HBO SPORTS(R), NFL FILMS AND THE MIAMI DOLPHINS JOIN FORCES FOR A NEW SEASON OF THE ULTIMATE SPORTS REALITY SERIES WHEN "HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS," CHRONICLING THE RIGORS AND DAILY DEMANDS OF NFL TRAINING CAMP, DEBUTS TUESDAY, AUG. 7, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Miami Dolphins team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS debuts in August. The first sports-based reality series - and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series - kicks off its five-episode seventh season, presented in HD, TUESDAY, AUG. 7 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play every Wednesday in August at 11:00 p.m., culminating in the Sept. 4 season finale.

"We are delighted that HARD KNOCKS will be returning this summer and placing the spotlight on the Miami Dolphins, a venerable franchise that had an exciting off-season of activity," says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. "This marks the first time that the series has featured a first-year head coach [Joe Philbin] and we are extremely grateful to both Coach Philbin and the entire organization for agreeing to participate. As always, there will be plenty on the line for veterans, free agents and rookies."

"On the 40th anniversary of the greatest season in NFL history - Don Shula's perfect '72 Dolphins - it is perfectly fitting that HARD KNOCKS is heading to Miami to capture the start of a new era for one of the league's proudest teams," says NFL Films president Steve Sabol. "After HARD KNOCKS' hiatus last summer, I know our team at NFL Films can't wait to get back on the field."

The cinema verite series will focus on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the intriguing Miami Dolphins, who compete in the ultra-competitive AFC East, prepare for the 2012 NFL season. HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS will chronicle first-year head coach Joe Philbin and a compelling mix of high-profile veterans, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason. Each week, players will experience drills, meetings and fun, while struggling to prove they have what it takes to make the team and make their mark in the NFL.

"We are excited that the premier company in sports filmmaking history, NFL Films, and HBO Sports have chosen the Miami Dolphins to appear on their award-winning series HARD KNOCKS," says Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin. "We are looking forward to connecting with our many fans across the country as the program chronicles our 2012 training camp. The series will highlight the outstanding men who compose our team and represent our organization admirably, both on and off the field, as they compete for a coveted position on our roster.

"The Miami Dolphins have long been synonymous with success on the field, as evidenced by our five Super Bowl appearances and the only perfect season in NFL history," adds Philbin. "That heritage serves as a constant reminder to our players and staff of the great legacy that has been left for us to uphold. Our team embraces that rich past and looks confidently to the future as we begin this journey back to the top of the NFL.

"All the decisions that have been made this off-season have had one guiding principle - will it help our players and organization reach its full potential? This one is no different. We are convinced that our affiliation with NFL Films and HBO will allow football fans everywhere an opportunity to comprehend the significant sacrifices and demands that our players endure each day along their journey in training camp as a Miami Dolphin. We eagerly await the opening of training camp on July 26 and the 2012 NFL regular season that lies ahead of us."

A 30-person NFL Films crew will live at the Dolphins' training camp in south Florida, shooting more than 1,200 hours of video over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews will be given unencumbered access to the players' and coaches' meeting rooms, training rooms, dormitories and practice fields.

This summer's edition of HARD KNOCKS marks the first time episodes of the series debut on Tuesday nights; episodes previously debuted on Wednesdays.

HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. The series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Sports Emmy(R). In 2008, the series returned to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a second Sports Emmy(R). In 2009, HARD KNOCKS spotlighted the Cincinnati Bengals and captured two more Sports Emmys(R), including Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology. The most recent season of HARD KNOCKS, in 2010, featured the New York Jets and received three Sports Emmys(R), including Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology.

Rolling Stone noted that HARD KNOCKS is a "smash hit series," while TIME Magazine called the program "riveting." The New York Post wrote, "HARD KNOCKS is a hell of a show and it becomes must-see TV for football fans," and SportsIllustrated.com described the series as the "most entertaining reality show on TV." The New York Times concluded, "It is a rare glimpse into the psyche of a team," with the Wall St. Journal noting that the show is "captivating television."