Universal Sports Network Expands to More Than 30 Million Households
2008-09-15 16:46:03 -
- 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 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- 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
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.
Encore of NBC's Olympic Games Coverage Kicks Off New Distribution
in Nine Top-Tier Markets Including Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and
Washington DC
