Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

Archives for April 2010

SIRIUS XM Radio To Broadcast Quail Hollow Championship Live Nationwide

By

SIRIUS XM RADIO TO BROADCAST

QUAIL HOLLOW CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE NATIONWIDE

PGA TOUR Network channel offers live hole-by-hole coverage April 29 – May 2 from Charlotte, NC

Quail Hollow field includes top-ranked players Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk

NEW YORK – April 26, 2010 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that it will offer live coverage of the Quail Hollow Championship Thursday, April 29, through Sunday, May 2, on The PGA TOUR Network, available nationwide on XM channel 146 and on SIRIUS channel 209 with the “Best of XM” programming package.

SIRIUS XM’s coverage will include live play-by-play from Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC, plus comprehensive analysis by PGA TOUR Network hosts who will cover a field of competitors that will include World #1 Tiger Woods, who won at Quail Hollow in 2007 and will be making his second start of the 2010 season, World #2 and 2010 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson, 2006 Quail Hollow winner Jim Furyk, World #4 Lee Westwood, and many others.

Gary Williams will host the live tournament coverage on the PGA TOUR Network alongside lead analyst and former PGA TOUR member John Maginnes.  From inside the ropes, listeners will hear hole-by-hole updates from on-course reporters Matt Adams, Michael Collins and Bill Rosinski.

Live coverage will start Thursday through Sunday at 12:00 pm ET and will continue until the conclusion of play.  Each day’s live on-course coverage will be followed by a wrap-up of the day’s action on PGA TOUR Replay.

In addition to the live play-by-play, SIRIUS XM listeners will hear daily talk and analysis by The PGA TOUR Network’s lineup of expert hosts.

On Tuesday, April 27, PGA TOUR member Chris DiMarco and Greg Warmoth host a new edition of their weekly show oPINionated (5:00 pm ET).  The show replays several times throughout the week.

Each weekday morning listeners can tune in to Fairways of LIfe (7:00 – 9:00 am ET), hosted by Matt Adams, followed by Teed Off (9:00 – 11:00 am ET), hosted by Brian Katrek, then Making The Turn (11:00 am – noon ET) with Peter Kessler.  All shows will feature in-depth analysis of The Quail Hollow Championship, plus one-on-one interviews with some of the sport’s biggest personalities.

For more information on The PGA TOUR Network and a schedule of tournament coverage and daily talk shows, visit www.xmradio.com.

As the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the PGA TOUR, SIRIUS XM Radio offers live coverage of PGA TOUR events plus comprehensive coverage of the world of professional golf.

###

ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Draft Ever Among Viewers

By

ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Draft Ever Among Viewers

ESPN’s live three-day telecast of the 2010 NFL Draft – including the first two nights in prime time for the first time – was the most-watched NFL Draft ever among viewers and the second most-watched ever among households in the network’s 31 years televising the event.  Overall, the 14.5 hours of 2010 NFL Draft coverage on ESPN and ESPN2 averaged 2,853,000 households and 3,717,000 viewers (based on fast nationals) — up 24% and 27%, respectively from last year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The 2010 Draft finished just 2,000 households shy of the record-setting 2006 audience (2,855,000 households).

On Friday night, ESPN’s one-hour of coverage (6-7 p.m. ET) for the start of Round 2 delivered a 2.6 rating, 2,534,000 households, and 3,152,000 viewers.  Coverage continued on ESPN2 from 7-10:30 p.m., delivering a 2.6 rating, 2,606,000 households, and 3,369,000 viewers. Together, the two networks averaged 2,590,000 households and 3,320,000 viewers Friday night – up 10% and 6%, respectively, for Round 2 a year ago.

ESPN’s day-long coverage on Saturday (10 a.m.-5:19 p.m.) delivered a 1.8 household rating, a 13% increase from a 1.6 for the corresponding coverage (on Sunday) in 2009.

As previously reported, ESPN’s Thursday night telecast (7:30-11:20 p.m. ET) of Round 1 delivered a 5.3 rating and 7,290,000 viewers, 23% higher than last year’s first round (4.3). Also, the telecast equaled the 5.3 rating from ESPN’s first round in 2006 and surpassed that year’s viewership mark of 5,925,000.

Highest-Rated of the 56 Metered Markets:

Friday on ESPN (6-7 p.m.):

  1. Cleveland – 7.5
  2. New Orleans – 6.2
  3. Kansas City – 6.1
  4. Columbus, Ohio – 5.2
  5. Austin, Texas – 4.2

Friday on ESPN2 (7-10:30 p.m.):

  1. Greenville, S.C. – 6.5
  2. Washington, DC – 5.9
  3. Portland, Oregon – 5.5
  4. Hartford/New Haven, Conn. – 4.6
  5. Birmingham, Ala. – 4.1

Saturday on ESPN (10 a.m. – 5:19 p.m.):

  1. Phoenix – 4.0
  2. Dayton, Ohio – 3.6
  3. Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. – 3.6
  4. Houston – 3.0
  5. Atlanta – 2.9

-30-

24/7 MAYWEATHER/MOSLEY – Episode #3

By

24/7 MAYWEATHER/MOSLEY: APRIL 24 EPISODE

Episode #3

Debut:  SATURDAY, APRIL 24 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates:  April 24 (1:15 a.m.), 25 (10:30 a.m.) 26 (11:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m., midnight), 27 (2:30 p.m.), 28 (9:30 p.m., 2:00 a.m.), 29 (midnight) and 30 (8:00 p.m.), and May 1 (10:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  April 25 (11:00 p.m.), 27 (9:30 p.m.) and 30 (2:00 a.m.), and May 1 (5:00 p.m.)

HBO On Demand availability begins:  April 26

The two men who shaped Floyd Mayweather’s fighting career are profiled.  As the May 1 welterweight pay-per-view showdown nears, the action in Shane Mosley’s camp at Big Bear heats up under the watchful eye of his trainer, Naazim Richardson.

The finale of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/MOSLEY debuts Friday, April 30 (8:30-9:00 p.m.), just one night before the super showdown.  All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.

On Saturday, May 1 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Mayweather vs. Mosley,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The executive producers of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/MOSLEY are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Scott Boggins; producers, Jon Crystal and Bentley Weiner; writer, Aaron Cohen.  Liev Schreiber narrates.

Futbol On Mun2 Presents Tigres Vs. Pachuca Live And In English This Saturday April 24 At 7:55pm Et, 4:55 Pt

By

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Universal City, CA – April 23, 2010 – fútbol on mun2 presents, La Liga Mexicana Tigres vs. Pachuca soccer match, live and in English this Saturday April 24th at 7:55pm ET, 4:55pm PT, only on mun2.

All eyes will be on Monterrey, Mexico as Tigres looks to spoil the hopes of Pachuca.  Los Tuzos come to town desperate for a win in order to have a chance to advance to the playoffs.

This game serves as a quest for a victory for both Tigres and Pachuca, since this weekend closes off the regular season of El Bicentenario 2010.  The home team, Tigres is looking to reconcile with their fans after their home loss in Round 12. Pachuca must win in order to obtain a spot in the playoffs.

It won’t be easy.  Los Tuzos del Pachuca have yet to win a match at El Estadio Universitario, Tigres’ home stadium.  Tigres and Pachuca have played against each other 29 times, of which Pachuca has won nine, Tigres six, and 14 were ties.

Players to Watch:

Tigres’ defender, Jesus Antonio Molina and forward, Itamar Batista have each scored five goals in this Bicentenario and serve as threats for the opposing offense.  The talented mid-fielder, Lucas Lobos has recovered from an injury and has returned in full force, as was evident in his last Tigres match where he scored despite the match being away from home.

For Pachuca, the visiting team, Damian Manzo is a notable player.  He has scored six goals in this Bicentenario.  Edgar Benitez and Ulises Mendivil will also be handling offense.

Visit holamun2.com/futbol to vote on who you think will win.

###

“Tim Tebow’s winning trumps Jimmy Clausen’s talent.” — MARSHALL FAULK on Broncos selecting QB Tim Tebow No. 25 overall — Quotes from NFL Network’s Day 1 Coverage of 2010 NFL Draft Presented by Verizon

By

NFL NETWORK DRAFT COVERAGE RECAP – DAY 1

NFL TOTAL ACCESS AT THE 2010 NFL DRAFT

DRAFT COVERAGE QUOTES:

“Tim Tebow’s winning trumps Jimmy Clausen’s talent.” – Marshall Faulk on Broncos selecting QB Tim Tebow  No. 25 overall over QB Jimmy Clausen

“They are not booing, they are ‘Suh-ing.’” – Mike Mayock on the Detroit Lions picking Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick

“Suh is expected to restore the roar for the Lions.” – Rich Eisen

“A good pick by the Raiders.” – Mike Mayock on the Raiders selecting Alabama LB Rolando McClain

“If there ever was a head you want to put a big piece of cheese on, that’s the guy (Bulaga) right there.” – Mike Mayock on Green Bay drafting Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga

“Kyle Wilson is a tremendous value at No. 29.” – Mike Mayock on New York Jets’ selection of CB Kyle Wilson at No. 29

“Who needs excitement more than the Detroit Lions? No one.” – Michael Irvin on the Lions selection of RB Jahvid Best at No. 30 overall

“That’s been one busy intersection tonight.” – Rich Eisen on NFL Network’s NFL draft theme, ‘The Grand Crossroads of Hope’

To view NFL Network’s draft open theme, ‘The Grand Crossroads of Hope,’ narrated by Academy Award-Winning actor Chris Cooper, please visit: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d817b4f49

NFL Network brings fans wall-to-wall coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft. Day two coverage with rounds two and three begins Friday at 11:00 AM ET with Path to the Draft Presented by GMC and Total Access at the NFL Draft Presented by Lexus, followed by the 2010 NFL Draft Presented by Verizon at 6:00 PM ET. Tomorrow’s pre-draft coverage includes the fourth and final installment of Mike Mayock’s exclusive interview with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Saturday’s coverage of rounds four through seven begins at 9:00 AM ET.

NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.

– NFL Network –

Broad Street Bullies premieres May 4 on HBO

By

BROAD STREET BULLIES, THE HBO SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

ABOUT THE LEGENDARY CHAMPIONSHIP HOCKEY TEAM,

DEBUTS MAY 4 DURING THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

The HBO Sports documentary BROAD STREET BULLIES, a look at one of pro sport’s most polarizing teams, the legendary Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup championship squads of the 1970s, debuts TUESDAY, MAY 4 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT) during the Stanley Cup playoffs.  This exclusive presentation tells the backstories of these engaging and colorful athletes, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 with a bold, aggressive style that sparked controversy and criticism.

Other HBO playdates:  May 4 (2:35 a.m.), 8 (11:00 a.m. ET only/10:30 a.m. PT only/3:20 a.m. PT only), 10 (8:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m.), 12 (noon), 20 (6:00 p.m., 4:20 a.m.), 23 (9:00 a.m., 11:00 p.m.) and 25 (8:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  May 13 (8:30 a.m., 10:00 p.m.), 15 (3:30 p.m.), 17 (4:00 p.m.), 26 (1:10 a.m.) and 30 (11:30 p.m.)

HBO On Demand availability:  May 5-June 7

“This film explores how a group of characters, who also happened to be an extraordinarily talented collection of hockey players that enjoyed contact on the ice, formed one of the most prominent and controversial teams in pro sports history,” says Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports.  “We are going to re-trace the steps that led to the love affair between the city and the team, and show how to this day these players are revered in Philadelphia and despised elsewhere.”

Playing before adoring fans at the Spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers rose to prominence in the 1970s under the guidance of shrewd coach Freddie Shero.  With larger-than-life figures like Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Bernie Parent, Ed Van Impe, Bill Clement, Rick MacLeish, “Moose” Dupont, Bob Kelly, Joe Watson and Gary Dornhoefer, the team won many games, fought in just about all of them and made numerous enemies.  The club’s popularity soared as their physically imposing and sometimes bloody style generated headlines across North America.

Although the franchise did not exist until 1967, the team rose to national prominence in just a few short years, and some NHL teams would see their home attendance double when the Flyers came to town.  The club became a favorite of other hardscrabble cities and towns where blue-collar communities were taking an economic beating.

In a bizarre twist, singer Kate Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America” became the Flyers’ good luck charm.  Eventually, the team that showcased players with gap-toothed grins, funny hair and goofy nicknames evolved into one of the NHL’s elite franchise.  In 1976, the Flyers engaged the vaunted Soviet Central Red Army team in the finale of an exhibition series that would do little to ease the cold war tension between the two nations.

BROAD STREET BULLIES interviews include former Flyers standouts Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Bill Clement, Gary Dornhoefer, Bob Kelly, Bernie Parent, Ed Van Impe, Don Saleksi, Orest Kindrachuk, Bobby Taylor, Joe Watson and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz; team founder and chairman Ed Snider; former NHL stars Phil Esposito, Terry O’Reilly and Larry Robinson; radio personalities Howard Eskin and Anthony Gargano; former NHL director of broadcasting Stu Hackel; journalists Jay Greenberg, Frank Orr, Jack Chevalier and Mark Mulvoy; Flyers historian Bruce Cooper; and former director of NHL officiating Bryan Lewis.

The executive producers of BROAD STREET BULLIES are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer is Joe Lavine; produced by George Roy; Erik Kesten is the writer; Brian Keane scored the music; Liev Schreiber is the narrator.

Highlights of BROAD STREET BULLIES:

The Flyers’ Bob Kelly, nicknamed “Machine Gun Kelly”:  “I always had a lot of energy, so I like to expand it, and there’s nothing like driving somebody’s head through the boards to make you feel good.”

The Flyers’ Gary Dornhoefer on joining the Philadelphia expansion team: “First of all, I had to take a good look at a map to see where the heck Philadelphia was.”

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin writer Jay Greenberg on the team’s birth:  “They had a reception at city hall for them, and they put them in open convertibles for a ride down Broad Street.  There were no more than 20 people on the parade route.”

Flyers founder and chairman Ed Snider on the team’s growing pains:  “We realized that we would have to become tougher, stronger and bigger.  And we may not be able to win a lot of games as we’re growing but we certainly didn’t have to get beat up.  So we decided that no team would ever intimidate us, ever again.  And we conducted our drafts, and we conducted our philosophy in that direction.”

The Flyers’ Bill Clement:  “When Schultzie [Dave “The Hammer” Schultz] got to the Flyers, it all changed.  He became the hunter.  We had the baddest animal in the hockey jungle.  And never even had a fight before he turned pro.”

Sports Illustrated writer Mark Mulvoy:  “It was all part of the game plan, it was all part of the strategy, which is to go out and just annihilate people, and by annihilating them, we’re going to render them ineffective, and that’s how we’re going to win.  And it worked.”

The Flyers’ Bobby Taylor on goaltender Bernie Parent’s eccentricities:  “He always had to have his nap in the afternoon with his German Shepherd dog.  He loved to smell things.  If you bought a new pair of shoes, oh my god, he was all over you.  ‘Ah, I love the smell of new leather.’  I mean he had his nose in your shoes…what?”

Flyers goalie Bernie Parent:  “I’m a firm believer in life that if you’re happy, happy things will happen to you.”

Philadelphia sports radio personality Howard Eskin:  “These guys not only were fun, they were a part of the community.  They were part of the people.”

Flyers historian Bruce Cooper on Flyers head coach Fred Shero:  “Freddy was a mystery.  He basically didn’t talk to the players.  The way he communicated with them is he left little notes in their locker, wrote things on the blackboard.”

Radio personality Anthony Gargano:  “That team personified the city so well.  The little side streets of Philadelphia.  All the kids on each street had their own team.  Sure enough, there’d be a fight – two kids are going at it.”

Ed Snider on winning the Stanley Cup:  “Who could have thought that a hockey team would draw over two million people to a parade?”

The Flyers’ Don Saleksi on Bobby Clarke, the heart and soul of the Bullies:  “An ultimate warrior.  He would leave it all out there.  Every minute of every game.”

Former NHL director of broadcasting Stu Hackel:  “Bobby Clarke was one of the most inspirational players ever.  He’s also one of the filthiest players ever.”

Bill Clement:  “We were just ultimate fighters without the cage around us.”

Former director of NHL officiating Bryan Lewis on the expanded NHL rulebook:  “I can’t give the Philadelphia Flyers total credit for making the book be this thick versus what it used to be, but I can say this and guarantee it…they definitely played a part in some of it.”

Stu Hackel:  “Every team would go out and try to find a couple of guys who’d stand up for their team against the Flyers.  So this arms race began.”

Journalist Frank Orr:  “To the purists they represented everything evil about the game.  They were a disgrace.”

Flyer forward Bill Clement:  “Our legacy now is exactly what it was then…loved in one part of the world, and hated everywhere else.  And there isn’t an apologetic bone in my body or anybody else’s body on our team.”

###

NHL On NBC Ratings Up 10%, Canadian Partners All Show Increases Adding To Hot Start For Stanley Cup Playoffs

By

NHL ON NBC RATINGS UP 10%, CANADIAN PARTNERS ALL SHOW INCREASES ADDING TO HOT START FOR STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Gains in Digital Media, TV, Highlight Huge Cross-Platform Demand
for NHL Hockey; Continues Business Momentum From Record-Breaking Season

“This growth is a product of the passion of NHL fans and their insatiable appetite for great hockey content.” – NHL’s Collins

NEW YORK (April 22, 2010) – The 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues its strong start with double-digit ratings increases for its national telecasts on both NBC and VERSUS, along with triple-digit increases to video starts on NHL.com and page views on NHL Mobile, further validating the NHL’s strategy of engaging its fans through the creation of an ever expanding hockey marketplace with multiple touch points.

These gains come on the heels of the announcement that the first week of the Playoffs on VERSUS were the highest-rated and most-watched on cable since the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN/ESPN2. And the NHL’s broadcast partners in Canada – CBC, TSN and RDS — have all seen significant ratings increases for the postseason, as have the vast majority of the U.S. regional sports networks.

“This growth is a product of the passion of NHL fans and their insatiable appetite for great hockey content, fueled by our strategy of engaging with fans in ways we haven’t before, especially through our digital platforms and big events,”  said NHL COO John Collins.

Notably, the NHL has been a trailblazer in providing its loyal fans with new ways to access its content via multiple digital platforms as highlighted by two recent announcements. NHL.com yesterday unveiled a new Facebook integration that takes advantage of popular Facebook features to make NHL.com more open, interactive and shareable. NHL.com was also one of the featured launch websites for Apple’s iPad.

NBC UP 10 PERCENT OVER FIRST WEEKEND OF 2009 PLAYOFFS
The Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC showed a 10 percent increase for its first weekend broadcasts, earning a 1.1 national rating and 3 share for its Saturday and Sunday games (1.0/3 – 2009). The two-game average is the best opening Playoffs weekend for the Peacock since 2006. Saturday’s Boston-Buffalo game earned a 1.0/3, up 43 percent over 2009. Sunday’s Phoenix-Detroit matchup earned a 1.3/3, even with last year.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ON TSN AND CBC POSTING “BOFFO NUMBERS”
TSN and CBC are posting “boffo numbers in these playoffs – without Toronto in the
hunt,” according to the The Globe & Mail. The Stanley Cup Playoffs on TSN have averaged 945,000 viewers for 12 telecasts through April 20, a 103 percent increase over last year to date (465,000 viewers). Meanwhile, CBC is averaging 1.23 million for its 14 broadcasts through games of April 20, a 17 percent increase over last season (1.05 million).

NHL ON RDS UP 3%
Playoffs-to-date, RDS is averaging 459,000 viewers through 17 telecasts.  That’s up 3% from the 447,000 viewers that the network was averaging last season-to-date.

DIGITAL STRATEGY PAYS DIVIDENDS
The NHL is engaging and connecting with more fans than ever on its digital platforms
and the first week of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs has continued that trend. Some highlights from the first eight days of the postseason compared to the same time period last year include:

· Video starts on NHL.com increased by 128 percent
· Unique Visitors to NHL.com are up 20 percent
· Page Views on NHL.com are up 40 percent
· Mobile page views are up 181 percent

HIGHLIGHTS FROM NHL’S RECORD-BREAKING BUSINESS SUCCESS IN 2009-10
· Corporate sponsorship were up 20 percentNew League partners this season include Geico, Starwood Hotels, Enterprise Rent-A-Car,LG Electronics and Hershey’s CanadaAd spending on NHL media increased by 37 percent
· Revenue from big event platforms, led by the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, were up
22 percent over last season
· Unique visitors to NHL.com surpassed last year’s record by 32 percent
· NHL.com attracted a single-day record 1.6 million unique visitors on Sunday, April 11 – besting last season’s regular season final day by 54 percent
· NHL Game Center Live™ subscriptions were up 25 percent
· Sales at SHOP.NHL.com were up 12 percent from last year’s record
· Viewership for NBC’s Game of the Week telecasts were up 13 percent
· Ratings for exclusive telecasts on Versus were up 20 percent
· NHL Mobile™ reached 1.6 million page views, an increase of 233 percent over last season

### (4/22/10)

ESPN’s Most-Viewed NFL Draft First Round

By

ESPN’s Most-Viewed NFL Draft First Round

ESPN Wins the Night Among Key Male Demos, Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49

ESPN’s live telecast of the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft – conducted for the first time in prime time – was the most-viewed first round ever in the network’s 31-year televising the event.  The ESPN telecast (7:30-11:20 p.m. ET) delivered a 5.3 household coverage rating and 7,290,000 viewers (based on fast nationals), according to Nielsen Media Research, 23% higher than last year’s first round (4.3). The telecast equaled the 5.3 rating from ESPN’s first round in 2006 and surpassed that year’s viewership mark of 5,925,000.

The telecast ranks as the fifth most-watched cable program of the year among households (5,273,000) and the eighth most-watched among viewers.

From 8-11 p.m. last night, ESPN averaged 7.7 million viewers, making it the second most-watched network of the night. ESPN won the night among all key male demos, adults 18-34 and adults 18-49. In addition, ESPN’s Draft telecast was the top program of the night among all key male demos.

Note: Final ratings will be released late this afternoon.

Highest-Rated Markets for ESPN’s Thursday night coverage (7:30-11:20 p.m.):

  1. Jacksonville – 10.9
  2. New Orleans – 10.8
  3. Austin, Texas – 9.7
  4. Cleveland – 9.2
  5. Oklahoma City – 8.6

2010 NFL Draft Continues

ESPN’s coverage continues with Rounds 2-3 tonight, Friday, April 23, at 6 p.m. on ESPN (switches to ESPN2 at 7 p.m. through the conclusion of Round 3).  Day 3 will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. on ESPN with a one-hour SportsCenter Special: On the Clock followed by all seven hours (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) of Rounds 4-7 on ESPN.

-30-

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues With the Milwaukee Brewers Hosting the Chicago Cubs

By

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues With the Milwaukee Brewers Hosting the Chicago Cubs

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on April 25 with a match-up of NL Central division rivals when Derrek Lee and the Chicago Cubs travel north to take on Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers at 2 p.m. (ET).  Dave Bush is scheduled to start for the Brewers against the Cubs’ probable starter Randy Wells.  Calling the action will be Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst).

“Sunday MLB on TBS” includes match-ups on TBS every Sunday afternoon throughout the regular season.  The network will also exclusively televise the MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 4.  Additionally, beginning in October TBS will once again provide exclusive coverage of the Division Series and the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

TBS has broadcast MLB coverage for more than 30 years serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)             EVENT

Sun., April 25

2 p.m.                      Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sun., May 2

1 p.m.                      Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)

Sun., May 9

1:30 p.m.                 Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies

Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Ron Darling (analyst)

-30-

CBS, Turner and NCAA Announce Landmark Deal Through 2024

By

CBS SPORTS, TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC. AND THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REACH 14-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Agreement Includes Television, Internet, Wireless and Marketing Rights Through 2024

INDIANAPOLIS— The NCAA today announced a new 14-year television, internet and wireless rights agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., to present the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship beginning in 2011 through 2024 for more than $10.8 billion. As part of the agreement, all games will be shown live across four national networks beginning in 2011 – a first for the 73-year old championship.

Additionally, CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting have been licensed and will collaborate on the NCAA’s corporate marketing program.

Late Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee unanimously passed a recommendation to the Division I Board of Directors to increase tournament field size to 68 teams beginning with the 2011 Championship. The recommendation will be reviewed by the Division I Board of Directors at its April 29 meeting.

The new agreement sustains the long-term financial stability of the Association.  As with the current contract, approximately 96 percent of the revenue generated from this new agreement will be used to benefit student-athletes through either programs, services or direct distribution to member conferences and schools. Further, the agreement ensures student-athletes across all three NCAA divisions will continue to be supported in a broad range of championship opportunities, access to funds for personal and educational needs, and through scholarships in Divisions I and II.

Beginning with the 2011 championship, opening- , first- and second-round games will be shown nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV.  CBS and Turner will split coverage of the regional semi-final games.  CBS will provide coverage of the regional finals, as well as the Final Four® including the National Championship Game through 2015. Beginning in 2016, coverage of the regional finals will be split by CBS and Turner with the Final Four and the National Championship game alternating every year between the CBS Television Network and Turner’s TBS.

CBS Sports has broadcast the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship since 1982. This year’s broadcast of the Championship game earned an average national household rating/share of 14.2/23, up 31% from a 10.8/18 last year, the highest rating in five years.

Under the new rights agreement, NCAA March Madness on Demand®, the Emmy Award-

winning video player that provides live streaming video of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, will continue to be launched from NCAA.com and CBSSports.com.  Turner has also secured the rights for any Time Warner digital property. The player will be operated and developed by Turner and have enhanced digital rights allowing the NCAA to deliver content for multiple Turner and Time Warner platforms.

“This is an important day for intercollegiate athletics and the 400,000 student-athletes who compete in NCAA sports,” said NCAA Interim President Jim Isch. “This agreement will provide on average more than $740 million annually to our conferences and member schools to help student-athletes in 23 sports learn and compete.”

“We’re excited this agreement continues our long-standing relationship with CBS, a partner company that has captured the unique spirit of the collegiate model of athletics, and brings a new partner in Turner Broadcasting to the Championship and NCAA basketball,” added Isch.

“This agreement with our colleagues at Turner and the NCAA secures CBS’s standing as a year-round leader in sports television well into the next decade,” said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports.

“In this agreement, we have created a new strategic partnership that not only makes this prestigious property an ongoing core asset in our stable of major television events, but a profitable one as well.  We look forward to working with our friends at Turner as together we combine our industry-leading media assets to maximize the value of this great NCAA Championship.”

“This is a landmark deal for Turner Broadcasting and we’re extremely pleased to begin a long-term relationship with the NCAA and our partners at CBS and to have a commitment that extends well into the next decade,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has a rich tradition and is one of the most talked about sporting events every year highlighted by the Final Four and the National Championship Game.”

“We are well-positioned to monetize our investment in NCAA programming across three nationally distributed networks.  With the combined linear and digital assets of these two large media companies we’ll be able to maximize the exposure of the Tournament, as well as provide incomparable access for viewers. ”

Moving forward under the new contract, a committee headed by Harvey Perlman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor, will study and recommend prospective revenue distribution formulas to the Division I Board of Directors. Under the current contract, 96 percent of all NCAA revenue is returned to membership either in direct payments or in programs and services. The committee will follow principles of the current formula that ensure access to funds by student-athletes for educational, personal and emergency needs; that favor a broad-based approach to sports sponsorship; that continue to encourage more grants-in-aid rather than less; and that promote enhanced academic support of student-athletes.

Additionally, given the NCAA emphasis on academic reform, the committee will examine the need to strike a balance between Division I men’s basketball championship performance and academic

achievement through either the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate or Graduation Success Rate metrics or both.

ESPN, the long-standing home for NCAA Championships such as the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, College World Series, Frozen Four and others, will continue to broadcast a full complement of events over the coming years as well.

“The economic challenges of the day are being felt on campuses across the country. The amount of revenue from this agreement isn’t the focus of this moment, rather it is the long-term security it provides as well as what is done with the money. We put our money where our mission is…supporting student-athletes so they can be successful in the classroom and in life,” said Isch.

-30-

About the NCAA

The NCAA® is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletics opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Divisions I, II and III sports. Visit NCAA.org and NCAA.com for more details about the Association, its goals and members and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have the following elite companies as official Corporate Champions — AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola — and the following elite companies as official Corporate Partners — Enterprise, The Hartford, Hershey’s, LG, Lowe’s, Planters, State Farm and UPS.

About CBS Sports

CBS Sports, a year-round leader in television sports, broadcasts a portfolio of events on the CBS Television Network, including the NFL’s American Football Conference; THE NFL TODAY;

college basketball, including the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship; golf, including The Masters® and PGA Championship; college football, including the SEC ON CBS; the U.S. Open Tennis Championships; CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR, including track & field, auto racing and gymnastics.  In addition, the division directs the CBS College Sports Network, a 24-hour national cable network; produces Inside the NFL for Showtime; and partners with CBS Sports.com in creating a recognized leader among sports Internet destinations.

About Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.,

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world. Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming.  With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports’ television line-up includes coverage of NASCAR, the NBA, MLB and professional golf. The division’s digital portfolio consists of NASCAR.COM, PGATOUR.COM and PGA.com.  In addition, Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com.