Six Games, All-Star Skills Competition to be Televised by Comcast Local Across Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The Grand Rapids Griffins and Comcast Local have joined forces on a 2004-05 television partnership that will provide the American Hockey League team with the greatest state-wide TV exposure of its nine-season history.

Six Griffins telecasts, as well as the AHL All-Star Skills Competition and the leagues magazine show, Inside the AHL, will be available to 1.4 million homes in Comcast Local markets across lower Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Detroit, Lansing, Muskegon, Holland, Flint and Port Huron.

As a result, the Griffins, who are in their third season as the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, will be seen in nine of Michigans 10 largest cities. The schedule is as follows (all times are Eastern):

Fri., Jan. 21 - Chicago Wolves at GRIFFINS - 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 5 - GRIFFINS at Rochester Americans - 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 13 - AHL All-Star Skills Competition - 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 20 - Philadelphia Phantoms at GRIFFINS - 4 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 19 - GRIFFINS at Chicago Wolves - 8 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 30 - Cleveland Barons at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 12 - GRIFFINS at Milwaukee Admirals - 8 p.m.

The Griffins and Comcast Local will produce the games on Jan. 21, Feb. 20, March 30 and April 12, with Bob Kaser providing the play-by-play. For the remaining games, Comcast Local will air the opposing teams feed around intermission features produced by the Griffins. Telecasts of 2005 Calder Cup playoff games are also a possibility.

We couldnt be more excited with this opportunity to showcase our franchise to hockey fans across the state of Michigan, said Kaser, the Griffins executive director of broadcasting and community relations. In addition, it will allow Red Wings fans a sneak peek at the prospects that theyll watch one day at Joe Louis Arena.

During the 2003-04 season alone, 11 Griffins players saw action with the Red Wings, including Darryl Bootland, Jiri Hudler and Niklas Kronwall. Comcast viewers will also get a glimpse of the NHLs future stars, during the AHL All-Star Skills Competition, as well as some of the AHLs top clubs. Four of the five teams the Griffins will face are currently in either first or second place in their respective divisions.

The Griffins are one of the marquee hockey organizations in the Midwest, said Dave Almstead, vice president and general manager of Comcast Local. Comcast Local is excited to be able to provide the Griffins brand of exciting hockey to Comcast customers across Michigan.

In addition to the Griffins, Comcasts sports properties include Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame basketball and hockey, as well as Western Michigan football, basketball, hockey and baseball.

About Comcast Local
Comcast Local is a locally originated, 24-hour supplier of local events, entertainment, and sports programming in Michigan. The channel is available, at no additional cost, exclusively to Comcast cable customers.