CINCINNATI –
In response to an increasing demand for coverage of the Cincinnati Reds, FOX Sports Net is making Real Reds, presented by AE Door Sales, a regular pregame show that will air prior to every Cincinnati Reds home game on FOX Sports Net. The regional network will welcome the start of the 2000 Cincinnati Reds season with a special hour-long Real Reds pregame show on Monday, April 3 at 12:00 PM. Dan Hoard will join Jeff Piecoro as co-host of Real Reds. Steve Liverani, senior vice president and general manager, FOX Sports Net, made these announcements today.
“FOX Sports Net is very happy to give Reds fans in the tri-state area 85 games plus additional Red programming,” said Liverani. “Fans can tune into Real Reds 30 minutes prior to every home telecast for the most up-to-date news, interviews and information surrounding the Cincinnati Reds.”
Dan Hoard debuts during the opening day presentation of Real Reds on Monday, April 3 (12:00 PM), prior to the Cincinnati Reds game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoard, along with co-host Jeff Piecoro, will introduce fans to the 2000 Cincinnati Reds with a behind-the-scenes look at the building of the team that includes a review of the acquisition of Ken Griffey, Jr., a recap of spring training, and an interview with manager Jack McKeon.
Real Reds also celebrates the day’s activities with a look at the opening day starting pitcher, pregame ceremonies from the field, and a review of past opening days featuring the 1975 and 1990 Cincinnati Reds, who went on to win the World Series.
| Following the one-hour Real Reds special, FOX Sports Net will telecast the Cincinnati Reds season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. Game time is 1:00 PM |
Hoard has been a sports anchor and reporter at WXIX-TV since 1995. In addition to his on-air responsibilities, he is also the play-by-play announcer for the University of Cincinnati’s basketball and football telecasts, and the host of the coach’s show for both sports. Listeners may have heard Hoard on WLW-AM, where, since 1996, he has been broadcasting the University of Cincinnati football games. During the 1999 season, Hoard was an analyst for a number of Cincinnati Reds broadcasts on WLW-AM.
FOX Sports Net is a service of National Sports Partners, a 50/50 joint venture between Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., and News Corp.’s FOX Entertainment Group. Equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and FOX Entertainment Group, FOX Sports Net now reaches more than 68 million homes nationwide.
Rainbow Sports, a division of Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., has dedicated itself to “Home Team” fans for more than 20 years. Rainbow Sports incorporates all of Rainbow Media’s sports assets, including its 50 percent ownership of FOX Sports Net and FOX Sports National Advertising, majority ownership of Madison Square Garden Properties, and the ownership and management of FOX Sports Net regional networks in six of the nation’s largest markets – Chicago, New York, New England, Florida, Ohio and San Francisco.
Contact:
Kim McCarty
(216) 328-0333
ksmccarty@rainbow-media.com