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DIRECTV Stokes NASCAR Rivalries With Annual Head2Head Knockout Competition

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:43:16 +0000

DIRECTV will team up with ESPN and NASCAR to open the throttle for a second consecutive year of DIRECTV’s Head2Head Knockout competition – an innovative, bracket-format contest that will showcase existing and new rivalries among 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers.

The high-stakes competition will take place over the course of four races during the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning Aug. 7, 2011. DIRECTV, the exclusive provider of the NASCAR HotPass broadcast, will donate a total of $400,000 to driver charities during the four-round event as drivers compete head-to-head each week with the winner moving on to the next bracket.

And drivers won’t be the only ones competing. A participating fan, who fills out a perfect bracket, can win a $1 million. Aside from a perfect bracket winner, the fan who accumulates the most points will win a brand new truck from the manufacturer of the winning driver. Other prizes include a Panasonic 3D Prize Package. Fans can get more information by visiting www.directv.com/nascar and can enter their brackets until Aug. 7 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

The competition divides 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers into four regional brackets, with each driver going head-to-head against a new competitor each week in a single elimination format. Participating drivers advance to subsequent rounds by finishing higher than the driver they are matched up against each week. In classic “tournament” fashion, rounds one through three will narrow the field down to “The Fastest Four” who will trade paint for DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head2Head Knockout Championship in Bristol, Tenn. on Aug. 27.

Out of the 32 drivers, 12 participated in the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase while the 20 remaining bids were determined by a selection committee.

Following is a schedule for DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head2Head Knockout competition in 2011:

* Round One on Aug. 7 (Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono)
* Round Two on Aug. 14 (Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen at Watkins Glen)
* Round Three on Aug. 21 (Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan Speedway)
* “The Fastest Four” on Aug. 27 (Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway)

“Coming off last year’s successful Head2Head campaign, we are thrilled to team up with ESPN and NASCAR to create a competition that dials up the rivalries among drivers and also helps a number of important charities around the country,” said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of Marketing and Direct Sales for DIRECTV. “The bracket style, single elimination competition brings out the best in everyone, especially with bragging rights on the line.”

NASCAR HotPass, DIRECTV’s exclusive broadcast that allows viewers to experience the race from the driver’s vantage point with four dedicated driver channels in HD, will offer fans the ultimate way to track the Head2Head Knockout brackets during the four-week competition. NASCAR HotPass is available only on DIRECTV and is included at no extra charge in every base TV package.

“At NASCAR, we are always looking for ways to collaborate with our official partners to engage our avid, loyal fans and this program is a good example,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR Vice President of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions. “DIRECTV understands how to create exciting initiatives that help fuel fans’ passion for our sport, while also supporting some of our drivers’ charities – many of which have been impacted over the last several years by a slow economy. Providing fans with a chance to compete for great prizes while directing funds to the non-profit sector is truly a win-win.”

Cox To Offer Enhanced March Madness Coverage

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:59:30 +0000

Cox Communications announced that Advanced TV customers in Hampton Roads will have access to even more basketball action this year when for the first time in the tournament’s history, all of the games will be available – live in their entirety – with 67 games available in crystal clear high-definition at no additional programming cost.

This year’s scheduled games, available on CBS (703 HD), TBS (742 HD), TNT (766 HD) and truTV (CH 895) feature staggered start times, and extended programming hours across the networks, as well as give viewers the ability to watch more live game action throughout the day.

The 2011 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship tips off in primetime with the NCAA FIRST FOUR on truTV Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16 and concludes with the FINAL FOUR semifinals and national championship game on CBS on April 2 and April 4, respectively.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports will present fully integrated game and studio productions across all four networks throughout the tournament, utilizing universal graphics, musical beds, unique camera angles and an integrated talent line-up. The two sports divisions also will collaborate to provide seamless studio integration across TBS, TNT, truTV and CBS with pregame, halftime and post-game shows from studios in New York City and Atlanta. Studio shows will include The ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR, Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off, AT&T At the Half and Inside March Madness presented by Buick.

Jonathan Freeland, VP of Marketing for Cox VA said “Cox Advanced TV offers a great value for basketball fans this season and in addition to providing access to March Madness games on CBS HD, TNT HD and TBS HD, we’re excited to also offer game coverage on truTV HD. That means customers can see every game in crystal clear high-definition without paying additional HD programming fees.”

Big Ten Network Launches ‘The Journey’ For Fourth Consecutive Season

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:57:09 +0000

The Big Ten Network returns it’s first original series and its highest rated last year ‘The Journey’ on Sunday, Jan 9, 9:00 PM ET.

The popular, documentary-style program takes viewers deep inside Big Ten basketball programs, spending consecutive days with different Big Ten teams on a rotating basis during the 10-week march toward the Big Ten Tournament.

The program was named the 2010 co-winner of the best sports show/series by CableFAX magazine, along with ESPN’s 30 for 30. New in 2011, fans of the show are invited to “Experience The Journey” on Twitter (@BTNJourney) to get daily updates and bonus content from show producers and editors. The show’s open can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/journey-open.

blinkx Announces The Launch Of ‘blinkx Beat’ for Google TV

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 09:28:49 +0000

The world’s largest and most advanced video search engine ‘blinkx’ has launched ‘blinkx Beat’ for Google TV.

blinkx Beat, blinkx’s popular Web channel of viral videos, has been polished and perfected for the big-screen, lean-back experience of television.

blinkx Beat is a riveting playlist of the latest and greatest online videos—hilarious bloopers, amazing stunts, ridiculous pranks and cute animals—and it will be available in full-screen, with single button control, at http://beat.blinkx.com/googletv.

Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO of blinkx said “blinkx Beat was designed and built to be watched like television. “It’s an addictive channel of snackable videos which offers an ideal sit-back and surf experience and we’re thrilled to make it available through Google TV.”

Fox Regional Sports Networks Broadcast First USA TODAY Super 25 Massey Challenge Football Game on Saturday, Sept.25 From Steubenville, Ohio

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:55:29 +0000

USA TODAY has announced that the Fox Regional Sports Networks will broadcast the first USA TODAY Super 25 Massey Challenge football game to be played on Saturday, September 25 at 4 p.m. ET in Steubenville, Ohio.

Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, N.J., last year’s number one team in the Super 25, will play St. Ignatius of Cleveland, Ohio, a frequently ranked team in the Super 25.

USA TODAY and HighSchoolSports.net created the USA TODAY Super 25 Massey Challenge game to showcase last year’s number one Super 25 team. This is the first year of the game.

Ross Schaufelberger, vice president and general manager of USA TODAY Sports said “USA TODAY Sports is excited to introduce a major entrant into the fall sports landscape, extending our industry-leading USA TODAY Super 25 Rankings for high school football into this new nationally-televised championship property. Our joint efforts with HighSchoolSports.net, the leading high school sports digital media business, and FSN, our broadcast partner for the game, will provide significant audience reach and distribution into more than 100 million television homes and 15 million digital consumers.”

The Super 25 is a property of USA TODAY Sports and maintained by prep sports reporter Jim Halley. Since the ranking’s inception in 1982, it has been viewed as the premier ranking for high school sports in the nation.

The Massey Ratings are the creation of Ken Massey, a mathematics professor at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. The Massey Ratings are a detailed rating system that takes into account offense, defense, strength of schedule and some historical criteria. The system also allows people to predict the outcome of games before they occur or hypothetical matchups that they may like to see. The interactive tool can be found only at www.highschoolsports.net.

The game is being produced by Fox Sports Ohio for distribution on FSN, The Fox Regional Sports Networks. Please check local television listings for times in your area. The game can also been viewed on demand at USATODAY.com and HighSchoolSports.net.

The American Legion Hosts Third Annual H2H Golf Classic on Oct. 7 At Andrews Air Force Base

admin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:16:49 +0000

The American Legion has announced that it will host its third annual Heroes to Hometowns (H2H) Golf Classic on Oct. 7 at Andrews Air Force Base.

Wounded warriors throughout the area will have an opportunity to play golf while networking with federal officials, business leaders and veteran business owners. They will also raise money for The American Legion’s Legacy Scholarship program, which provides college scholarships to children of service members who have died on active duty since 9/11.

Joe Sharpe, director of the Legion’s economic division said “Last year, not only did 20 of our wounded warriors have a great day playing golf, they also raised about $25,000 for our Legacy Scholarship fund. On the golf course, these heroes have an opportunity to discuss potential jobs, gain advice about navigating the civilian workforce, and build solid relationships with business owners and leaders.”

For the 2010-2011 school year, the Legion awarded $46,000 in Legacy scholarships to 13 college students throughout the country. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $4,000 per individual and are renewable for each year of full-time attendance.

The American Legion encourages the community to register to play in the H2H Golf Classic, or sponsor a wounded warrior to play. Individuals can play or be sponsored for $90; a four-person team costs $350.

“We have sponsorship opportunities that go up to $5,000, but we will gladly accept any donation amount,” said Mark Walker, the economic division’s deputy director. “Anything that is given will go directly to support the Legacy scholarships.” Walker said that people may also contribute door prizes for the event.

“We want this year to surpass what we did last year,” Sharpe said. “But for that to happen, we need a multitude of golfers out there to play, we need businesses to sponsor a corporate team, and we need the non-golfers to sponsor our wounded warriors.”

Albuquerque CBS Affiliate Launches Local News Programming in HD

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:55:19 +0000

The CBS affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico ‘KRQE-TV’ has launched its local news programming in high-definition. This is the first local station in Albuquerque area to deliver local new programming in HD.

Bill Anderson, president and general manager of KRQE and KASA said “Everybody’s digital now, and most stations can pass along some level of high-definition programming from their networks or from program suppliers, but nobody has originated high-definition newscasts until now. That’s a whole other level of investment.”

VH1 Announces Programming LineUp For This September And October

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:27:21 +0000

Beginning September, follow NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony and television personality LaLa Vasquez as they tie the knot in one of the biggest weddings of the year on “Carmelo and LaLa.” Then, catch up with American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino as she juggles her professional and personal life during the second season of “Fantasia For Real.”

Just when it starts to get chilly, VH1 heats up October with a new season of “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” featuring Rachel Uchitel and all-new series “Football Wives” following a group of women who are the wives behind some of the hottest professional football players in the league. Then, pick up right where you left off with Brett Michaels and Brandy & Ray J on all new seasons of “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It” and “Brandy and Ray J:A Family Business” Season Two.

Full list of premieres below:

“VH1′s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time” premieres Monday, September 6 @ 10 PM

It’s the definitive countdown of music —from rock to pop to rap to metal. This 5-hour special will rank the biggest of the big: Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Madonna, Jay Z, Led Zeppelin, Beyonce, The Rolling Stones and others are all vying to be named the “Greatest Artist of All Time.” Who better to crown number one than VH1? Determined by a poll of musicians and music experts, the series will premiere over four consecutive nights at 10 PM. The countdown will include special, rarely-seen performance footage along with brand new, totally original interviews with music’s most famous faces. For decades there have been countless arguments about the greatest artists ever. Now VH1′s “100 Greatest Artists of All-Time” is out to settle them for once and for all.

“Real & Chance: Legend Hunters” premieres Sunday, September 19 @ 9 PM

Man has always been fascinated with Nature’s Animal Tales. Some are real: The man-eating Catfish of the Kali River, The Mega Shark, Hogzilla, Super Crocs, and the Giant Squid. Some may be only myth: Bigfoot, The Chupacabrah, the Loch Ness Monster and The Yeti. But two men believe in the stories and they intend to find them all. Their names… Real and Chance. That’s right, Real and Chance; Lovers, Horse-breeders, recording artists, Stallionaires. Neither of them are scientists, nor investigators. And despite their claims to the contrary, they’re no outdoorsmen either. They’re scared of bugs, bats, frogs and almost anything that slithers or crawls. They can’t take a fish off a hook because slimy things scare them. But they are believers and by the end of the show, they may even make believers out of you.

“Fantasia For Real” Season 2 premieres Sunday, September 19 @ 10 PM

Season 2 of “Fantasia For Real” follows American Idol and Grammy winner Fantasia Barrino as she balances her complicated personal life with her desire to connect with her fans through music. As Fantasia works with her record label to promote her long awaited new album, she continues to attempt to instill values of independence and integrity into her life and be a positive role model for her daughter and the rest of her family

“Carmelo and LaLa” – premieres Sunday, September 19 @ 10:30 PM

Former MTV VJ and television personality, LaLa Vazquez is set to star in a new series about her wedding, including all the planning and festivities leading up to her big day. The series begins with LaLa meeting with Mindy Weiss, A-list wedding planner to the stars, and follows her through all her wedding planning activities and Las Vegas bachelorette party. Viewers will ride along as LaLa shops for the perfect designer wedding dress, chooses the wedding venue, picks out the ultimate wedding cake and menu, plans their honeymoon, and contemplates the guest list.

“Don’t Forget The Lyrics” premieres Monday, September 20 @ 7 PM

“Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” is a musical game show that tests contestants’ knowledge of song lyrics from different genres, decades and artists. “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” is the ultimate rock star fantasy taking viewers on a dramatic, heart pounding, rollercoaster ride of music and edge-of-your seat entertainment. Mark McGrath, a member of the multi-platinum group, Sugar Ray, hosts “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” where he brings ordinary people center stage for a chance to win a fortune – just by knowing the words to the biggest hit songs ever recorded.

“Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It” premieres Monday, October 11 @ 9 PM

In this first-look docu-series, viewers will not only get a taste of Bret Michael’s life on the road, but also for the first time ever, get a look at his home life, a sprawling compound where his daughters, Raine and Jorja, and their mother, Kristi Gibson, reside. After the lights have dimmed on stage and the music stops for the night, Bret rolls off the tour bus right into the loving arms of his daughters Raine and Jorja, who affectionately refer to him as “Poppa Rocka.” But raising two little girls and being a rock icon don’t always go hand-in-hand. Now fans get to take a peek at what keeps Bret going. Is it the hoards of wild fans, the glory of super stardom, or is it the unconditional love from his family? Watch as Bret juggles life on the road, his career, raising two kids and managing his on again off again relationship with their beautiful mom, Kristi.

“Football Wives” premieres Monday, October 11 @ 9:30 PM

Some players hit it big on the field and some are taken out in their prime by a big hit. Whether a player is in the zone and bringing in the big bucks on and off the field or struggling just to make it through a world of pain, it’s the amazing women behind them that are the driving force in their lives. Picking up the pieces, raising their families and reaping the benefits of the tough lives their men face every time they step into the game. These are the FOOTBALL WIVES… where “Dallas” meets “Dynasty “meets the Gridiron. But living the high life is not all glamour and is frequently fleeting. Football players are often injured so their partners are forced to not only play wife, but also be a mother or nurse to their men. The careers of these modern day gladiators span only a few years on average and unlike basketball players, football stars travel less for games and are expected to be home with their families. But do they live up to those expectations?

“Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” premieres Monday, October 11 @ 10 PM

VH1 has once again partnered with Dr. Drew Pinsky for a fourth season of the hit reality series “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” Similar to the first three cycles, the fourth season of “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” will follow the real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detoxification and treatment at the Pasadena Recovery Center. The series will chronicle the patients’ intensive 21-day program with both group and one-on-one therapy and non-traditional therapies like art and music. The show will include Jeremy London (“Party of Five,” “7th Heaven”), Rachel Uchitel (Infamous Party Planner), Eric Roberts (“The Dark Night” and “Heroes”), Janice Dickinson (“The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency”), Leif Garrett (Musician), Frankie Lons (Keyshia Cole’s Mother), Jason Wahler (“The Hills”) and Jason Davis (Socialite).

“VH1 Rock Doc: Shine A Light” premieres Friday, October 22 @ 11 PM

The VH1 Rock Doc: Shine a Light is the 2008 documentary film by Academy-Award winning director, Martin Scorsese documenting The Rolling Stones’ Beacon Theater performance of their “A Bigger Bang Tour.” The documentary includes archive footage from the band’s career and also shows Jack White, Buddy Guy, and Christina Aguilera performing with The Rolling Stones. The film marked the first utilization by Scorsese of digital cinematography for his films with it being used for the backstage sequences. The film takes its title from the song of the same name, featured on the band’s 1972 album “Exile on Main St.”

“Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business” Season 2 premieres Sunday, October 24 @ 10:30 PM ET/PT

Brother and sister duo Brandy and Ray J Norwood are back and ready to get down to business for the second season after taking the reins from their momager, Sonja Norwood. Brandy steps back into the music scene in preparation for her new album, all the while raising her seven year-old daughter Sy’rai. We’ll also see Ray J stepping out of his notorious bad boy image and collaborating with Rodney Jerkins and other popular R&B heavyweights for his upcoming album.

Whitney Holland Joins Hallmark Channels As Vice President, Acquisitions

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:28:39 +0000

Michelle Vicary, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Scheduling for Hallmark Channels has announced that Whitney Holland has been appointed Vice President, Acquisitions.

Holland will be based in the Los Angeles office reporting to Michelle Vicary.

Holland will help develop and implement the strategic programming vision of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel in collaboration with Vicary.

She will also be responsible for extensive analysis of audience research to pinpoint feature film acquisitions, suggest on-air promotional direction and schedule stunts and theme weeks.

She was Vice President, Program Planning, Scheduling and Acquisitions and was responsible for total day scheduling as well as managing long-term planning for Bravo before joining Hallmark channels.

Vicary said “We are thrilled to have Whitney join us with her successful track record spanning over 15 year. This is an exciting time as we grow Hallmark Movie Channel and welcome Martha Stewart to Hallmark Channel. She will undoubtedly be a huge asset to our management team.”

Weather Central Debut ’3D:LIVE Fusion’ At NAB 2010

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:59:35 +0000

The leading provider of professional on-air, online, print, mobile and enterprise weather solutions and forecasting in North America ‘Weather Central LLC’ has started the next generation of the world’s most viewed on air broadcast weather platform ’3D:LIVE Fusion.’

This live demonstration at NAB 2010, April 12-15, on Booth SU912 shows the capability to deliver stunning weathercasts for 3D stereoscopic television channels.

The demonstration is produced and played out entirely from a current-generation 3D:LIVE Fusion system with software enhancements created by Weather Central to take advantage of the depth and perspective capabilities available to 3D channels. Sony contributed a stunning Bravia 3D television on which to showcase the output. Built on the latest 64-bit Windows 7 operating system, 3D:LIVE Fusion takes advantage of enhancements in hardware performance to enable the instant creation of stunning visuals. Resolution independent graphics and enhanced 3D objects for weather elements and cityscapes are inherent capabilities of the 3D:LIVE platform, enabling the creation of believable and immersive 3D weather stories.

Weather Central Vice President Steve Smedberg, said “While it remains to be seen how soon 3D will gain traction in the newsroom. It is important that our customers know that Weather Central systems deployed today will provide the performance and capability needed to take on tomorrow’s requirements. 3D:LIVE was built from the beginning without resolution or format constraints. We not only put 3D in the name; we’ve patented critical enabling technologies that will make believable 3D weather casting possible.”