IT'S GAME TIME FOR SHOWTIME(R)!

SHOWTIME AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCE SPECIAL PREVIEW OF "THE FRANCHISE: A SEASON WITH THE MIAMI MARLINS"

Special Preview Episode of the Emmy(R)-nominated series airs Saturday, April 21 at 9 PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME

Series Premieres Wednesday, July 11 at 10 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK (April 13, 2012) - On the heels of an eventful start to the 2012 baseball season, SHOWTIME will air a special 30-minute preview episode of THE FRANCHISE: A SEASON WITH THE MIAMI MARLINS featuring the new-look Miami Marlins, on Saturday, April 21 at 9 PM ET/PT. The preview episode will give viewers a first look at season two of this Emmy-nominated series as camera crews captured the operations and activities of the team from Spring Training through the opening weeks of the season. It will also feature exclusive all-access coverage of Marlins management and players both on and off-the-field, the pomp and circumstance of the opening of Marlins Park and the events surrounding the suspension of manager Ozzie Guillen.

The weekly series THE FRANCHISE: A SEASON WITH THE MIAMI MARLINS will premiere with a new one-hour episode on Wednesday, July 11 at 10 PM ET/PT. Thirty-minute episodes will follow each subsequent Wednesday night at 10 PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME for the following seven weeks.

Season two of THE FRANCHISE will bring together the sexy, cosmopolitan vibe of the city of Miami with the intense and competitive world of America's pastime as it follows one of Major League Baseball's most talked-about teams - the Miami Marlins. The Marlins have a new look in 2012, with the hiring of Guillen, the acquisition of All-Stars Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell and Carlos Zambrano, and the return of established young stars including Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson and Giancarlo Stanton. Behind team owner Jeffery Loria and president David Samson, both of whom are providing extensive access to their front office operation, the Marlins have launched an extensive re-branding of the club this off-season which has included a name change (from Florida to Miami), the construction of a new ballpark and the unveiling of dramatically different uniforms.

A collaboration between SHOWTIME and Major League Baseball Productions, THE FRANCHISE: A SEASON WITH THE MIAMI MARLINS is currently in production in Miami, as well as various locations around the country as the team begins the 2012 season. The show will continue to expand on SHOWTIME Sports(R) existing line-up of stellar and award-winning programming that includes INSIDE THE NFL, INSIDE NASCAR, FIGHT CAMP 360o, ShoBox: The New Generation, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING(R) and STRIKEFORCE(R) Mixed Martial Arts.

Editor's Note: SHOWTIME Championship Boxing will immediately follow the preview episode (live at 9:30 PM ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) with two world title fights.