Here's the press release from NBC Sports, Universal Sports and U.S. Figure Skating on how we can watch the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, which begins on October 22 with the NHK Trophy in Nagoya, Japan. (Click here to see entire Grand Prix schedule) Looks like we can watch the whole enchilada -- NBC, Universal Sports channel, UniversalSports.com (subscription fee of $14.95) and icenetwork.com (they haven't posted the subscription fee yet) have joined forces to show everything.
NBC Sports, Universal Sports, U.S. Figure Skating Announce 2010 ISU
Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series Broadcast, Digital Schedule
― Networks to cover entire Grand Prix season for the first time in history ―
(New York and Los Angeles – September 21, 2010) - NBC Sports and Universal Sports, along with U.S. Figure Skating, today announced the broadcast schedule for the 2010 International Skating Union (ISU)
Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. NBC Sports will broadcast 12 hours of live and taped coverage of five Grand Prix events, including Skate America, and the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final on Dec. 12, in Beijing, China. Universal Sports will show more than 34 hours of original programming from five events, as well as re-broadcasts of the featured programming that appears on NBC Sports.
"The Grand Prix events will be a cornerstone of Universal Sports’ programming lineup during the upcoming winter season,” said David Sternberg, CEO of Universal Sports. “We are excited to team with U.S. Figure Skating to enable figure skating fans nationwide to watch all of their favorite athletes in world-class competition both on TV and online.”
In addition, UniversalSports.com and icenetwork.com will combine to deliver an unprecedented amount of online video coverage, with 90-plus hours of live streaming ― every session of every event ― plus on-demand replays, highlights, interviews and analysis. UniversalSports.com will offer live and on-demand coverage of six Grand Prix events (including the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating – China and excluding
Skate America) for a one-time subscription fee of $14.95; icenetwork.com will provide live streams and on-demand replays from all seven stops on the Grand Prix circuit as part of the annual icenetwork.com subscription package. Both sites will also deliver news, blogs, photos, standings and more.
The deal was made possible after Universal Sports acquired the rights to the Grand Prix Series from the ISU last summer. This marks the second straight year that coverage of the Grand Prix Series events will appear on NBC and Universal Sports, and third consecutive year coverage will appear on icenetwork.com.
“U.S. Figure Skating is pleased to again team with NBC, Universal Sports and icenetwork.com to offer exceptional coverage of the Grand Prix Series,” said David Raith, executive director of U.S. Figure Skating. “Figure skating fans will now have the opportunity to follow our elite athletes throughout the entire Grand Prix season, competing against the best figure skaters in the world.”
2010 ISU Grand Prix Series Schedule on NBC Sports
(all times ET, check your local listings for times in your area):
A detailed broadcast schedule for Universal Sports will be released at a later date. NBC Sports and Universal Sports will both televise coverage from the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and Universal Sports will have coverage of the 2011 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, which take place March 21-27, in Nagano, Japan.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, serves as the preeminent multiplatform destination for Olympic-related sports programming on television and online. Universal Sports is available in more than 63 million homes, including all of the nation’s top 10 DMAs: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. Recent expansion includes launches in Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Denver, Portland, and Jacksonville. Go to UniversalSports.com for a complete list of TV markets. Major world championship and Olympic qualifying events found on Universal Sports range from track and field, skiing, swimming, gymnastics, marathons and cycling, to volleyball, rowing, triathlon, fencing, speed skating and martial arts. UniversalSports.com delivers an immersive experience via live and on-demand competition coverage, interaction with top athletes through blogs and in-depth access to Olympic sports news and information year round. For more information on the availability of the Universal Sports 24-hour television channel, please visit UniversalSports.com.
ABOUT U.S. FIGURE SKATING: U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is made up of 743 member, collegiate and school-affiliated clubs and more than 990 Basic Skills programs representing approximately 176,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.