Great package for the JV:
Viewer's Choice Breaks the Ice for Cable TV, Scores Goal for Distribution of NHL Center Ice
NEW YORK--(BW SportsWire)--Nov. 12, 1999--Viewer's Choice and the National Hockey League have signed a multi-year agreement that will allow, for the first time, the distribution of the NHL(R) Center Ice(R) package on digital cable, it was announced jointly by Viewer's Choice Senior Vice President Distribution/Product Development Rob Jacobson and NHL Vice President, Business Affairs & Special Assistant to the COO Doug Perlman.
The agreement represents a major distribution initiative for Viewer's Choice as it strives to bring premier sports programming and entertainment offerings to cable television.
Cable operators who sign up for carriage of the NHL Center Ice package will be able to offer the NHL package immediately following the 2000 NHL All-Star Weekend, February 5 & 6, as teams from around the League skate into the second half of the 1999-2000 NHL season. The agreement comes on the heels of a pact with the NBA to distribute NBA LEAGUE PASS and represents continued momentum for Viewer's Choice as it prepares to usher in the new millennium on January 1, 2000 as iN DEMAND.
NHL Center Ice is the most comprehensive NHL television package, featuring up to 30 games per week - more than 750 total -- from outside a subscriber's local viewing area. The NHL Center Ice package will be available to residential and commercial subscribers of digital cable systems, allowing them to follow their favorite hockey teams, players and match-ups throughout the regular season, as well as the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
As cable systems continue to add digital capacity, the reach of NHL Center Ice through iN DEMAND will gradually be extended on a nationwide basis.
"We're delighted to add Center Ice to our professional sports arsenal and to deliver additional NHL excitement, including the early round games from the Stanley Cup playoffs, to our digital cable subscribers," said Jacobson. "This agreement demonstrates that this is not the same old pay-per-view and illustrates, once again, the continued commitment by the cable industry to offer a competitive and compelling lineup of high-profile subscription programming designed to bring greater value to consumers."
"The alliance with Viewer's Choice will expand the distribution of NHL Center Ice," said Perlman. "By combining Viewer's Choice's sales and distribution expertise, NHL fans will be able to watch more games involving their favorite players and teams, and follow the match-ups of greatest interest to them."
"NHL Center Ice is further evidence that the cable industry is indeed committed to bringing its digital customers the best in sports and entertainment," said Jacobson. "We're looking forward to our first face off in February and will be working closely with our cable affiliates over the next few months to get them up to speed in order to ensure a successful season."
iN DEMAND will distribute the games to digital cable operators via satellite, having recently secured incremental satellite transponder capacity. NHL Center Ice will first be available at a suggested retail price of $99 for the half-season package. In subsequent seasons, digital cable subscribers can purchase a full season at $139.
Viewer's Choice has kicked off a grass roots road show to introduce its new name and logo to the cable industry. Teaser spots will begin running on digital cable systems in November and December. The iN DEMAND launch kit will be available in November. iN DEMAND is positioned to become one of cable's most important providers of in-home entertainment with the best first-run movies, the biggest stars and must-see events, including boxing, wrestling, concerts and professional sports packages. iN Demand's 35-channel digital movie lineup also will feature 30-minute start times for the top four-to-five titles each month.
Viewer's Choice L.L.C. is the nation's leading pay-per-view network, offering titles from all of the major Hollywood and independent studios, plus sports and entertainment events through its 35 channel digital pay-per-view multiplex service. Viewer's Choice serves over 1,700 affiliated systems with approximately 27 million addressable households and 112 million channel subscribers nationwide. The company's five shareholders include TCI Communications, Inc., Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership, Comcast Programming Ventures, Inc., MediaOne of Delaware, Inc. and Cox Communications Holdings, Inc. Further information about the company can be found on the Internet at www.ppv.com.
NHL, Center Ice and Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACT:
Joe Boyle (212) 486-6600 or jboyle@ppv.com
Joy Kalfus (212) 789-2795 or jkalfus@nhl.com
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