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NEWS RELEASE Turner Sports and Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) Announce Exclusive Multi-Year Television Agreement with TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated
Posted: Wednesday July 05, 2000 09:04 PM Turner Sports and Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) Announce Exclusive Multi-Year Television Agreement with TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated Turner Sports, Inc., and the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) have reached an exclusive four-year national cable television agreement to televise 88 WUSA games during the contract's duration on Turner Network Television (TNT) and CNN/Sports Illustrated. Beginning in 2001, TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated will combine to televise 22 games per year -- 15 on TNT and seven on CNN/Sports Illustrated -- including playoffs and a championship game. The announcement was made today by Mark Lazarus, Turner Sports President, and John Hendricks, Chairman of the WUSA Board of Governors. "This is a strong grass-roots and national initiative, and we're proud to work with our partner cable operators in yet another way," said Lazarus. "With this acquisition, we'll draw on our wealth of experience and resources to produce, market and promote these remarkable women and their new league." "We are confident that our television, Internet and print resources will combine to showcase these outstanding athletes and their new professional league," said Jim Walton, CNN/Sports Illustrated President. "As a part of the AOL Time Warner family, our production of the WUSA will literally and digitally reach the entire world." "Our cable operator partners agree that TNT and Turner Broadcasting were the best television partners we could possibly have," said Hendricks. "This four-year agreement solidifies the WUSA as the next major professional sports league." Turner Network Television, currently seen in 77.1 million homes, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, advertiser-supported service offering original motion pictures and miniseries; original series, non-fiction specials and live events; contemporary films from the world's largest film library, the combined Turner and Warner Bros. Film libraries; exciting NBA sports action; exclusive coverage of both the 2000 Winter and 2001 Summer Goodwill Games; and popular television series. CNN/Sports Illustrated is the most comprehensive sports news service in television, offering 24-hour coverage of the world of sports, with in-depth reporting and live coverage of breaking news and press conferences. CNN/Sports Illustrated combines the unmatched newsgathering resources of CNN and news reports, expert analysis and unique commentary from Sports Illustrated's stable of writers, editors and reporters. CNNSI.com is Time Warner's sports Web site, the home of Sports Illustrated on the Web and the sports site for CNN.com and CNN/Sports Illustrated, the sports news network. Turner Sports, Inc. presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide, and is a leader in televised sports programming. With events airing on four networks - TBS Superstation, TNT, Turner South and CNN/Sports Illustrated - Turner Sports' lineup includes the NBA, NASCAR, Wimbledon, Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Thrashers hockey, Atlanta Hawks basketball, professional golf, figure skating, college football, WUSA Soccer and the Goodwill Games. CONTACT: Greg Hughes Turner Sports 404/827-3362 Tom Cosentino WUSA 732/970-0399
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