Comcast, OLN and the NHL Make Hockey History - Streaming Games Over the Web for the First Time

Comcast, OLN and the NHL Make Hockey History - Streaming Games Over the Web for the First Time

Comcast High-Speed Internet customers gain exclusive access to live NHL streamed action

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK), the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, joins the NHL and OLN to make hockey history as the first Internet provider to stream live NHL games over the Internet. Comcast's more than 7.7 million High-Speed Internet customers will be the first and only broadband users to experience hockey action live on their PCs, during the 2005-2006 season.

This exclusive agreement gives Comcast High-Speed Internet customers access to up to two live games daily, for a total of up to 300 throughout the season, up through the Stanley Cup playoffs. Beginning October 5, users can view the live NHL games in the Sports channel on Comcast.net.

Comcast.net will begin adding new NHL content to its Sports Channel next month:

-- Access to archive of streamed games (for 48 hours after original broadcast) -- Hockey Live Video Player - player used to watch live and archived games -- Hockey Fan(TM) video player - video clips of game highlights, previews, reviews, and interviews that are easy to watch, search for, and organize -- Links to OLN television schedule and expert commentary -- Links to NHL full-season schedule and merchandise -- NHL Scoreboard

Content will be updated throughout the season, with future enhancements planned. These include: scoreboards, standings, league leaders, a fantasy hockey league, and additional community features.

Comcast is making access to these games easy and convenient for all hockey fans - from the casual viewer to the die-hard fanatic. Comcast subscribers can view the action from their homes or anywhere there is a broadband connection. Hockey buffs who are out of town and miss their favorite teams will now still be able to enjoy them on Comcast.net. Local blackout restrictions will be in effect for all games.

"With Comcast, hockey fans can experience an entirely new level of their favorite sport," said Greg Butz, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Comcast Online. "We are offering our customers a fast, reliable connection and content they can't get from any other broadband provider - such as their favorite NHL teams, streamed live and archived for a limited time, for added convenience."

To launch the season, Comcast.net will be hosting a live online chat with Mike "Doc" Emrick. Doc Emrick has more than 25 years of experience calling games for the NHL and is the main play-by-play voice for OLN's NHL coverage. The chat will be held tonight, Tuesday, October 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT. He will be available to answer fan questions about:

-- The impact of rules changes -- Thoughts about the introduction of the shootout as a tiebreaker -- His predictions for the upcoming season -- Much more

"Streaming live NHL games is a key element to our multi-media deal with Comcast," said Doug Perlman, NHL Senior Vice President of Television and New Media. "Our fans are some of the most passionate and tech savvy in professional sports, and this is another great way for them to connect with the NHL."

The feed will be supplied through the "Hockey Live Video Player," a Comcast-branded Windows Media Player.

Sports enthusiasts can access the Comcast.net Sports Channel by going to http://www.comcast.net/sports or by clicking "Sports" on the left hand navigation bar on Comcast.net.

This news follows the August 18, 2005 announcement of the NHL, OLN, and Comcast partnership. It marks another step towards fulfilling the partners' promise of redefining the sport of hockey for its viewers.

Comcast will broadcast over 25 regular season games and select playoff games in high definition.

Comcast-owned OLN is the new cable television home of the NHL. OLN's schedule features 58 regular-season games, wall-to-wall playoff action and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. The schedule highlights some of the most exciting hockey match-ups, such as Boston vs. Montreal, Chicago vs. Detroit, Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Colorado vs. Detroit and Boston vs. NY Rangers. Every U.S.-based team will be featured on OLN at least once during the regular season, with teams like Detroit and Colorado making eight appearances each. Mike "Doc" Emrick will be the network's lead play-by-play announcer, John Davidson will serve as the network's lead analyst, Bill Clement and Keith Jones will host OLN's studio show.

About the NHL

The National Hockey League, founded November 22, 1917, is the second oldest of the four major team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs based in the United States and Canada. More than 33 percent of NHL players hail from outside North America from 22 different countries. Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer, Hockey's All-Star Kids and NHL Diversity, and supports the charitable efforts of all NHL players. For more information on the NHL, fans may log on to NHL.com.

About OLN

OLN is the leader in competitive and adrenaline-charged content. Now in more than 64 million homes, OLN is the cable home of the National Hockey League and best-in-class events like The Tour de France, The America's Cup, Professional Bull Riders (PBR), the Boston Marathon and USSA Skiing. The network offers unique programming in four primary areas: Action Sports, Field Sports, Bulls & Rodeo and Awe-Inspiring Series, and is the exclusive home of Survivor in syndication. OLN, a wholly owned company of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK), is distributed via cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.

About Comcast

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)(NASDAQ:CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com/) is the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.4 million cable customers, 7.7 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.

The Company's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, OLN, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A Special common stock trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.

Source: Comcast

CONTACT: Jeanne Russo of Comcast, +1-215-981-8552, Jeanne_Russo@comcast.com, or Amy Phillips of OLN, +1-203-406-2509, amy_phillips@olntv.com; or Jamey Horan of NHL, +1-212-789-2785, JHoran@nhl.com

Web site: http://www.comcast.com/ http://www.comcast.net/sports

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