Comcast to air Battle of Chicago in first-of-its-kind handball broadcast

CHICAGO (June 24, 2010) – America's biggest team handball event will air on Comcast Sports Group’s regional sports networks, marking the first time the sport has received broad exposure in the USA outside of the Olympic Games, USA Team Handball announced today.  

The Battle of Chicago doubleheader will feature the U.S. television debut of the USA Men’s National Team, as well a rematch of the 2007 World Championship Final, Germany vs. Poland, at Chicago's UIC Pavilion on Saturday, July 17, 2010.  

“This coverage will showcase our sport to American fans,” said Steve Pastorino, USA Team Handball general manager. “Not only will our audience see a young USA team building towards future Olympic Games, but they will enjoy two of the top five handball teams in the world, historic rivals, continue their training for the 2011 World Championships.”  

The USA Men will open the action at 11:05am (CDT) with a game against the 2010 Club National Champions, Los Angeles Team Handball Club. At 1:05pm (CDT), Poland, currently ranked fourth in the world, will take on Germany, currently ranked fifth.

Nine Comcast Sports Group affiliates have committed to carry one or both games, including Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, The Comcast Network – Philadelphia, The Mtn., and CSS. Local broadcast schedules vary by market and a complete list of air times will be posted at www.usateamhandball.org.

The Germany-Poland match will be broadcast live (at 8:00 p.m.) in prime time in Germany, as a result of negotiations conducted on behalf of USA Team Handball by SportFive, the global sports marketing agency based in Hamburg, Germany.  Germany’s Sport1 will carry the game. Live coverage in Poland is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information about the broadcasts including advertising opportunities, please contact USA Team Handball at (801) 463-2000.  Tickets are on sale via TicketMaster or via USA Team Handball group sales at (312) 861-4901.

The Battle of Chicago is produced by USA Team Handball, in partnership with the German Handball Federation (DHB), Polish Handball Federation (ZPRP), United States Olympic Committee (USOC), World Sport Chicago, and SportFive.  Game sponsors and/or broadcast advertisers include Ex-Libris, Grundfos, Toyota, SnapSports, NH Hotels and Sobieski Vodka.  

About USA Team Handball (USATH)
USA Team Handball, a 501-c-3 corporation currently headquartered in Salt Lake City, was certified by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) on April 30, 2008. The federation's board of directors is chaired by President Dieter Esch. Its jurisdiction includes development of grassroots programs, preparation of national teams and day-to-day oversight of the sport of Team Handball throughout the United States. Visit the federation at www.usateamhandball.org.

About Team Handball
Handball, widely known as Team Handball in the United States, is played in 159 nations by 39 million people. Called “ripe for an American invasion” by TIME magazine, many people link elements of basketball, soccer and lacrosse to the sport. It is fast, physical and exciting.  Two teams, composed of six players and one goalie each, face off on an NBA-sized court. Players dribble, pass and shoot a ball into a soccer-like goal. Final scores in this action-packed game are often in the 30s. A regulation game is played in two 30-minute halves.  Reigning Olympic champions are France (men) and Norway (women).

About Comcast Sports Group
Comcast Sports Group operates 11 sports networks that deliver 2,400 sporting events annually and sports news and analysis to more than 50 million cable and satellite homes. Comcast Sports Group’s networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn. – Mountain West Sports Network, CSS and Comcast Sports Southwest. Comcast Sports Group also manages New England Cable News (NECN), the nation’s largest regional news network, and The Comcast Network, based in Philadelphia and Washington, which delivers community-oriented programming. For more information, see ComcastSportsNet.com.