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WUSA
signs two-year deal with
ATLANTA, GA. The Women's United Soccer Association will
enter its second season with a new television partner featuring
a weekly destination viewing day and time. PAX
TV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paxson Communications
Corporation (AMEX:PAX), will broadcast a full schedule of WUSA
matches for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, it was announced today by
WUSA President and CEO Lynn Morgan and Paxson President and CEO
Jeff Sagansky. The
WUSA's 2002 national television schedule will feature games live
on Saturday afternoons from 4:00-6:00 p.m. (ET) for a total of
22 matches beginning April 2002, providing world-class women's
soccer to PAX TV's 84 million homes. The 2003 season will
showcase a similar schedule of Saturday afternoon action. "We're
excited about our new agreement with PAX which provides our
audience with a single destination day and time of the
week," Morgan said. "In the past, our fans were unsure
as to when our games were played and where they aired. Since
many of our fans are also players who compete on Saturdays, the
late afternoon matches will provide our audience with
appointment viewing that will enhance their weekend soccer
experience." In
addition to televising the WUSA games, Paxson has joined the
WUSA as an official sponsor of the women's Division I
professional soccer league. The WUSA will provide PAX with the
right to use the name and likeness of each league player,
trademarks and other intellectual property associated with the
advertising, promotion and marketing of PAX 's telecasts. "This
is family entertainment at its best," Sagansky said.
"These renowned players and their teams put forth a
tremendous effort on and off the field to make this league a
success." Previously,
TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated aired a 22-game national
television package during the WUSA's inaugural season. In
order for the WUSA to pursue a consistent time slot for women's
soccer matches, TNT and CNN/Sports Illustrated allowed the
league to terminate their four-year agreement. TNT
and CNN/Sports Illustrated are divisions of AOL Time Warner, an
investor in the WUSA that operates the New York Power and
Carolina Courage. "Both
parties decided it was in each other's best interest to pursue
other options," Turner Sports President Mark Lazarus said.
"We wish the WUSA continued success with their new
television programming agreement." In
addition to the league's 22-game national television schedule on
PAX TV, the WUSA will have a comprehensive regional television
schedule for its eight teams. The
WUSA 2002 regular season schedule will be announced in January.
The league's national television schedule on PAX TV will follow
the announcement of the regular season slate of games. About
Paxson Communications Corporation Paxson Communications
Corporation owns and operates the nation's largest broadcast
television station group and PAX TV, the newest broadcast
television network that launched in August of 1998. PAX
TV reaches 84 percent of U.S. television households via
nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite
distribution systems. Paxson owns and operates 65 stations
(including three stations operated under time brokerage
agreements). PAX
airs its own original programming including "It's A
Miracle," "Mysterious Ways," "Encounters
with the Unexplained" and "Doc," starring
recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus. PAX
TV's new season lineup includes the original series "The
Ponderosa," "Ed McMahon's Next Big Star" and
"Candid Camera." Additional Paxson properties include
the PAX Family Club, a branded affinity club that provides
travel and product discounts for families, parenting advice and
valuable online information. For more information, visit PAX
TV's Web site at http://www.pax.tv. [Source: WUSA.com]
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