HDNet to Provide Live HDTV Coverage of Political Conventions

[Gregg Lengling]

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2004--
  Network Will Also Make Gavel-to-Gavel National High-Definition Feed Available to All MSOs and Satellite Providers as Public Service    





HDNet announced today that the network will provide a unique package of high-definition television coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. During both conventions, HDNet will preempt its prime-time lineup Monday-Thursday July 26-29 and August 30-September 2 to deliver live coverage of the main speakers each night.

At the Democratic National Convention in Boston this will include former President Bill Clinton, Teresa Heinz Kerry, vice-presidential nominee Senator John Edwards and presidential nominee Senator John Kerry. HDNet's coverage of the Republican National Convention in New York will include speeches by Senator John McCain, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vice President Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush. HDNet's coverage is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. EDT Monday-Wednesday and at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday at each convention.

In addition to the network's selected live coverage, HDNet is making the gavel-to-gavel national high-definition feed of the conventions available to MSOs and satellite providers who wish to provide the telecast to their subscriber base. This public service will be available Monday-Thursday 3:00 pm-11:00 pm EDT and will provide subscribers throughout the nation with an uninterrupted feed from 13 high-definition cameras at the conventions.

"While other networks continue to scale back their coverage of the national conventions, HDNet will be ramping up to show viewers the main events during the week as well as providing full coverage of each Convention to any cable or satellite providers who wish to make all of it available to their customers," said Mark Cuban, co-founder and president of HDNet.

About HDNet

HDNet provides viewers with exciting and topical news, sports, music and entertainment programming. The network features up to 20 hours of original programming each week, all produced in the highest quality 1080i HDTV format -- more original high-definition programming than any other network. HDNet news and entertainment includes original series "HDNet World Report," "Face 2 Face with Roy Firestone," "Hollywood HD," "HDNet Concert Series," and "True Music," as well as every episode of the acclaimed Warner Bros. series "Smallville." Live sports productions include NASCAR auto racing, National Hockey League and Major League Soccer games. HDNet Movies, the company's second network, features a wide selection of major studio's theatrical releases -- all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio -- as well as features produced and finished in true 1080i high-definition. Co-founded by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on Adelphia, Charter, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit //www.hd.net.