Premium TV network EPIX and the National Hockey League (NHL®)
announced today that they have formed a partnership to produce and
distribute a two-part original series, debuting on EPIX in
December 2014, that will bring hockey fans onto the ice and
behind-the-scenes with the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals as
they prepare to compete in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, and
the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks on their road to the 2015
Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™.
Produced by 52-time Emmy award winner Ross Greenburg, the series
will offer viewers an exclusive look inside the world of the NHL, with
strategically placed cameras and microphones providing an all-access
pass to players’ homes, locker rooms, training rooms, and the arena.
A pioneer in “TV Everywhere” multi-platform availability, EPIX’s
television, on-demand, and digital offerings will provide fans intimate
looks at these athletes in professional and personal settings, capturing
all the action, drama, heartaches, and triumphs as they unfold.
Part one of the series will premiere on EPIX in the U.S. and
Sportsnet in Canada in December, with weekly episodes following the
Blackhawks and the Capitals through regular season games, culminating
with the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® outdoor game in
Washington, D.C. on New Year’s Day, January 1.
Part two of the series will premiere on EPIX in the U.S. and Sportsnet
in Canada in February 2015 with weekly episodes focused on the reigning
Stanley Cup® Champion Kings and their division rivals, the Sharks, as
they prepare for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ on February 21st.
U.S. hockey fans will be able to watch each episode streamed live for
free on EPIX.com, the EPIX mobile and connected device apps, as well as
on NHL.com, the NHL app, and the official websites and apps for each
participating team. In addition, fans will be able to sign up for a free
trial EPIX subscription at EPIX.com to view the entire series on
demand through the EPIX online and app platforms.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with the National Hockey League
to create this original series,” said EPIX President and CEO Mark
Greenberg. “This up close and personal programming is a perfect fit
with our goal to provide entertainment that engages fans, using leading
edge technology to meet the changing viewing habits of consumers, making
it available wherever, whenever they are watching.”
“Hockey fans have a strong appetite for original and engaging content
built on storytelling,” said NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins.
“EPIX has developed an impressive reputation for its high-quality
original sports programming and access to its content across a multitude
of platforms. This two-part series will continue to bring every fan the
engaging, all-access narratives and storylines they have come to expect.”
“The players appreciate the high level of interest that this series will
create amongst fans with Ross Greenburg and EPIX bringing the players’
stories directly into your living room,” said Don Fehr, NHL
Players’ Association Executive Director. “The opportunity to play
outdoors in a stadium atmosphere is always exciting for the players and
their families, and this series will undoubtedly be content that fans
won’t want to miss."
“Canadian hockey fans love seeing their favourite players up-close and
personal – they can never get enough of it,” said Scott Moore,
President, Sportsnet and NHL, Rogers. “This series is the perfect
complement to our stars-first philosophy and we are proud to partner
with the NHL and EPIX to bring this type of premium programming to
hockey fans north of the border.”
This two-part series is the newest entry in EPIX’s
wide-ranging, exclusive sports franchise programming, which includes Forgotten
Four: the Integration of Pro Football, premiering tonight, September
23rd, at 8 PM ET. Featured programs also include David
Ortiz In the Moment, Amar'e Stoudemire In the Moment, Lindsey
Vonn In the Moment, and Schooled: The Price of College Sports.
About the NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of 30
Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup with
players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters, vying
for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the
Stanley Cup®. Every year the NHL entertains more than 250 million
fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio;
more than 10 million fans on its social platforms; and more than 300
million fans online at NHL.com. In Canada, the 2014-15 season marks the
beginning of a landmark 12-year broadcast and multimedia agreement with
Rogers Communications, which includes national rights to NHL games on
all platforms in all languages. In the U.S., the NHL is in the fourth
season of its 10-year agreement with NBC and NBCSN, the 10th
consecutive season both networks have served as national television
partners. The NHL is committed to giving back to the community with
programs including: Hockey is for Everyone™, which supports
nonprofit youth hockey organizations across North America; Hockey
Fights Cancer™, raising money for local and national cancer
organizations; NHL Green™, which is committed to pursuing sustainable
business practices; and a partnership with the You Can Play Project,
which is committed to supporting the LGBT community and fighting
homophobia in sports. The NHL received three 2014 Sports Business
Awards: “Sports League of the Year,” “Sports Executive of the Year”
recognizing Commissioner Gary Bettman, and “Sports Event of the Year”
for the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. For more information,
visit NHL.com.
About EPIX
EPIX is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service
delivering the latest movie releases, classic film franchises, original
documentaries, comedy and music events on TV, on demand, online and on
devices. Launched in October 2009, EPIX has pioneered the development
and proliferation of “TV Everywhere.” It was the first premium network
to provide multi-platform access to its content online at EPIX.com and
was the first premium network to launch on Xbox, PlayStation®, Android
tablets and phones, Windows 8.1 and Roku® players. EPIX is available to
authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®
and iPhones® and is the only premium service providing all its
programming on all platforms, delivering more movies than any other
premium network, with thousands of titles available for streaming.
EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its
Paramount Pictures unit, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios Inc. (MGM). Through relationships with cable, satellite and
telco partners, EPIX is available to over 50 million homes nationwide.
For more information about EPIX, go to www.EPIX.com.
Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD (http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD)
and on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EPIX),
YouTube (http://youtube.com/EPIX),
Instagram (http://instagram.com/EPIX),
Google+ (http://plus.google.com/+EPIX)
and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/EPIX).
NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark NHL Winter Classic and the word
mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the NHL
Winter Classic logo and NHL Stadium Series name and logo are trademarks
of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the
property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2014. All
Rights Reserved.
Copyright Business Wire 2014