Massillon Cable TV Launches NFL Network and NFL RedZone

Massillon, OH, December 16, 2009 – Massillon Cable TV is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with NFL Network to add the channel to its programming lineup beginning Thursday, December 17 in time for fans to watch the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.  Massillon Cable TV also announced the addition of NFL Network’s exciting new NFL RedZone channel beginning with this Sunday’s games on Dec. 20.

Massillon Cable TV, which has served subscribers in western Stark County since 1966, will offer NFL Network as part of two different packages. 

• NFL Network will be part of the company’s Basic Plus package. Basic Plus includes more than 50 different program networks spanning a wide variety of interests. More than 15 Basic Plus networks also appear in High Definition at no extra charge, including NFL Network. NFL Network will appear on Basic Plus channel 104 in standard definition and in HD on channel 704.
• NFL Network, plus NFL RedZone, also will be part of Massillon Cable’s HD Essentials package. HD Essentials is a collection eight HD-only networks including Discovery HD Theater, Smithsonian Channel, MGM HD Movies and more. NFL Network will also appear in High Definition on channel 692. NFL RedZone will appear in HD on channel 693.

In addition to the two new channels, customers who receive NFL Network will also have free access to NFL On Demand.  NFL On Demand is refreshed each week and provides 10 minutes of extended highlights of all regular season and playoff games.  NFL On Demand also includes weekly programming as well as access to the Emmy award-winning NFL Films’ library. NFL on Demand will launch during the week of December 21.

“Our customers are very passionate about the NFL and we are happy we could reach an agreement to add NFL Network and the exciting new NFL RedZone to our programming lineup,” said Robert Gessner, President of Massillon Cable TV.

NFL Network is the destination for all that happens around the sport of football, during the season and throughout the year.  NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provides viewers with nearly 2,000 hours a year of original programming including: NFL Total Access, NFL GameDay, NFL Replay, The Coaches Show, NFL’s Top 10, Sound FX, Playbook, Greatest 4^th QTRS, NFL Classic Games and the Emmy award-winning America’s Game series. In addition, NFL Network offers live games in high-definition with Thursday Night Football, featuring eight NFL regular season games in primetime, every NFL preseason game, the Insight Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

Produced by NFL Network, NFL RedZone whips around every NFL game on Sunday afternoons starting at 1:00 PM ET delivering the touchdowns and most exciting moments as they happen and in high definition. When a team goes inside the 20-yard line, fans see the crucial plays live. Hosted by Scott Hanson from the new state-of-the-art NFL RedZone studio at NFL Network’s headquarters in Los Angeles, the channel keeps fans up-to-date in real time, switching from game to game with live look-ins, highlights and a chance to see every important play.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with Massillon Cable TV to deliver NFL Network, NFL RedZone and our NFL On Demand programming,” said Kim Williams, Chief Operating Officer of NFL Network.  “Massillon Cable subscribers  will to enjoy NFL football 24-7, especially our ‘Unbeaten Week’ coverage featuring two 13-0 teams, Thursday night’s Indianapolis Colts-Jacksonville Jaguars game and our special Christmas night game.”

For the fourth straight season, NFL Network is home to Thursday Night Football featuring eight live regular-season primetime games.  New game analyst Matt Millen returns to the broadcast booth alongside by second-year NFL Network play-by-play announcer Bob Papa, the radio voice of the New York Giants who has called a pair of Super Bowls. 

Upcoming games on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football slate include the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, December 19 and San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans in a special Christmas night tilt. Thursday Night Football begins at 8:00 PM ET, with the special Christmas game starting at 7:00 PM ET.