FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

CSN and OKC Boathouse District Announce Partnership

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hopefuls, NCAA Events Among Programming Highlights

HOUSTON– Comcast SportsNet Houston (CSN), a partnership between the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and the NBC Sports Group, today announced a partnership with the Oklahoma City Boathouse District, an area emerging as one of the world’s premier sites for both rowing and canoe/kayak.Located on the Oklahoma River, the Boathouse District is home to a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, where Olympic hopefuls in both rowing and canoe/kayak train at the OKC National High Performance Center.CSN will become the TV home of Oklahoma river sports, with the most in-depth coverage of the largest number of rowing/canoeing/kayaking events in the region. The network’s coverage will include reports, highlights and interview segments of many of the Boathouse District’s premier events on SportsTalk Live (M-F, 5 p.m.) and SportsNet Central (M-F, 6 p.m., 10 p.m., midnight; Weekends at 10 p.m. and midnight).

“The facilities of Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District are very impressive, providing a world class home for river sport events and competitors from across the region,” CSN Director of Programming Janice Schmader said. “CSN’s regional coverage provides a spotlight for these athletes and further helps solidify Oklahoma City’s status as a river sports destination.”

Upcoming events include;

August 8-11: USA Canoe/Kayak National Championships: This event crowns national champions in every age bracket for USA Canoe/Kayak, the national governing body of the sport of canoe/kayak. Athletes at the Bantam (under 14), Juvenile (Under 16), Junior (under 18), Senior (athletes of any age who are competing at the elite level) and Masters (adults 21-plus) levels compete.

October 2-6: Oklahoma Regatta Festival: This is the largest annual event on the Oklahoma River with more than 2,000 athletes participating. In 2013 it will feature the Official Test Event in advance of the 2014 Canoe Marathon World Championships, an event that comes to the Oklahoma River Sept. 26-28 2014. The Canoe Marathon test event will feature top paddlers racing October 2.

The Boathouse District is a unique destination for athletes, families and visitors to the Oklahoma City metro. Athletes look forward to rowing or paddling on the district’s 4000m race and training course, while families and visitors take advantage of the river’s 12-plus miles of trails for running, walking or cycling. The Boathouse District has the world’s tallest vertical adventure course, the 80-foot SandRidge Sky Trail which will include the tallest dry slide in America and the Base Jump 80-foot free-fall experience, both which open for Memorial Day weekend. Everyone appreciates the iconic architecture of the structures along the river, each designed by architect Rand Elliott, Elliott & Associates. Together, the architecture and athleticism of the Boathouse District are becoming recognized as a world-class destination by local and international visitors alike. Additional plans for the Boathouse District include a $35 million Whitewater Rafting & Kayaking Center and construction of the Oklahoma River Stadium – grandstands, floating stage, permanent lighting, and additional race infrastructure.

CSN is available in both standard and high definition to all local cable, satellite and telco TV providers and today is carried by:

CableVision (channel 34 in Bay City, El Campo and Wharton, Texas areas)

Coastal Link (channels 31/131 in Brazoria County, Texas)

Comcast Cable (channels 39/639 in the Houston area; 86/1688 in Houma, La Place, Monroe and Shreveport, Lou.;  269/1687 in Little Rock, Ark.)

Consolidated Communications (channels 42/723 in the Houston area)

Telecom Cable (channel 23 in Freeport, Texas; channel 33 in Fulshear, Texas)

EnTouch (channels 73/473 in the Houston area)

Phonoscope (channels 35/293 in the Houston area)

Viewers with other video providers should visit IWantCSNHouston.com for the latest distribution developments and to tell their cable, satellite or telco TV provider to add Comcast SportsNet to their channel lineup. Follow Comcast SportsNet Houston on Twitter: @CSNHouston for the latest news and information about the network.

###