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Sports
BIZ -
Pro Elite Launches Elite Xtreme Combat on SHOWTIME-
December
2006
EliteXC will exploit the growing phenomenon of mixed martial arts by staging world-class live events on the premium television network SHOWTIME. Sunday December 17, 2006 Pro Elite, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PELE) and Showtime Networks Inc. recently announced the formation of Elite Xtreme Combat (EliteXC) at a Hollywood press conference. EliteXC will exploit the growing phenomenon of mixed martial arts by staging world-class live events on the premium television network SHOWTIME. The highly-anticipated first event will air live on SHOWTIME on February 10, 2007 (10 p.m. ET/PT) from the DeSoto Civic Center in Mississippi. “EliteXC is creating new mixed martial art events which will be televised by one of America’s strongest premium networks,” announced EliteXC CEO Doug DeLuca. “These events will connect with every martial arts enthusiast in America, and ultimately the world. Our goal is to help the sport continue to grow and flourish. As our strategy rolls out we will provide more and more fighters with an opportunity to compete and promote themselves. We also plan on building an extensive library of content relating to MMA which will attract additional fans to the website and generate future revenues.” The management team at EliteXC is experienced and entrepreneurial. Among them, DeLuca has produced hundreds of hours of network and cable television. Highly regarded boxing promoter Gary Shaw is President of EliteXC Live Events division and Kelly Perdew, “Apprentice 2” winner and former President of eteamz.com – the largest amateur sports portal in the world – is President of EliteXC.com. “Elite Xtreme Combat will bring a new level of excitement to the fight market and Showtime is the ideal partner for us in this growing arena,” said President of EliteXC Live Events, Gary Shaw. “Mixed martial arts, as a sport, is in its infancy and has tremendous potential. We are thrilled to bring such a skilled team of executives and entrepreneurs together to help build what we expect will be the premier provider of MMA events and content.” The main event on SHOWTIME’s initial EliteXC telecast will pit MMA legend Frank Shamrock against world-renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer Renzo Gracie. “Showtime is proud to be the first premium network to deliver MMA to our subscribers,” said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager of sports and event programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “With EliteXC’s interactive and online components and a nationwide audience on SHOWTIME, EliteXC is well positioned to fast become the leading organization within the sport of mixed martial arts.” The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecasts is David Dinkins, Jr. with eight-time Emmy Award-winner John Faratzis directing and World Wrestling icon Bill Goldberg serving as color analyst. In a groundbreaking move for MMA, EliteXC will stream the non-televised undercard fights live online at EliteXC.com. EliteXC takes pride in its leadership position in the MMA sports world. Professional athletes will compete in EliteXC events that offer world-class entertainment with innovative staging, first-class production value and non-stop action that elevate mixed martial arts fighting to a new level. SHOWTIME On-Air Team Following a career in the National Football League, Goldberg became one of World Wrestling Entertainment’s most popular global stars. In addition to starring on screen in “The Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler, the multi-talented entertainer has experience behind the microphone, serving as guest analyst for various MMA pay-per-view events in recent years. The executive producer of the telecast will be David Dinkins, Jr. who serves the same capacity for SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Eight-time Emmy Award winning director John Faratzis will call the shots from the television truck. Faratzis will add EliteXC to a long list of notable directorial credits including three Super Bowls and five Olympic Games. About Showtime Networks Inc. Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME TOO, SHOWTIME SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME, SHOWTIME BEYOND, SHOWTIME NEXT, SHOWTIME WOMEN, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. About Pro Elite, Inc. (www.proeliteinc.com) Pro Elite, Inc. is an entertainment and media company dedicated to producing world-class sports events which empowers the participation of both athletes and enthusiasts. Pro Elite Inc. fosters the growth of the core principles of competition - Spirit, Honor, Discipline and Sportsmanship. (Business Wire)
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