NEW YORK - INHD, the new 24/7 all High Definition television network, nd the Arena Football League have reached an agreement to broadcast four live games nationally on an HD exclusive basis. The announcement was made today by David Asch, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Product Management of iN DEMAND Networks, and the Arena Football League. The first live game broadcast will be this Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET, featuring the New York Dragons at the Philadelphia Soul. For more information about viewing AFL games on INHD, visit www.inhd.com.
The agreement includes four games, which are exclusive to INHD through the rest of the regular season, which ends May 30. With its broadcast debut on NBC Sports last year, the AFL has gained increasing recognition as the popularity of arena football continues to grow. For the ninth straight year, more than one million fans have attended AFL games, while a record number of fans have tuned in to watch Arena Football games on broadcast television.
The AFL has expanded into the nation's largest markets and now has a total of 19 teams representing the following markets: Phoenix, Ariz., Austin, TX, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Denver, Colo., Columbus, OH, Dallas, Detroit, Atlanta, Ga., Grand Rapids, Mich., Indianapolis, Ind., Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Tampa, Fla.
"Arena football has established a loyal fan base that continues to grow, as evidenced by the growth of its attendance and broadcast ratings," said Asch. "We look forward to working with the AFL for future HD broadcasting agreements."
Arena Football is played indoors with goal-sided rebound nets and foam padded sideline barriers to keep the ball in play after rebounds. With only eight players on each side, and a continuously running clock, the game is fast-paced and features quick action play and high scores.
Scheduled AFL games on INHD (subject to change):
4/24/04- New York Dragons @ Philadelphia Soul 7:30pm ET
5/1/04-Arizona Rattlers @ Los Angeles Avengers -10:30pm ET
5/8/04-Las Vegas Gladiators @ Philadelphia Soul 7:30pm ET
5/15/04-Carolina Cobras @ Philadelphia Soul 7:30pm ET
The average attendance through Week 11 is approximately 12,163 fans per game, which is up seven percent from the 2003 season.
About Arena Football League
Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League, the second-longest running football league in U.S. history, is in its 18th season. On the strength of its Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights, the AFL is America's fastest growing sport. The Austin Wranglers join the Philadelphia Soul and New Orleans VooDoo as the three expansion teams added for the 2004 season. At least two more teams will be added in each of the next two seasons. A network-TV sport, the AFL is celebrating its second season on NBC in 2004.
About INHD
INHD and INHD2 are television's first multi-channel 24/7 linear-scheduled network that features commercial-free movies, professional and college sports and general interest programming that maximizes the HD television experience. INHD provides superior images and sound and more native HD programming than any other network. INHD is owned and operated by iN DEMAND Networks. Company shareholders are Comcast iN DEMAND Holdings, Inc., Cox Communications, Inc. and Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership. INHD and INHD2 are available on Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner cable systems. Further information about INHD can be found on the Internet at www.inhd.com.