NHL & HDNet Announce 2003-2004 HDTV Schedule

3-Sep-03

The National Hockey League and HDNet have released the first half of a live NHL on HDNet 2003-2004 schedule of high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts, highlighted by NHL action every Tuesday and Friday night. The 65-game schedule of NHL on HDNet coverage begins Friday, October 10 at 9pm (ET) with the Colorado Avalanche hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.Under the multi-year partnership, NHL games will be telecast on HDNet networks on DirecTVÆ, DISH Networkô, Charter Communications, Insight Communications, cable companies affiliated with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), and other distributors that affiliate with HDNet in the future.All NHL on HDNet broadcasts will be original HDNet productions, using HDNet's HD mobile production units and with HDNet announcers and graphics. HDNet's NHL game broadcasts are shot exclusively for presentation in the 1080i high-definition format.""Our third season with HDNet will allow even more people to witness firsthand the amazing experience of NHL hockey in high-definition,"" said Jon Litner, NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. ""HDNet continues to be a leader in the high-definition world and we're pleased to have been there from the beginning as the first major sports league to have partnered with the only all high-definition network.""""We are excited about our continuing partnership with the NHL,"" said Mark Cuban, co-founder and President of HDNet. ""The 2003-04 season of original HDNet productions includes coverage of more teams than in the past, extending our NHL in HD viewership to an even broader fan base.""Jack Edwards will be calling the play-by-play action for the games. Throughout his 24-year career in sportscasting, Edwards has called more than 250 play-by-play events for ESPN and ABC, including NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Major League Soccer, the Olympic Games, and the Little League World Series, and served as an anchor for Sportscenter for eight years.""HDNet is achieving, with every minute of every programming day, a level of quality that no one else can match,"" said Edwards. ""When you watch a hockey game in HD, the phenomenal detail makes you keenly aware that every skate blade has two edges, because you can see the players slicing ice when they cut and turn. To be able to call NHL games on HDNet is one of the most gratifying thrills of my career.""A complete schedule of programming, including encore presentations and additional games as scheduled, is available at www.hd.net or at www.nhl.com.

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