National high-definition-television programmer HDNet said Tuesday that it
will partner with Championship Auto Racing Teams Inc. and Speed Channel to
broadcast the first live auto-racing action in the HDTV format the weekend of
July 12.
HDNet plans to broadcast tape-delayed qualifying sessions from the Burke
Lafefront Airport Course in Cleveland Friday, July 12, and the final qualifying
races live Saturday, July 13.
The broadcasts will use HDNet's mobile HDTV-production crews and equipment,
along with graphics and announcers from Speed.
HDNet is available exclusively to DirecTV Inc. subscribers with
HDTV-compatible televisions and satellite equipment.
The programmer expects to make additional HDTV networks available to
DirecTV's competitors later this year. HDNet president Mark Cuban will promote
the services next week at the CTAM Summit in Boston, sponsored by the Cable
& Telecommunications Association for Marketing.
