Ascent to Transmit Regional Sports Network

Ascent Media Network Services (AMNS) has inked a long-term contract with Victory Sports LLC to provide satellite, fiber and microwave transmission support from its Minneapolis facility as Victory launches its full-time regional sports network this October.

Victory Sports, an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club, is the Upper Midwest's newest regional sports network, focused on local sports throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas, and will be the new home of the Twins beginning with the 2004 season. It will also cover sports from Minnesota State University-Mankato, St. Cloud State University, the University of Minnesota and Big Ten Conference basketball and football games

Benefits provided by AMNS Minneapolis include an exclusive hub/switch that connects the Twin Cities sporting venues, television studios, post-production facilities, hotels and private business locations and permanent connectivity to more 50 local venues.

"Ascent Media is the ideal partner for us. They're a world-class organization with a proven track record," said Mark Durenberger, Victory Sports VP for Technical Operations. "Ascent's local infrastructure fully meets our needs and the Minneapolis operating staff has a great heritage of providing dependable, innovative service."

"Our terrestrial facilities and exclusive hub and switch capabilities are designed to network specifications and with just this type of customer in mind," said Matt Armstrong, senior VP for Global Sales and Marketing at AMNS.

Ascent Media Network Services specializes in video distribution and post-production services, with facilities in key hubs including Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, London and Singapore. It's part of Ascent Media Group, based in Santa Monica, Calif.