Universal Sports Network
Universal Sports Network and NBC Showcase Figure Skating’s Biggest Stars at the Grand Prix Final from Quebec City, Canada
World Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White Compete for Third Consecutive Grand
Prix Title; U.S. Champion Alissa Czisny Seeks Second Consecutive Grand Prix Victory;
Two-Time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott Attempts to Reclaim Grand Prix Title Won in 2008
New York and Los Angeles – December 8, 2011 –Universal Sports Network and NBC will provide multi-platform coverage of the final stop in the 2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series with the 2011 Grand Prix Final from Quebec City, Canada. Universal Sports Network will air LIVE coverage on Saturday, December 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET with the Men’s Competition, followed at 8 p.m. ET with the Pairs Competition and Short Dance. On Saturday, December 11 at Noon ET, NBC will air the Ladies and Men’s Free Skates with Universal Sports Network re-airing the coverage at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, Universal Sports Network will air the Free Dance at 5 p.m. ET.
UniversalSports.com will provide live streaming of the Grand Prix Final for a subscription price of $14.95. For more information, go to http://www.universalsports.com/figure-skating/index.html. Live and on-demand coverage can also be found at www.icenetwork.com, with coverage available to Season Pass subscribers.
On both the Universal Sports and NBC broadcasts, Terry Gannon will call the action. On Universal Sports, Gannon will be joined by two-time World bronze medalist Michael Weiss, Olympic silver medalist and four-time U.S. pairs champion Peter Carruthers, and Olympic silver medalist and four-time World medalist ice dancer Tanith Belbin. On the NBC broadcast, Gannon will be joined by Weiss and Olympic gold medalist and World and U.S. champion Tara Lipinski.
The 2011 Grand Prix Final will feature compelling skaters and storylines in the final competition of the season.
Ladies
Alissa Czisny is the reigning Grand Prix Final champion. The 2011 U.S. titlist began the season by winning gold at 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America, the first event of the Grand Prix Series. She went on to secure bronze at Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris in mid-November.
Men
Jeremy Abbott, the 2008 Grand Prix Final champion, makes his third trip to the Grand Prix Final and first since placing fourth in 2009. Abbott’s season includes a gold medal from Cup of China and a bronze from Rostelecom Cup.
Ice dancing
The United States will send two ice dancing teams to the Grand Prix Final for the first time since 2008. Meryl Davis & Charlie White enter the event having won eight consecutive events dating back to 2010 NHK Trophy. The 2011 World champions, Davis and White are two-time reigning Grand Prix Final titlists and added the bronze medal at this event in 2008. Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani earned their spot at the Grand Prix Final thanks to a gold medal at NHK Trophy, their first Grand Prix Series win, and silver at Cup of China. Both teams train in Canton, Mich.,
under coaches Marina Zoueva and Igor Shpilband.
Universal Sports and NBC Sports Broadcast Schedule
schedule subject to change
ALL TIMES ET
Grand Prix Final from Quebec City, Canada
Sat., Dec. 10 4:30-6 PM Men’s Competition (LIVE) Universal Sports
8-10 Pairs Competition and Short Dance (LIVE) Universal Sports
Sun., Dec. 11 12-2 PM Ladies and Men’s Free NBC
5-6 PM Free Dance (SDD) Universal Sports
8-10 PM Ladies and Men’s Free (NBC re-air) Universal Sports
The Grand Prix competitions are the latest Universal Sports Network events to be featured in the network’s national marketing campaign alerting viewers about its transition from over-the-air distribution to a multi-platform, high definition cable, satellite and IPTV service beginning in 2012. Viewers can make their voices heard by calling 1-800-55-GET-US to speak with their TV providers, demand access to Universal Sports Network and upgrade their experience through Universal Sports in HD, or by following this link: I Want Universal Sports.
Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, is the premier multi-platform media destination for Olympic-related sports programming in the United States. Universal Sports is currently available over the air in 52 markets nationwide, including all of the nation’s top 10 media markets and 20 of the top 25, and on DIRECTV. Major world championship sports events aired on Universal Sports include track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons, figure skating, cycling and rugby. The network’s website, UniversalSports.com, delivers an immersive user experience via live and on-demand competition coverage, interaction with top athletes through interviews and blogs and in-depth access to Olympic sports news and information year-round. For more information, please visit UniversalSports.com.
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Media Contact:
Megan Bondi
404-933-1610
