Aug. 21, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Comcast SportsNet has announced that the network has signed a three-year deal with the University of Maryland Athletics Department. The deal will include special programming for Maryland football, men's basketball and women's basketball, while also featuring other Terp athletics events.
Maryland head football coach Ralph Friedgen will give an exclusive look into his team's progress, opponents and chances within the ACC to Comcast SportsNet viewers during "The Ralph Friedgen Show." The show will air every Friday night throughout the season, beginning Sept. 8. "The Ralph Friedgen Report," an exclusive segment within SportsNite, will air during the nightly news program each Wednesday and after every Terrapins game.
On Sunday evenings from 7:00-10:00 p.m., Comcast SportsNet will air "Terrapin Replay," a rebroadcast of that week's entire Maryland football game. The Terrapins matchups against William & Mary, Middle Tennessee and Florida International will also air exclusively on Comcast SportsNet as a tape-delayed production.
"The University of Maryland features an elite Athletics Department that appeals to sports fans throughout the entire Mid-Atlantic region," said Sam Schroeder, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic executive vice president and general manager. "Comcast SportsNet's long-term partnership with Maryland Athletics, coupled with our relationship with the ACC, gives college sports fans one network to turn to for complete coverage."
In addition to the aforementioned programming, head men's basketball coach Gary Williams will be featured exclusively on Comcast SportsNet. "The Gary Williams Show," a 30-minute weekly Maryland basketball special, will begin in January of 2007.
The 2006 National Champion Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team will be also featured in a 30-minute weekly show on Comcast SportsNet. "Under the Shell," a behind-the-scenes look at the National Champion's players and coaches, will give viewers additional insight into the Terrapins as they look to defend their title. "Under the Shell," along with "The Gary Williams Show," and "The Ralph Friedgen Show," will be available to all Comcast Digital Cable customers through Comcast On Demand.
Comcast SportsNet will broadcast Maryland men's and women's basketball games live through the network's five-year partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference. Through the deal, Comcast SportsNet will air up to 42 ACC men's basketball games, up to 26 women's games and three ACC Women's Basketball Tournament matchups.
The network will also air 11 regular season ACC baseball games and the conference's tournament championship game. The field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse and softball conference championships will also be featured on Comcast SportsNet.
