Maryland Women's Basketball Subject of 13-Episode Series To Air Nationally
1/7/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2005
View Trailer: Maryland Women's Basketball: Under the Shell
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland Department of Athletics announced today that a cutting-edge, national television program will launch Sunday, Jan. 9. Fans will have a unique, all-access look at the Terrapin women's basketball team in its quest to capture an ACC title and reach the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year when "Maryland Women's Basketball: Under the Shell" debuts nationally, including on Comcast SportsNet on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 11:30 a.m. The reality-based, 13-episode documentary will be available to 100 million viewers through Fox College Sports (FCS) (programming scheduled to be announced at a later date) and every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 12 on College Sports TV (CSTV). It is the first reality-based series on a women's basketball team to air nationally.
"This programming will change the way the public views Division I women's basketball because the interaction is really dynamic and thought-provoking," said Deborah A. Yow, Maryland Athletics Director. "Senior Associate Athletic Director Michael Lipitz and Jess Atkinson have done a terrific job of pulling this all together."
"Maryland Women's Basketball: Under the Shell" is the first show to dedicate 13 episodes to the day-to-day life of a nationally-ranked Division I women's basketball team and airs every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on Comcast and re-airs during the following week. Follow third-year head coach Brenda Frese and her nationally-ranked Maryland Terrapins from day one of training camp until the last game of the season. From practices to the locker room before, during and after games, the show gives viewers unprecedented access to Maryland women's basketball.
"We're excited to be a part of this unique experience," said Frese. "Fans get the opportunity to know our players and their different personalities, as well as experience the ups and downs of playing at a top-level Division I women's basketball program."
"Maryland Women's Basketball: Under the Shell" is produced by former Terrapin and NFL place-kicker Jess Atkinson, who also is the producer of FridgeTV.com.
"Our cameras follow Coach Frese and her young team everywhere as they strive to raise the bar on women's basketball at Maryland," said Atkinson. "From her demanding practices to her powerful pregame locker room speeches, viewers will see her in her numerous roles as coach, educator, mentor and friend. Coach Frese is amazing, and the great part of this show is that the `reality TV' format allows you to see it for yourself."
"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver this unique programming to our viewers," said Sam Schroeder, executive vice president and general manager of Comcast SportsNet. "Following the Terrapins nationally ranked women's basketball program throughout the season is sure to provide compelling television."
Comcast SportsNet, a division of Comcast Corporation, is a service of Philadelphia-based Comcast Regional Sports Television serving more than 4.5 million homes in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., via more than 200 cable systems in the mid-Atlantic region and major satellite services. The network is home to game coverage of the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, DC United, and the ACC as well as original programming featuring the region's professional, minor league and collegiate teams.
Fox College Sports is available to 40 million digital homes nationwide and is seen by viewers in the nation's 25 largest cities. FCS is three regionally aligned channels (FCS Atlantic, FCS Central, FCS Pacific) programmed for the 20 FSN and FSN-affiliated regional sports networks, and it features live college events from the ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and Big East. For more information on FCS, viewers can log onto www.foxcollegesports.com.
"The University of Maryland women's basketball team is a group of top-notch talent and unique personalities from Coach Brenda Frese all the way down the line", said Tim Pernetti, Senior Vice President, Programming & Talent, CSTV. "We are thrilled to grow our relationship with the University in televising `Under the Shell', a true all-access look at the world of Maryland women's basketball. We have enjoyed covering Maryland athletics on CSTV from men's and women's lacrosse to field hockey, to our insiders look at Gary Williams and the men's basketball team as part of Nike Training Camp in 2003"
CSTV, the first-ever 24-hour college sports television network, televises regular season and championship event coverage from more than 35 men's and women's sports across every major collegiate athletic conference, and also televises many NCAA and NAIA Championships. CSTV has agreements with distributors serving more than 65 million homes nationally, including the top six: Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner, Charter, Cox and Adelphia.
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