HDNet To Exclusively Air Mario Andretti Grand Prix At Road America

2-Jul-03

Officials from HDNet and CART Champ Car announced that television coverage of the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton on Sunday, August 3 will be shown exclusively in the United States on HDNet. The broadcast will be the biggest undertaking in the history of auto racing in the high-definition (HD) format, as 16 high-definition cameras and two HD mobile units will be spread throughout the 4.048-mile permanent road course to capture all of the action.""It seems fitting that one of the most challenging and picturesque venues in motor racing will be broadcast in this fascinating new format,"" said CART Champ Car President and CEO, Christopher R. Pook. ""The United States government has mandated that all television networks will be required to broadcast in high-definition within the next few years, and I am proud that our series is once again ahead of the curve as it relates to the use of new technologies. I fully expect this to be the best-looking broadcast we will have this season.""HDNet will offer more than 12 hours of live and original programming throughout the weekend at Road America, including extensive coverage on both qualifying days on August 1 and 2, in addition to all of the action on race day, August 3. The broadcasts will be available through HDNet's cable and satellite distributors, including DirecTVÆ, DISH Networkô, Charter Communications and other cable affiliates, and in addition--by special arrangement with CART--with any other high-definition cable and satellite distributor who wish to make it available to their customers. The race will be rebroadcast several times on HDNet throughout the month of August.""HDNet is thrilled to bring the spectacular experience of high-definition to CART auto racing,"" said Mark Cuban, co-founder and President of HDNet. ""Thanks to the incredible picture and sound quality, the television audience will feel the excitement of every turn and every pit stop like they were there. Once again, HDNet is leading the television industry in applying HDTV to yet another sport.""The opportunity to provide television coverage via HDNet was made considerably easier thanks to the fact that Road America officials had a fiber optic ""ring"" installed around the legendary road course a few years ago. The decision to broadcast the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton on HDNet resulted from the network's flexibility in scheduling in connection with the event's removal from and subsequent reinstatement to the 2003 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford schedule.While HDNet offered Champ Car coverage last season for the Cleveland and Denver events, using a combination of seven high-definition cameras and conventional cameras to supplement the high-definition pictures, the Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America Presented by Briggs & Stratton will be the first time that an entire race broadcast will be done using high-definition cameras. Mario Andretti will serve as a co-host during the broadcast, with play-by-play and commentary being provided by the CART Champ Car International Broadcast team of Jeremy Shaw and Stephen Cox.For more information about HDNet, visit www.hd.net.

Read More:
http://www.hd.net