(October 7, 2003) New York, NY--The ABC Television Network will partner with Zenith and Sears for two major HDTV sponsorships during the 2003-2004 primetime season. Zenith, for the second consecutive year, will be the exclusive HDTV sponsor of all of ABC's scripted series and movies for the full broadcast season. Sears will be the HDTV sponsor of the 2003-2004 season of ABC's NFL "Monday Night Football." With the expanded sports and primetime high-definition schedule, ABC will broadcast more than 800 hours of HDTV programming for the 2003-2004 television season.
"We're delighted that Zenith and Sears have chosen to play key roles in ABC's HDTV plans as sponsors of our scripted primetime programming, movies, and 'Monday Night Football,'" said ABC Television Network president Alex Wallau. "These partnerships with ABC exemplify our ongoing commitment to showcase the best HDTV technology."
"As a long-time leader in digital HDTV, we are thrilled to join forces again this year with ABC," said T.J. Lee, president and CEO of Zenith, a primary developer of the U.S. HDTV broadcast standard. "ABC's growing commitment to HDTV programming for the 2003-04 season dovetails with our product and marketing plans, as HDTV becomes a mass market product. Zenith and its parent company, LG Electronics, applaud ABC for its leadership in advancing the transition to digital HDTV in the U.S."
The expanded sports and primetime high-definition schedule broadcasts will bring the network's total HDTV primetime broadcasts to 17 hours per week, and more than 800 hours of HDTV programming for the 2003-04 television season. All of ABC's HDTV programming is broadcast in 720p HD, including 5.1-channel surround sound.
ABC
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