Television
Comcast to Carry NBA TV
Mar 09, 2004
Philadelphia, PA.
Comcast Cable and the National Basketball Association today announced a comprehensive multi-year agreement through which NBA TV will be made available to Digital Cable customers on Comcast systems serving more than 21 million customers.
With this agreement, NBA TV will be available to 66 million U.S. homes.
Beginning in April, Comcast, the nation's leading cable and broadband communications provider, will make NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television channel, available as part of its Digital Cable service in major markets - including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle -- with plans to launch to most markets later this year. Customers who subscribe to Comcast's HDTV service also will be able to enjoy select NBA TV programming in crystal-clear high-definition.
In addition, through a separate agreement with NBA Entertainment, Comcast will provide customers with access to NBA video-on-demand programming as part of its ON DEMAND service. On- demand content will include game highlight packages as well as popular programs such as NBA Inside Stuff.
"These agreements with NBA TV and NBA Entertainment enhance the value of Comcast Digital Cable by bringing our customers exciting NBA coverage as well as HDTV and video on demand programming," said Steve Burke, President of Comcast Cable. "Comcast is a leader in delivering advanced entertainment services, and this agreement underscores our commitment to offer our customers TV on their terms, so they can watch what they want the way they want to watch it."
"We are delighted that Comcast, which is committed to bringing the widest array of digital services to its subscribers -- the largest number in the United States -- has seen the value to its customers of the distinct programming of NBA TV and its high-definition telecasts," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "This agreement, together with our extensive video-on-demand services, will enable Comcast subscribers to experience and enjoy the powerful combination of sports programming and digital technology."
The NBA TV lineup includes more than 200 games - NBA (up to 50 in high-definition), WNBA, NBDL, Summer League, USA Basketball, International and Euroleague, streetball, vintage NBA - more than 20 original programs, including NBA TV Insiders, Real Playoffs 2004, Ahmad Rashad One-On-One, Basketball International and Gatorade Virtual GM; behind-the-scenes coverage of events, such as NBA All-Star, NBA Finals, WNBA Draft and the Hall of Fame Enshrinement; complete nightly highlights and up-to-the-minute information.
About NBA TV
NBA TV, launched November 2, 1999, is the league's 24-hour television channel and the first television network launched by a professional sports league. NBA TV is seen in 39 countries, including Azerbaijan, France, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Spain, Russia and Turkey. The channel provides viewers behind-the-scenes access, basketball authenticity and insider perspective featuring original programming, including reality miniseries, news and interview programs, documentary series and features shows that focus solely on fantasy basketball, international basketball and the video game industry; and exclusive coverage of special events.
About Comcast Cable
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees serve more than 21 million customers.
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Media Contacts:
David Cooper, NBA, 212-407-8095/cell-917-716-8566 or dcooper@nba.com
Jenni Moyer, Comcast, 215-851-3311/cell-610-506-8951 or jenni_moyer@cable.comcast.com