New Original On-Demand Ski Instruction Debuts Winter 2006;
sportskool on the Slopes in Torino with Team Member Erik Schlopy
New York, NY, February 6, 2005 – sportskool, the first and only video-on-demand television network to offer athletic instruction, adds new downhill ski instruction from charismatic Olympic great Bode Miller, to air in 2006. The overall 2005 World Cup champion alpine racer and 2006 Winter Olympic team member, Miller will partner with veteran U.S. ski team member Erik Schlopy to produce original on-demand instruction. Miller and Schlopy will provide unparalleled expertise to sportskool viewers through a variety of fun and challenging instruction, strategy and conditioning segments. sportskool will be sponsoring and logoing Schlopy’s helmet and headwear for the remainder of the 2006 World Cup ski season, including competition, podiums, media opportunities and public appearances. The two deals were brokered by Lowell Taub of GFHF Marketing & Management, both Miller and Schlopy’s agent.
“It’s an honor and an obvious coup to partner with Bode Miller during such an auspicious time in his career,” said Dan Ronayne, General Manager. “Only at sportskool can kids and their families learn from experts like Erik and Bode, at their own pace by utilizing VOD’s functionality to pause and rewind.”
Miller added, “I look forward to inspiring young athletes to fulfill their potential through the sportskool ski instruction program. The concept of using on-demand television to learn sports at their own pace is a very cool tool for kids and may just inspire the next generation of champions.”
About sportskool
Launched by Rainbow Media in 2004, sportskool is the first television network dedicated to delivering in-depth sports expert instruction and coaching for a wide range of sports and athletic activities. sportskool helps athletes of all ages take their game to the next level by offering guidance and insider tips from the world’s best athletes. The network – featuring exclusive and original programming custom-built for on-demand – boasts some of the most recognizable names in sports, including Mia Hamm, Bode Miller, Tony Gwynn, Bill Walton, Mike Vallely, tennis coach Brad Gilbert and renowned training and performance expert, Mike Verstegen. sportskool is currently available to over 18 million digital cable subscribers. Cable systems carrying sportskool include: Comcast, Time Warner, Cablevision, Charter, Mediacom, Mid-Hudson, Shrewsbury and Blue Ridge. For more information, visit www.sportskool.com.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country’s most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow’s other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.