Wednesday, September 24, 2003

For the first time in franchise history, the Chicago Wolves will televise all 80 regular-season games in 2003-04, as well as every playoff game, live on Comcast Cable.

The unprecedented move puts the Wolves in a category with the 14 National Hockey League teams that televise all of their regular-season games.

"People do not go home to watch the radio. People go home to watch TV," said Wolves Chairman of the Board Don Levin. "Back in the '30s, '40s and '50s, people went home and listened to the radio. But this is not your parents' hockey team. With that in mind, and because hockey is such a visual sport, we feel that this is the ideal broadcasting option. We're providing our fans the very best Wolves coverage, and giving all Chicago-area sports fans a chance to see, in color, what it's like to be at all 80 Wolves games."

The broadcasts will feature Wolves announcer and Chicago native Judd Sirott, who returns for his 10th year, and analyst Billy Gardner, who starts his second season with the organization after having spent 12 seasons as a player and broadcaster with the Chicago Blackhawks. Wolves games will air on a locally designated Comcast channel.

This is the 10th year the Wolves have televised their games. Last year, Chicago televised 12 games on CLTV. Previously, the team's largest television package was 35 games, including 11 playoff contests during the team's 2002 Calder Cup Championship season.

"Comcast is excited about this partnership that allows us to bring Wolves hockey to our customers," said Eric Schaefer, Comcast vice president of sales and marketing. "Chicago sports fans want all the excitement, the action and the drama of Wolves hockey up close and personal, and Comcast is committed to giving customers more of what they want."

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