And the Best Quality Production in VOD
JERICHO, NY — May 4, 2004 — sportskool, the nation’s only video-on-demand sports and fitness instruction network, today announced that the network is shooting all of its original productions exclusively in 16:9 high-definition (HD).
By early June, more than 32 hours of originally produced HD sports and fitness instructional programming will be available in the sportskool library. Categories featuring HD content will initially include Fitness, Yoga (in English and Spanish), Basketball, Triathlon, 5K and Marathon Training, Adventure Racing, BMX, Freestyle Motocross, Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing.
“When we shoot in HD, the final product sportskool viewers see at home has a far superior image quality, even when the operator is delivering sportskool in standard definition,” said Brent Chapman, Senior Vice President, Developing Sports Businesses, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. “We’re building sportskool to be the authority on sports and fitness instruction delivered on-demand and we’re committed to being best-in-class — from the quality of our athletes and trainers, to the quality of our instruction, and, ultimately, the quality of our productions.”
“As cable operators expand their VOD offerings and as viewers recognize that VOD delivers more than movies, we plan to be out in front,” concluded Chapman.
sportskool, a service of Rainbow Sports Networks, is currently available as part of Cablevision’s iO: Interactive Optimum? digital cable television platform throughout the New York metropolitan region. The network is expected to launch in additional markets throughout the country later this year.
Featuring exclusive and original programming available only via VOD, sportskool delivers in-depth expert instruction, coaching and guidance from world-renowned athletes and coaches for a wide range of sports, fitness and training activities. The sportskool library consists of more than 2,000 instructional segments for the beginner, intermediate and advanced participant, covering 90 different activities. sportskool’s roster of elite athletes and trainers includes Mia Hamm, Sue Bird, Nomar Garciaparra, Mark Verstegen, Paul Pierce, Brad Gilbert, Jeff Blake, Mike Vallely (Mike V.), Bode Miller and many more.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC:
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, sportskool, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include its regional programming services — MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks — in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.