New York, NY, February 1, 2005 – Basketball legend and NBA analyst Bill Walton is heading back onto the hardwood this Spring to help aspiring athletes reach their basketball peak as he becomes the latest all-star coach to provide expert instruction on SPORTSKOOL. Launched in 2004 by Rainbow Media, SPORTSKOOL marks the first and only video-on-demand television network designed to assist young athletes in attaining their athletic goals by allowing them to train any time, everyday, from their own home with world-renowned athletes like Walton. Other star athletes to contribute their expertise on SPORTSKOOL include soccer legend Mia Hamm, Chicago Cub’s all-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and reigning world champion ski racer Bode Miller.
SPORTSKOOL empowers aspiring athletes of all skill levels to optimize their on-field performance by participating in drills and workouts provided on-screen by these and other sports superstars as well as garner invaluable lessons through guidance and coaching tips. Walton will provide step-by-step instruction and drills on a variety of topics – from shooting, rebounding, and passing, to ball control, footwork and defense. His “chalk talk” coaching and strategy segment will cover such topics as focus, goal setting and emulating other players. Walton’s segments will be available on the Network beginning this April.
“When we began to look at bolstering our basketball offerings, Bill Walton was our top choice. During his NBA career, Walton was always recognized as one of the greatest students of the game. His work ethic and tenacity made him someone young players always looked to emulate. He continues to be on the pulse of the game and in touch with the key physical and mental skills aspiring basketball players need to try to master to reach their peak. Only at SPORTSKOOL can kids and their families learn from a basketball legend, at their own pace by utilizing VOD’s DVD like functionality to pause and rewind,” said Dan Ronayne, General Manager.
Mr. Walton added, “It is important for young athletes to have every opportunity to fulfill their potential – both on and off the field. When I was first approached by SPORTSKOOL, I was absolutely captivated at what they were doing. As a pro athlete I always found it important to give back to the fans. Now with this Network, I can help have an even greater impact with aspiring athletes nationwide through lending my skills and advice. That is something truly special.”
SPORTSKOOL delivers in-depth expert instruction, coaching and guidance for a wide range of sports and fitness activities. The network – featuring exclusive and original programming available only via VOD -launched with an extensive library of programming and the support of a comprehensive marketing campaign, including trade and consumer advertising and promotion, cross-channel promotion, and partnerships with youth and adult sports organizations.
SPORTSKOOL, a service of Rainbow Sports Networks, is available at no extra charge on channel 149 throughout the New York metropolitan area as part of Cablevision’s award winning iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable television platform. It is also currently available on several other cable systems including Mid-Hudson Cable and Blue Ridge Cable and is expected to be rolling out to other systems across the country in the coming months.
For more information about sportskool, visit http://www.sportskool.com.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC:
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, sportskool, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.