HARTFORD, Conn. (November 1, 2011) – CPTV is excited to announce that it is bringing an all-new type of sports coverage to Connecticut with CPTV Sports, a statewide, 24/7 sports channel that covers high school, college and additional sporting events throughout the state.
Scheduled to launch in November on Comcast and Cox cable systems in Connecticut, CPTV Sports is a not-for-profit channel owned and managed by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) that broadcasts coverage of sporting events and match-ups from more than 40 schools and organizations, including the University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University, Post University and the CIAC state high school championships. The channel will expand to additional cable and over-the-air carriage in early 2012.
CPTV Sports will provide viewers coverage of mainstream sports such as baseball with the New Britain Rock Cats, basketball with the Hartford Lightning and the CT-6 Tournament, hockey with the CT Whale, and soccer with the CT Soccer League, as well as unique sporting events like auto racing from Stafford Motor Speedway, the SpiritFest Cheerleading Championships, and the Connecticut Special Olympics games. Future planned programming includes sports such as rugby, softball, cricket, roller derby, BMX, and others. The channel will also broadcast additional programming related to sports, such as programs on sports medicine.
CPTV Sports will be one of CPTV’s digital channels and will also be broadcast in high-definition television, and will take advantage of CPTV’s unique ability to bring local people and events to exciting life with intimate storytelling and reporting.
The team behind CPTV Sports includes broadcast professionals Bob Yalen, formerly with ESPN and ABC Sports, who serves as channel director and Joe Coss, Post University Sports Information Director, who serves as production manager.
“At CPTV, we know that the best in sports entertainment can be found, not in Boston or New York, but right here in the Nutmeg State,” said Jerry Franklin, President and CEO of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. “Tune in this November as CPTV Sports hits the airwaves, bringing coverage of all the exciting, inspiring fun that can be found right in Connecticut residents’ own backyards.”
About Connecticut Public Television
CPTV is a media service of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network. It is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including UConn Women’s Basketball, original documentaries and educational programming. CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children’s programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station offers 11 hours of positive, nurturing children’s programs each weekday, reaching 50,000 to 70,000 households daily. The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CBPN) also includes WNPR. WNPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. WNPR serves almost 240,000 listeners weekly in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island with news and information. Its award winning local programming includes Where We Live, The Colin McEnroe Show and The Faith Middleton Show. Overall the network brings a broad spectrum of public affairs, entertainment, sports and educational programming to viewers, listeners and readers. For more information, visit cptv.org.
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