Premier Basketball League Announces Exclusive National Television Deal With Penn Atlantic Millrats Games To Be Televised Next Season!
(Chicago, IL): The Premier Basketball League is proud to announce an exclusive national television distribution agreement with Penn Atlantic Networks, Inc. Penn Atlantic, which currently provides broadband streaming of athletic events to over 200 colleges and universities, will also offer all league games via broadband beginning this season. Selected games of the Rochester Razorsharks, Maryland Nighthawks and Wilmington Sea Dawgs were available on fans on the Penn Atlantic broadband platform this past season including the PBL league championship game that was attended by nearly 10,000 fans.
Penn Atlantic Networks is launching a new twenty-four hour sports television network in January 2009 which will focus on collegiate, professional minor league and scholastic sports that receive little or no exposure from traditional terrestrial television or cable networks. The network will be available on the new digital television sub channels that were granted to local market television stations as part of the transition from analog to digital delivery. All analog television in the United States will cease on February 17, 2009.
The network is projecting to be available in ten to fifteen million homes at launch with household penetration doubling by the end of 2009. Although the network will be available over the air, the Federal Communications Commission's mandatory retransmission consent agreements will require the programming be carried on most cable systems in television markets where the network has an affiliate. In markets where affiliate agreements cannot be quickly acquired the network will seek to work with local cable companies to have its programming included on the basic digital programming tier. Digital sub channels have the same coverage and look very similar to the station's main channel. Viewers who have a new digital television may recognize them as being immediately adjacent to a local major network affiliate. For example, digital sub channels for a main channel operating on Channel 8 would be 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3.
The network's studios and offices are located in New York City. Key management personnel all have major network managerial experience.
"Penn Atlantic's multi-platform approach will give our teams broad representation across the United States and world." said Tom Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of the PBL. "No other basketball league has ever has this type of media coverage, fans can watch their home teams play away games now on "real" TV or on the Internet," said Dr. Sev Hrywnak, Chairman of the Board of the PBL. "With television coverage, more exposure will be allowed for players to be seen across the nation as fans can follow their favorite college athletes as they now play in a professional league such as the Premier Basketball League," added Hrywnak.
For further information contact the Premier Basketball League Maryland/Washington D.C. office at (301) 424-8612.
Anthony Anderson 2008 All Star Game Highlights (All Star MVP 2008)
Manchester Millrats Accepting Coaching Resumes May 15, 2008 Manchester, New Hampshire: The Manchester Millrats are accepting resumes for the position of Head Coach for the upcoming 2008-2009 season.
The Millrats were 28-12 and finished as the #2 ranked team in the final regular season ABA Power Rankings, and have since migrated to the Premier Basketball League (PBL).
To apply for the position please email a complete resume with salary requirements and cover letter to: millrats@gmail.com.
For league information contact the Premier Basketball League Maryland/Washington D.C. office at (301) 424-8612 or visit www.pblproball.com.
Millrats Join Premier Basketball League Regional Rival Vermont Frost Heaves also join PBL
May 9, 2008 Manchester, New Hampshire: The Manchester Millrats and Vermont Frost Heaves have officially joined the Premier Basketball League (PBL) for the upcoming 2008/2009 season.
The Millrats high flying act will return to Southern New Hampshire University next season, and the rivalry that was established between Vermont and Manchester will continue in the PBL.
"We receive a tremendous number of inquires and applications and are excited to welcome these solid organizations which will be great compliments to our current ownership groups," stated Premier Basketball League President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas E. Doyle.
Other regional teams of interest currently in the PBL include the Rochester Razorsharks, who were league champs this season, the Maryland Nighthawks, the Reading (Pa) Railers, the Wilmington (NC) Sea Dawgs, and expansion teams in Buffalo and Toronto, Canada.
"As a member of the PBL, the Frost Heaves look forward to continuing to deliver reasonably priced, crowd-pleasing entertainment featuring world-class basketball players. We'll be renewing some familiar rivalries in the PBL, which is building a forward-looking, stable environment in which every team is competitive and every team can flourish," said Vermont FrostHeaves President and Founder Alexander Wolff.
The Vermont Frost Heaves were two time ABA Champions, and while the Millrats were responsible for Vermont's four losses this season, Manchester fell short of it's title hopes in overtime in the final four. Manchester is looking forward to a greater challenge of competing for a title in the PBL.
Manchester Millrats General Manager Ian McCarthy commented, "We are excited to be able to treat our wonderful fans to great affordable professional basketball, and our fans will love the regional rivalries that will ensue with the other great teams of the PBL."
The Millrats are currently working on a new website that will soon integrate with the PBL League site at www.pblproball.com. Information regarding schedule, ticket sales, and sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming season will be made available in the coming weeks.
For more information please feel free to contact Millrats GM Ian McCarthy at millrats@gmail.com or visit www.manchestermillrats.com.
For league information contact the Premier Basketball League Maryland/Washington D.C. office at (301) 424-8612 or visit www.pblproball.com.
