Universal HD Gets Into Olympic Spirit
Network Will Present Olympic-Themed Programming Throughout August
By Larry Barrett -- Multichannel News, 7/24/2008 12:10:00 PM
Universal HD Thursday announced it will honor the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics with Olympic-themed programming throughout the month of August, including the continuation of Showtime Championship Boxing.
Network officials said viewers can see “all their favorite celebrities with the hottest movie premieres” in 1080i high definition. The final season of Battlestar Galactica also lands on the network in August.
“We are so thrilled to be supporting the long awaited 2008 Beijing Olympics this August on Universal HD,” Dan Harrison, senior vice president of emerging networks at NBC Universal, said in a statement. “Throughout the month, our viewers will get all of their favorite sporting events with wall-to-wall Olympic programming in superior high definition.”
Universal HD’s programming kicks off with 2008 Beijing Olympic programming from Friday, Aug. 8 to Sunday, August 24. The coverage begins on Friday, August 8 at 2 a.m. ET and continues all day through Sunday, August 24 at 2 a.m. ET. Additional Olympic coverage returns Sunday, August 24 from 9 a.m.– 1 p.m. ET. Before the games begin, Universal HD honors Olympic athletes in various Olympic Trials events during “Olympic Athlete Weekend” on Saturday, August 2 from 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. ET and Sunday, August 3 from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. ET.
The continuation of Showtime Championship Boxing returns with the premiere of Abraham vs. Miranda on Sunday, August 3 at 8 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET. Extreme sport fans can catch the AST Dew Tour Wendy's Invitational from Portland, Oregon immediately after the Olympics coverage on Saturday, August 23 from 2-4 a.m. ET. Encores will follow on Sunday, August 24 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET and again on Wednesday, August 27 from 8-10 p.m. and 2-4 a.m. ET.
Battlestar Galactica returns to the schedule with its fourth-season premiere on Saturday, August 30 at 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET.
