February 7, 2005

The Portland Trail Blazers Television Network, a regional sports network reaching more than 2.6 million homes in Oregon, has chosen ABC Regional Sports Sales, a division of ABC National Television Sales, as its exclusive national sales representative for transactional spot advertising on both broadcast and cable television.

The announcement was made today by Sarah Mensah, VP of Corporate Sales and Service of the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network, and John Watkins, President of ABC National Television Sales.

During the 2004-2005 National Basketball Association season, the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network will offer 61 live, over-the-air telecasts over Fox Sports Northwest (FSNW) and KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8. This includes all three of the Trail Blazers games against the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers and both games against the World Champion Detroit Pistons. Pre-season and regular season Trail Blazers games will also be carried on both Newsradio 750 AM KXL and in Spanish on KRMZ 1150 AM.

In addition to each game's television spots, the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network also offers a wide range of enhanced opportunities. These include radio, customized in-game features, Internet promotions, pre-game VIP parties, recorded billboards, season tickets, and community outreach programs.

Under this multi-year agreement with ABC Regional Sports Sales and ABC National Television Sales, the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network gains access to a far-reaching national and local sales strategy, along with extensive client and agency relationships. The network also benefits from a wide range of highly sophisticated research, marketing and promotional tools available from the ABC units.

"ABC Regional Sports Sales and ABC National Television Sales have the contacts, strategies and tools to significantly heighten opportunities for the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network," Sarah Mensah of the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network said. "Working together and building upon our network's solid reach in the Northwest region, we see a winning season ahead for our advertisers as well as our players and fans."

"Advertisers seeking to increase their sales, raise their share and elevate their corporate image in the Northwest will find the Portland Trail Blazers Television Network to be an ideal choice," ABC's Mr. Watkins added. "Sponsors now will be able to maximize their TV investment considerably, with an expanded menu of strategic media and marketing opportunities."

ABC Regional Sports Sales and ABC National Television Sales also represent the YES Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network for the New York Yankees and the New Jersey Nets), Altitude Sports & Entertainment (Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Mammoth), Orioles Television Network, Royals Television Network, Diamondbacks Television Network, Devil Rays Television Network, and Major League Lacrosse. Preseason games for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks also are represented by the ABC units.