Source:  News Release

 

 

HITS joins forces with HRTV, the Network for Horse Sports, and 'A Good Show' to bring equine show jumping competition to broadcast television
starting with the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce a multi-year partnership with HRTV and A Good Show (AGS) to bring coverage of the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and other select competition from the national HITS show series to broadcast television. As part of the deal, HRTV and A Good Show will also provide a free, live webcast of the second-annual Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and first-ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final on Sunday, September 11.

"This is an exciting partnership that will, for the first time ever, bring both national and international coverage and attention to a U.S. show jumping series,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President & CEO. “We believe that by working with HRTV and A Good Show we will once again raise the bar for American show jumping and provide an opportunity for the world to watch some of the best in equestrian sport.”

In addition to the Pfizer Million coverage, this agreement will extend to include coverage of select high-profile events showcased at the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California and the 2012 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Ocala, Florida.

HRTV, the Network for Horse Sports, is a 24/7 multimedia network dedicated to serving the news, information and entertainment needs of one of the world’s largest, but most under served audiences - horse fans. Leading with the finest in thoroughbred racing, HRTV also delivers programming for virtually all equine sports.

Programming on HRTV informs, excites and entertains fans and enhances riders’ relationships with their equine partners. From top-notch coverage of horseracing at the world’s greatest racetracks with the sport’s most knowledgeable commentators, to award-winning documentaries, world-class equestrian events and competitions, and “how to” information from leading English and Western discipline trainers, HRTV covers the world of horses.

HRTV also features the most significant and competitive contests in the English world, such as Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Carriage Driving for each year’s Aachen World Horse Festival, FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage events and now, for the first time ever, the U.S.’s HITS season finale with the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix.

“We are excited to be the TV outlet for the high profile HITS series, beginning with the September 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix,” said Jim Bates, Executive Vice President and General Manager of HRTV. “This multi-year agreement assures us that we can further fulfill our commitment to serve the viewing needs of horse competitors and fans, worldwide.”

Television and webcast productions of the Pfizer Million, Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final and the other select HITS competitions will be handled by A Good Show, creators of quality, cutting-edge network and cable sports and entertainment television. Master of extraordinary outdoor event coverage with difficult logistical details, AGS’ Founder and Executive Producer David Kiviat has produced and directed network sports programming for 30 years, including the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, the Tour De France, and horse racing’s Triple Crown, just to name a few.

"A Good Show is proud to realize our long-time vision of a multi-year association with HITS, bringing our experience and innovation to launch this exciting, new equine sports television series,” said Kiviat. “HITS’ premiere show jumping events are second to none, and AGS brings the series to its perfect home HRTV, the Network for Horse Sports, strengthening global brand awareness through comprehensive distribution across all media platforms."

Kiviat and his AGS team of producers, directors, camera operators and editors have a long history in contributing to cutting edge sports television. The team has worked with major networks ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Versus and FOX, and has an impressive 20+ National EMMY Awards to their credit, as well as over a hundred EMMY nominations.

Acclaimed voice-over talent, Mike Moran has signed on to provide expert equestrian commentary for both the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and Pfizer Million. Aside from being a professional trainer and horse sport expert, Moran has hosted and anchored numerous broadcast sporting events and been the voice of many national branded ad campaigns for Sprint, Adidas and Quaker Oatmeal. Moran will team up with talent from HRTV for round-by-round coverage of the competition on Sunday, September 11.

A dedicated landing page for the webcast for the Pfizer Million will be created in the coming weeks, and viewers from around the world will have an opportunity to watch the richest day in show jumping from wherever they are on the planet! For more information on the webcast of the Pfizer Million, please visit HitsShows.com.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!