming
sporting events, up-the-minute scores, schedules, photos and more.
Universal Sports
T.K. Gore, 240-396-1907
tkgore@wcsn.com
or
mPRm Public Relations
Bret Ingraham for Universal Sports
323-933-3399
bingraham@mprm.com
or
NBC Sports
Adam Freifeld, 212-664-6772
adam.freifeld@nbcuni.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
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