HDNet to Broadcast Live, High Definition Coverage of the Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - Saturday, May 31

HDNet to Broadcast Live, High Definition Coverage of the Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - Saturday, May 31

Network's comprehensive launch coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET with launch from the Kennedy Space Center scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET

DALLAS, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: HDNet to broadcast LIVE, high definition coverage of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-124.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

HDNet's launch coverage -- which is far more comprehensive than any other network -- is hosted by HDNet World Report Correspondent, Greg Dobbs. Dobbs will be joined on the broadcast by NASA astronaut Julie Payette, a veteran of space flight.

Discovery's mission is to deliver Kibo, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency -- or JAXA -- station laboratory. It is the largest laboratory (and also the second component of Japan's laboratory complex) to fly to the station. The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It's so large that the shuttle's robotic arm was left at the station during the last mission. There's not room in Discovery's cargo bay for both the boom arm and the lab.

WHEN: HDNet's LIVE coverage begins at 4:30 p.m., running until 5:30 p.m. with the launch of Discovery scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET.

About HDNet

HDNet (http://www.hd.net/) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.

HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," "Dan Rather Reports" featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and "NASA on HDNet" (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the NASCAR Camping World Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from "HDNet Fights;" behind-the-scenes sports news with "Inside the NHL" and "Inside MMA;" groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas and more; and entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including "Deadline!," "Art Mann Presents," and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning "Arrested Development," "The Black Donnellys," "Star Trek: Enterprise," "Dead Like Me," "Smallville" and the hit series "Torchwood."

HDNet Movies features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases -- all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.

Only HDNet Movies' exclusive "Sneak Previews" bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies "Sneak Previews" have included the Academy Award nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," Toronto Film Festival nominee "The War Within," and "Bubble," the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films. Other featured films include "Cashback," written and produced by Sean Ellis, "Broken English," from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne, the critically acclaimed "Redacted" directed by Brian De Palma, and most recently, "Flawless," starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. Upcoming "Sneak Previews" include "Quid Pro Quo," starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, and "Finding Amanda" starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, "Red" starring Brian Cox, "Special" starring Michael Rapaport, "Great Buck Howard" starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, "Harlem Aria" starring Damon Wayans and "Humboldt County" starring Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich & Frances Conroy.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit http://www.hd.net/.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: HDNet

CONTACT: Colette Carey of HDNet, +1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net

Web site: http://www.hd.net/

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Profile: International Entertainment