Usa Network Televises 107.5 Hours Of Us Open Tennis Championship Beginning Next Monda

[Gregg Lengling]

Released by USA


USA NETWORK TELEVISES 107.5 HOURS OF US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINNING NEXT MONDAY

USA NETWORK TELEVISES 107.5 HOURS OF US OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINNING NEXT MONDAY

65.5 Hours of Live HD Coverage on Universal HD

CBS/USA Media Call 11:30 a.m. ET Thursday -- Call 719-457-2679 to Participate

NEW YORK – August 24, 2005 – USA Network, entering its 22nd year of US Open coverage, will telecast 107.5 hours of the 2005 US Open Tennis Championship over 12 days, including 95.5 hours live, beginning on Monday, Aug. 29, 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT from the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.

"The totality of USA Network's live US Open coverage, the most comprehensive of any tennis event by any U.S. cable or broadcast television network, is truly astounding," said Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Universal Sports. "We are looking forward to providing tennis fans the comprehensive and entertaining coverage of America's Grand Slam that they have come to expect from USA over the last two decades."

USA Network will telecast afternoon coverage Monday, Aug. 29 through Friday, Sept. 2 and Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Thursday Sept. 8 beginning at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT; and primetime coverage Monday, Aug. 29 through Thursday, Sept. 8 starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Highlights of USA's coverage include the Men's and Women's Quarterfinals (Sept. 6-8), the Mixed Doubles Final (Sept. , Women's Doubles Semifinals (Sept. , as well as the Women's Doubles Final on Sunday, Sept. 11 (1-2:30 p.m.). USA's "Match of the Day" will be rebroadcast at 2 a.m. ET/PT Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and Sept. 6-8.

CBS Sports will air weekend afternoon coverage including the women's final and the men's final.

Ted Robinson (lead play-by-play) and John McEnroe (analyst) enter their 14th year together as USA Network's lead US Open broadcast team. McEnroe is a four-time US Open singles champion, has earned two Emmy Award nominations for his tennis commentary and is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Fellow Hall-of-Famer Tracy Austin, in her 15th year calling US Open action, and four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier also will provide analysis. Bill Macatee (play-by-play), Michael Barkann (reporter), Al Trautwig (studio host) and Jimmy Roberts (essays and interviews), round out USA's US Open team.

"MAC-PHONE" AND "POINT TRACKER"
USA Network will once again utilize the popular "Mac-Phone" in the event of rain delays. "Mac-Phone" allows tennis fans to call McEnroe live on the air and ask questions of the provocative analyst.

USA Network will also incorporate "Point Tracker" into its coverage of matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, providing viewers a better look at close line calls. This is the third straight year USA has utilized Hawkeye ball-tracking technology. USA introduced the technology at the 2003 US Open and earned an Emmy nomination for technical innovation. "Point Tracker" is sponsored by IBM.

US OPEN IN HD
Universal HD will simulcast 65.5 live hours of USA Network's coverage of the US Open in high-definition (see HD coverage noted on attached schedule).

Universal HD will offer a live simulcast of USA Network's primetime schedule (7-11 p.m. ET) for the first week of the tournament beginning Aug. 29 and continuing through Labor Day evening, Sept. 5. Tuesday through Thursday of the second week, Universal HD will televise both the day and night sessions including the Men's and Women's Quarterfinals. Coverage on Universal HD will conclude with the women's doubles final on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

"The US Open exemplifies the outstanding sports lineup we have to offer our affiliates and viewers on Universal HD," said David Zaslav, President, NBC Universal Cable. "As a content provider, we continue to add unique and valuable programming to help accelerate HD growth for affiliates to attract existing and potential subscribers to their digital tiers."

PRODUCTION TEAM
Gordon Beck is the Executive Producer, USA Sports. John McGuinness will serve as coordinating producer for USA Network's tennis coverage and produce the primetime coverage. David Gibson will serve as daytime producer and Molly Solomon as studio producer. The directors are John Gonzalez (daytime), Andy Rosenberg (primetime) and John Gilmartin (studio).

USA NETWORK
USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is seen in over 89 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at //www.usanetwork.com.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

UNIVERSAL HD
Universal HD, an NBC Universal Cable network, launched in fourth quarter 2004 is currently available in systems reaching more than 26 million homes in 100% 1080i HD, 24/7. Universal HD offers the best of NBC Universal's library in HD. Programming includes unedited and uninterrupted films, "Backdraft," "Carlito's Way," "Apollo 13" and "The Fast and the Furious;" award-winning series such as "Monk," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Battlestar Galactica;" performing arts and special events, "Music in High Places" and sports programming including the US Open and the 2004 Summer Olympics. For more information, visit //www.universalhd.com.
(Be nice if TWC would pick up Universal)