FANZ-TV Network Signs 2-Year Deal with af2

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - CHICAGO – FANZ-TV Network, a newly-launched 24-7 Sports Television Network, announced today that it has reached a one-year broadcast agreement with the arenafootball2 league (af2) for the 2008 season that includes a future two-year option. The network has agreed to pay a broadcast rights fee to the league but the actual financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
“By signing the af2 to a network broadcast contract, this brings FANZ-TV much closer to its goal of being recognized as a credible sports television network. The af2 is the upper echelon of what Arena Football is truly about,” said FANZ-TV President/CEO Rod Myers. "This is just another testimony to the mission of the network to promote minor league sports as a whole and to partner with leagues in order to bring great sports entertainment to millions of homes. We feel that this partnership will be mutually beneficial for both parties.”
 

Advertisement = FANZ-TV also has plans to carry playoff games, conference championships as well as the 2008 ArenaCup Championship live in their entirety. A special season-in-review show will be produced as a lead-in to the postseason af2 action. A weekly series is currently being considered as well.
 
A broadcast schedule is currently being finalized among both parties. Further details will be announced as soon as they become available.
 
“We’re excited about the potential of this partnership with FANZ-TV,” af2 President Jerry Kurz said. “Televising a select number of our games is a great way to increase our visibility throughout the country and bring our sport to more fans than ever before.”
 
FANZ-TV will handle all of the advertising duties for the games and has currently put together a media kit for immediate consideration. Multi-level sponsorships are now available and individual/package plans can be made to fit the desired advertising effect.
 
"By broadcasting these games on a national level, we intend to bring to the fans a great family-oriented product,” Myers continued. “Sports continue to be a main staple of America’s zest for entertainment and we intend to showcase exactly the caliber of Arena Football the af2 has provided for the past eight years.”
 
Currently, FANZ-TV has signed 30 stations in 30 markets, reaching nearly 25.1 million U.S. television homes for the game-day broadcasts. The network has also reached agreements with the Lone Star Network (2.3 million) and Altitude Sports (5.4 million) to broadcast the games, adding an additional 7.7 million homes. The games will also appear on the Altitude’s DirecTv CH. 644 and DISH Ch. 410, bringing another 30 million homes to the footprint. The network will update the complete list of coverage areas on its website at www.fanztvnetwork.com. 

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