Eclipse Entertainment To Acquire New York Based
Marathon Sports Group, Inc,
LOS ANGELES--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 1, 1998--ECLIPSE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. (OTCBB:ECLE - news) has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of MARATHON SPORTS GROUP, INC. of New York, NY. The
deal consists of a combination of cash and stock.
MARATHON SPORTS GROUP, INC. is a diversified supplier and owner of premium sports programming to U.S. and Canadian network radio and television with substantial additional interests in internet broadcasting, motion pictures, publishing and sports archival assets.
Marathon has just commenced a four year broadcasting agreement with legendary FOX sportscaster TIM MCCARVER for both network radio and television. The debut of the McCarver four hour weekly radio show, entitled, ''MCCARVER ONE-ON-ONE'' will be Nov. 7, 1998. Every week, ''McCarver One-on-One'' will broadcast two hours of original
programming each Saturday and Sunday through 380 affiliates of One-On-One sports. America's largest sports radio network,
headquartered in Northbrook, Ill. In addition, Tim McCarver will host ''Talking Sports With Tim McCarver'' which will air as
a sixty second original commentary every Monday through Friday in morning drive radio throughout the United States beginning
in November.
Several major television networks, including CTV sports, Comcast Sportsnet and Comcast Cable, have agreed to broadcast the McCarver One-On-One half hour television show at 6:00 p.m. every weekday through Friday. A pilot for major U.S. networks was shot at the world famous ''Mickey Mantle's'' restaurant in Manhattan on September 24. Marathon is currently in discussions with two major U.S. networks for a mid-1999 start.
Tim McCarver was recently ranked as one of the ''Top Ten'' sportscasters of all-time by TV Guide (July 12, 1998). McCarver is looking forward to a long run on television and radio with Marathon and was recently quoted as saying, ''I'm excited about the high quality of Marathon's programs...we'll knock 'em dead with these shows.'' Ralph Mellanby, a multiple emmy award-winning director and co-producer of the Tim McCarver, show was quoted as saying that he expects this show to run ''for five to seven years and have as much success in the U.S. and Canada as the Don Cherry show which I produced in Canada for nearly seven years.''
Upcoming quests for the McCarver radio and television shows include Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Tiger Woods, Al Unser Jr. among many others.
Sports radio programming is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. radio industry with stations fully dedicated to sports growing from just two to over three hundred since 1998. Sports television has also experienced rapid growth with a tripling of national cable time devoted to TV sports over the past three years.
Marathon is currently working on several other projects for 1999 including a prime-time television special entitled ''The Untold
Story of The Greatest Rounds of Boxing'' to be hosted by two-time Emmy award winner Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, a Ferdie Pacheco network radio series and a motion picture entitled ''The Boys of Summer.''
Marathon will also continue its alliance with E. Charge, a prominent internet company for the exploitation of Marathon's sports audio archives, widely considered to be the finest and most extensive collection in North America.
Marathon revenues for 1999 are expected to exceed $4,000,000 with continued high growth expected for each of the next four years.
Both companies CEO's were equally excited about the new deal. James Moskovitz President and CEO of Marathon praised the symbiosis of Eclipse and Marathon, ''The people at Eclipse are creative, hard working and committed which makes for a superb team and gratifying results. Combining the forces of Marathon and Eclipse will make for a fine company and a great product line.'' Eclipse President and CEO, Art Birzneck, concurred, ''This deal allows us to diversify our entertainment assets. We are excited about the personnel and products that make up Marathon and we expect that revenue projections will be
surpassed in 1999.''
Eclipse has offices in Los Angeles, California, Bellevue, Washington and a production office in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
Certain information included in this communication contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to
the future anticipated direction of the entertainment industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities,
planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward statements
are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ
materially from those anticipated.
Contact:
Eclipse Entertainment Group, Inc.
Alec Rossa, Investor Relations
toll Free 1 888 822 ECLE (3253)
website: www.ecle.com |
