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AOL To Broadcast Tulane-Mississippi State College Football Game Live as well as Telethon To Rebuild Youth Sports Programs Destroyed by Katrina
Sept. 14, 2005 CSTV's "Big Game for the Big Easy" -- First Live Sporting Event Telethon-- Will Feature Sports Legends and Celebrities Taking Pledge Calls Dulles, VA -- Tulane University's first game of the season against Mississippi State will be broadcast live on AOL.com (www.aol.com/sports) on Saturday, September 17th. The first live sporting event telethon will take place during the game and will also be carried on AOL.com. Funds raised will support youth sports programs affected by Hurricane Katrina. Viewers will be able to watch the live broadcast through any Internet connection on AOL.com and call a toll free number that will be continuously displayed on the screen to make a donation. They will also be able to make a donation online through AOL's online donation partner, Network For Good at www.aol.com/relief where AOL member have already contributed 5.6M online to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The game will be played in Shreveport's Independence Bowl and broadcast on CSTV: College Sports Television, which is hosting the "Big Game for the Big Easy". Opening kick-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST, pre-game show starts at 7:30 p.m. Monies raised will be distributed through the Fields & Dreams Foundation, which was established by CSTV Networks in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and is chaired by former U.S. Senator and basketball legend Bill Bradley. Sports legends and celebrities will be answering random pledge calls and specially produced features and entertainment elements designed to share stories of the rebuilding of the region will be part of the broadcast. "Across America, organized sports provide young people an opportunity to achieve athletic and academic dreams, and college sports often represent the best of our local communities," Senator Bradley said. "The Fields and Dreams Foundation wants to help the children of the region get back on the playing fields themselves, and begin to rebuild their lives, their hope, and their future." "So many people have been affected by Hurricane Katrina and we all want to do everything we can for the people who have lost so much," said Carlos Silva, Senior Vice President for AOL News and Sports. "We hope that by streaming the Tulane-Mississippi State game live on AOL.com, we can expand the opportunities for people to continue to make generous donations to help overcome this terrible tragedy." According to Brian Bedol, CEO of CSTV Networks, "The schools are determined to play this season as an inspiration for everyone touched by Hurricane Katrina. For CSTV, this is an important opportunity to help light a `torch of hope," and illuminate the benefits that organized sports can bring to the healing process for children in the area. These funds will specifically go toward the rebuilding that will continue beyond the immediate recovery efforts." New Orleans-based Tulane University's first game of the season against Southern Miss on September 4 was canceled due to Hurricane Katrina and rescheduled in November. The team left New Orleans over Labor Day weekend and is now being housed at Louisiana Tech. Through a combination of original programming, live broadcasts and exclusive features, AOL Sports offers the most interactive, engaging and comprehensive sports experience available online. With content enhanced through hi-speed access to AOL Sports, now online at sports.channel.aol.com, fans can access all the action of their favorite teams in one convenient place. About America Online, Inc. About CSTV Networks, Inc.
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