WNBA Games and Programming Reach a Record 66 Telecasters in 188 Countries and 30 Languages for the 2004 Season
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2004--The 2004 WNBA season will be televised to record numbers worldwide, including games and programming reaching 188 countries through 66 telecasters and in 30 languages.
In addition to renewing deals with many international telecasters from the 2003 campaign, the WNBA has entered into agreements for the first time with Poland (Canal+), Venezuela (Channel 8), Georgia (Imedi TV), Norway (Canal+Nordic), Finland (Canal+Nordic), Sweden (Canal+Nordic), China (Dragon TV), Cyprus (LTV) and Iraq (Iraq Media Network).
The league features 27 foreign-born players from 19 different countries and territories, including Lauren Jackson (Australia), Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal), Margo Dydek (Poland) and Elena Baranova (Russia). This season also marks the first time a WNBA game is being held outside of the U.S. The game in Monterrey, Mexico on May 6, 2004 featured the Detroit Shock and San Antonio Silver Stars in a preseason matchup.
The WNBA's eighth season is expected to be the most competitive in terms of the level of talent, the intensity of match-ups and the overall action on the court. The 2004 WNBA rookie class has been widely acknowledged as the league's deepest to date with heralded young players including three-time Connecticut NCAA champion Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury and Duke AP Player of Year Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics.
David Cooper,
212-407-8095
or
Eric Conrad,
212-407-8274