ION Media Networks Secures Rights to Air 2007 Season of "NFL Game of the Week" Produced by NFL Films
Highly-Acclaimed Weekly NFL Films Series Premieres on ION Television Saturday, September 15 with Giants-Cowboys Week 1 Match-up
ION Also Scores Rights to Air New NFL Films Production, "Stories of the NFL"
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- ION Media Networks, Inc. (AMEX:ION) announced today that it has secured the rights to air the NFL Films production, "NFL Game of the Week," for the 2007 season. The highly-acclaimed series will premiere on ION Television's nationwide broadcast network at 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 15, with the Giants-Cowboys game from Kickoff Weekend, which Dallas won 45-35. A new episode will air each week of the 17-week NFL regular season.
"We are thrilled to partner with NFL Films to bring to our viewers this top-quality, tremendously popular series," said Brandon Burgess, CEO of ION Media Networks. "This NFL state-of-the-art production, with its stunning cinematography, all-access sound, stirring music and great storytelling, has set the standard for excellence in television sports programming for decades, and it will be a terrific addition to our lineup of entertaining programs that the entire family can enjoy."
"NFL Films' 'NFL Game of the Week' has been a must-see for football fans for years," said Howard Katz, Chief Operating Officer of NFL Films. "We are pleased that fans will watch this season on ION Television."
Each week of the NFL season, "NFL Game of the Week" showcases that week's best game in a one-hour program, and tells the story of the game that viewers didn't see on the original broadcast. Presenting the action from a wide variety of angles, including specially-shot game footage, pre-game and post-game commentary and previously unheard sideline sound from players and coaches, Game of the Week brings fans closer to the action than ever before.
NFL Films President Steve Sabol, a 36-time Emmy� Award-winner, will continue to host the series, which premiered in syndication in 1965. It has aired on NFL Network since 2003.
As part of its agreement with the NFL, ION Media Networks also has secured the rights to air a brand-new series from NFL Films, entitled "Stories of the NFL," which will take a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of NFL players when they're not on the field. Using NFL Films' original music, candid interviews, voluminous archives and award-winning cinematographers, these half-hour episodes will "reveal the hidden gems of the NFL." The season of 21 original programs will begin airing on ION Television in February 2008.
About ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks, Inc. owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, reaching over 93 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems. ION Television currently features popular TV series and movies from the award-winning libraries of Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Television and CBS Television, among others. ION Media has also partnered with RHI Entertainment, which owns over 4,000 hours of acclaimed television content, to provide weekend primetime programming consisting of exclusive original programming and quality library titles. Utilizing its digital multicasting capability, the company has launched several digital TV brands, including qubo, a television and multimedia network for children formed in partnership with several leading media and entertainment companies, and ION Life, a television and multimedia network dedicated to health and wellness for consumers and families. For more information, visit www.ionmedia.tv.
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