Summary

Special edition news release announcing NBC Universal Cable's plans to broadcast 65 live HD hours of US Open Tennis Championships on Bravo HD+, marking one of the largest live sporting events on cable in HD.

Source document circa 2004 preserved as-is

Special Edition News Release
US Open Tennis to be HDTV


US_OPEN


BRAVO HD+ AND USA NETWORK UNVEIL PLANS TO DELIVER US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS TO AFFILIATES IN HIGH-DEFINITION

Exclusive US Open Programming Represents One of the Largest Live Sporting Events Broadcast on Cable in HD To Date

Englewood Cliffs, NJ– July 27, 2004 – NBC Universal Cable today announced plans to present 65 ½ live HD hours of USA Network’s coverage of the US Open, one of the most prestigious championships in professional tennis, on Bravo HD+, NBC Universal's first cable network dedicated to the delivery of high-definition (HD) content. The USA Network produced coverage on Bravo HD+ marks a substantial expansion over last year’s 36 hours of HD coverage of the US Open.
  
Bravo HD+ will offer a simulcast of USA Network’s primetime schedule (7:00-11:00 p.m.) for the first week of the tournament beginning Aug. 30 with the opening rounds of the men’s and women’s singles tournament. In the second week, beginning on Labor Day, Bravo HD+ will offer full coverage every day leading up to the women’s doubles final on Sept. 12 at 1:00 p.m. ET. This new HD offering of the men’s and women’s final tennis Grand Slam event of the year is in response to the cable industry’s accelerated demand for high quality programming in true HD.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to begin utilizing our newly acquired Universal programming rights assets by offering this national championship event in HD, " said David Zaslav, President, NBC Universal Cable. "As the industry continues its commitment to accelerate HD growth, Bravo HD+’s lineup offers our affiliates high-quality diversified programming to attract new subscribers to their digital tiers. This is the first of many ways that NBC Universal will deliver quality programming on new platforms such as HD and VOD."
"We will continue to deliver unique and dynamic HD programming which provides our viewers with a compelling experience through Bravo HD+, " said Jean-Briac Perrette, Senior Vice President, New Media Development, NBC Universal Cable. "This type of premiere programming, that viewers won’t find anywhere else, will drive consumer demand for HD sets and help speed the transition from analog to digital."

Bravo HD+ is a division of Bravo, an NBC Universal Cable Network.  Launched in third quarter 2003, Bravo HD+ offers contemporary arts, entertainment and sports programming in 100% 1080i HD, 24/7.  Programming includes the most-honored series in television history, The West Wing and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Performing arts and entertainment content includes Cirque du Soleil: Varekai; Music in High Places, featuring top recording artists performing at the most ancient sites on earth; All Access, featuring Grammy Award-winning rock stars such as Sting, Sheryl Crow and Dave Matthews; and Cinderella’s Ballet.
 

Among those carrying the signals are Cablevision, Insight Communications, Media Com, VOOM and numerous others.

 



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