DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT AS
TITLE SPONSOR OF LANCE ARMSTRONG'S USPS TEAM
Title Sponsorship to begin in 2005
Silver Spring, Md. - Discovery Communications announced today a new global
partnership to become the title sponsor of five-time Tour de France champion
Lance Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, the only American
team to have won the Tour de France.
Beginning in 2005, the team will be known as the Discovery Channel Pro
Cycling Team. Under the agreement, Armstrong will serve as an on-air
personality across Discovery's networks in the United States and around the
world. There will be a number of programming initiatives to be announced
later. The Discovery Channel will be prominently featured on the team's
complete uniform and on team-related communication and promotional
materials. In addition, during the remainder of the 2004 cycling season,
Discovery will sponsor the team with the placement of the Discovery Channel
logo on the team's jerseys.
Armstrong will attempt to win his sixth consecutive Tour de France next
month and also announced today he will race in next year's Tour de France.
"Lance is a role model known for determination, integrity and a spirit that
never gives up. There is no better ambassador for quality and trusted
information than Lance Armstrong," said Judith A. McHale, president and
chief executive officer, Discovery Communications. "This global partnership
will bring Lance and the team to many of Discovery's programming and off-air
activities in the United States, Europe and across the globe."
"I'm truly excited about our team's partnership with Discovery
Communications and their long-term commitment to the sport of cycling," said
Armstrong.
Armstrong will also be featured in programming on a number of Discovery
Networks, namely the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, The Science Channel
as well as Discovery's television properties dedicated to health, wellness
and fitness - Discovery Health Channel and FitTV. Discovery Health Channel
is the leading cable network dedicated to focusing on health, wellness,
leading-edge medicine and the human spirit. Discovery Networks, U.S., a
division of DCI, launched fitness network FitTV, formerly The Health
Network, in late December of 2003.
The Outdoor Life Network broadcasts live coverage of the Tour de France and
airs "The Lance Chronicles: The Real Life Saga of Armstrong's Quest For
Six."
About Tailwind Sports (www.tailwindsports.com):
Tailwind Sports Corporation is a sports marketing agency that owns the
United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team®, presented by Berry Floor.
The USPS team is the only American-based team ever to win the sport's
premier event, the Tour de France (1999-2003). San Francisco-based Tailwind
Sports, along with Threshold Sports, also produces the premier U.S. cycling
race, the T-MOBILE INTERNATIONAL, presented by BMC Software.
About Capital Sports & Entertainment (www. planetcse.com):
Based in Austin, Texas, Capital Sports & Entertainment is an integrated
management and marketing firm providing services to athletes, artists,
events, and entertainment brands. Marquee clients include five-time Tour de
France champion Lance Armstrong, national Medal of Arts winner Austin City
Limits and the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the U.S. Postal Service
Pro Cycling Team®, presented by Berry Floor, and Grammy-nominated
singer-songwriter Abra Moore.
Capital Sports & Entertainment and Tailwind Sports jointly own and manage
the USPS Team.
Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and
entertainment company. DCI has grown from its core property, the Discovery
Channel, first launched in United States in 1985, to current global
operations in 160 countries and territories with one billion cumulative
subscribers. DCI's 60 networks of distinctive programming represents 19
entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery
Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science
Channel, Discovery Wings Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en
Espanol, Discovery HD Theater and FitTV. DCI's other properties consist of
Discovery.com and 120 Discovery Channel retail stores. DCI also distributes
BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four
shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc.
(NYSE: COX), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the
Company's founder and chairman.
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Brian P
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