Contact: Chris Helein
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: (301) 718-3278
COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO ANNOUNCES NETWORK’S NEW HOME
Studios And Offices For New Regional Sports Network To Be Located At 350 North Orleans;
State-Of-The-Art Digital Broadcast Facility To Be Installed
Chicago, IL (June 8, 2004) – Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the 24-hour regional sports network set to launch
Oct. 1, 2004, announces today that it has signed a lease to make 350 North Orleans its new home.
The long-term lease is for approximately 40,000 square feet of space in Suite S1-100 that will become the permanent home to Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s offices, studios and technical facilities. Comcast SportsNet will occupy the space on Dec. 1, 2004 and install a new digital facility that will provide viewers enhanced video in a wide screen 16:9 format. All renovations will be complete by April 2005.
“We’re happy to have settled on our new home, said Jim Corno, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “We’re working diligently in preparation for our October launch and the opportunity to provide Chicago sports fans a new experience in total local sports coverage.”
Temporary executive offices have been established in 350 North Orleans, with studio and news operations being run from CLTV in Oakbrook, Ill., until the upgrades are complete.
"All of us like sports, but we love Chicago sports," said Christopher G. Kennedy, president, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). "We're committed to doing our part to help Comcast SportsNet launch its new coverage of Chicago teams. Its investment in technology -- coupled with the live events and high-visibility productions it brings to our homes -- will demand the best of our team at MMPI, which is ready to support Comcast's expanding network."
Comcast SportsNet Chicago will carry 248 regular season games for the White Sox (95), Cubs (72), Bulls (42), and Blackhawks (39), and feature live pre- and post-game shows for each team.
In addition to offering a fulltime digitally enhanced picture, Comcast SportsNet Chicago will produce home games for all their team partners in high-definition format, offering fans the opportunity to experience their teams’ games like never before, with the best picture and audio available.
Comcast SportsNet Chicago will also feature unique programming including SportsNite and SportsRise, daily sports newscasts designed to inform and entertain the local sports fan with the latest news affecting their teams and the world of sports.
Comcast SportsNet currently consists of two regional sports networks servicing the Philadelphia and Washington/Baltimore television markets. Together, the two networks reach over 7 million households in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia, and provide game coverage for the Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, as well as various minor league and collegiate game telecasts. Comcast SportsNet Chicago will become the third member of the family on October 1, 2004 when it launches with game coverage of the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox.
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