NHL Coverage Begins on HDNet

New York (Oct. 3, 2001) -- The Los Angeles Kings hosted the PhoenixCoyotes on Thursday, Oct. 4 (10:30 p.m. ET) in the first broadcast of"NHL in HD,” a 65-game NHL schedule on HDNet, the world's onlyall high-definition network. The high-definition sports andentertainment network launched in September and is available onDIRECTV’s channel 199.

High-definition television adds scanning lines to improve overallpicture clarity, widens the picture-frame for a greater field ofvision, and adds additional audio channels to create surround-soundaudio.

"We immediately recognized the opportunities presented by a newhigh-definition television network," said Doug Perlman, NHL Senior VicePresident of Television and Media Ventures. "The high-definitionproductions will enable viewers to gain a better appreciation for thespeed of our game and the skill of our players."

The NHL was the first professional sports league to sign with HDNet.As part of the agreement, HDNet will produce its "NHL in HD" broadcastsin conjunction with several Fox Sports Net regional outlets, sharingaudio and graphics with FSN's standard definition production units. AllHDNet programming, including “NHL in HD,” is available toDIRECTV subscribers at no additional monthly programming cost.