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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CANADIAN FOOTBALL TO BE AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 70 MILLION HOMES VIA AMERICA ONE SPORTS AS THE 2005 CFL SEASON BEGINS IN JUNE |
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| Toronto, Ontario, Canada; New York, USA, June 3, 2005 - The
Canadian Football League will begin its 2005 season with coverage in over
70 million U.S television households via America One Sports, more than
doubling the broadcast reach available in the market at the start of CFL
play last year.
Building on momentum established during the 2004 season, more than a dozen U.S. regional sports networks will carry professional CFL football in their lineups this season. CFL games are played when the NFL is off the air or in pre-season, and is unopposed on Friday and Saturday nights throughout its 20-week regular season. The CFL television coverage success has been achieved under the direction of Trajectory Sports & Media Group LLC, which has the marketing responsibility for Canadian football broadcasts in the United States and internationally. The New York-based company has steadily broadened the distribution of CFL games since partnering with the CFL in 2004. CFL coverage in the U.S. kicks off this year with a preseason game scheduled for June 11. This will be followed by regular season play starting on June 22, and will continue through to the league's 93rd Grey Cup championship game on November 27. "With the 2005 season marking the second year of our relationship with Trajectory Sports & Media Group, we are extremely pleased at the interest and success we've seen to date. We look forward to welcoming back our U.S. fans and with more game coverage across additional networks, and are excited at the opportunity to introduce new viewers to the excitement and fast pace of Canadian football," said CFL Commissioner Tom Wright. Each of this year's nine CFL team rosters include U.S. players, many of whom come from local colleges and home towns throughout the country. In addition football greats such as Doug Flutie, Warren Moon and Jeff Garcia played in the CFL before joining NFL franchises. "We are starting the 2005 season with a strong group of regional sports networks that give us excellent coverage across the U.S.," added Chris McCracken, the CFL's Senior Director of Broadcast. "This builds on the positive response U.S. viewers had to the 2004 Grey Cup finale last November and to our promise to deliver our great Canadian game to fans across North America. As the season progresses, we look forward to introducing additional broadcast outlets and new technologies to further enhance CFL coverage." Trajectory Sports & Media Group has arranged the U.S. coast-to-coast coverage of CFL through regional television sports networks, local TV stations and satellite broadcasters. The following television operations will carry 2005 CFL football via America One Sports: Comcast
SportsNet operations in the Bay Area/Northern & Central
California, Chicago, Many of these regional sports networks also are carried on DISH Network and DIRECTV, offering direct-to-homes users game access in all markets. "Our 2005 coverage expands the broadcast system created during last season's U.S. exposure to CFL games," said Richard Stone, the President of Trajectory Sports & Media Group. "We received excellent feedback from the regional sports networks that carried CFL action in 2004, with many reporting that fans were following players they knew from their collegiate days or from their part of the country." For the 2005 season, players with U.S. ties will record tune-in promotion messages for regional sports networks and local market TV stations - underscoring the CFL's links to the grass roots of America. For additional information and a detailed broadcast schedule, visit www.cfl.ca. About the Canadian Football League About Trajectory Sports & Media Group, LLC ### Contact information: Trajectory Sports and Media Group Canadian Football League | |