Cable's Other Lineup

Cable World, Oct 14, 2002

Byline: SHIRLEY BRADY

Blackbelt TV: Planning to launch in March with a lineup of martial arts competitions from around the world, including World Championship Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts and boxing.

DIY: Major League Remodel, a one-hour special hosted by MLB relief pitcher Greg McMichael, repeats throughout the fall. The Outdoor Zone, a five-part series airing the week of Nov. 4, demonstrates outdoor sports skills.

FamilyNet: TruthQuest California series features 12 teens engaged in extreme activities such as river rafting, surfing, rock climbing and rappelling.

Food Network: Celebrates the Super Bowl with a football-food theme night on Jan. 19 and a "tailgate food cooking school" theme on Jan. 25.

Fox Sports World: Fox Sports World Report airs Sunday through Friday nights, highlighting the network's international coverage of sports such as soccer, rugby, golf, cricket, motor racing, Australian Rules football and tennis. Sister service Fox Sports World en Espanol features Hispanic-oriented sports.

Golf Channel: Highlights include the PGA Tour qualifying tournament (Dec. 7-9), Tiger Week (Dec. 23-30), Senior Tour month in February, Masters Week (April 7-13) and U.S. Open Week (June 9-15).

HBO: World Championship Boxing doubleheader (Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Johnny Tapia and Ricardo Williams vs. Terronn Millett) on Nov. 2. Expanding its boxing franchise in January with a new Thursday night series showcasing up-and-coming fighters, to be hosted by Oscar de la Hoya on HBO Latino. Also just signed a multiyear contract to televise the bouts of World Welterweight champ Vernon Forrest.

In Demand: Major league soccer PPV package kicks off in April.

Inspiration Network: The Revolution Series features wakeboarding and skateboarding in November, while teen-oriented Steelroots features action sports such as surfing, BMX and MotoX. Digital cable net offshoot i-Lifetv profiles racing champs on Beyond the Checkered Flag every Saturday.

Mag Rack: Video-on-demand programs feature tennis, snowboarding, skiing, golf instruction, SportsCamp (for kids) and yoga.

MTV: Third season of the WWE's Tough Enough premieres this week.

Mun2: Extreme sports series Adrelina shows surf, snow and skate action from around the world, while SpeedLogic celebrates cars, motorcycles and motorboats.

OlympuSAT: Latino sports fans can catch up on their favorites on the LTV, VidaVision, TV Chile and Canal Sur digital networks. The Chronicle network also features documentaries on athletes and key moments in sports history.

Outdoor Channel: Outboard Drag Boat Association's World Championships on Dec. 18 features more than 150 teams. A new series on shooting sports, The American Rifleman, premieres in January.

Outdoor Life Network: Live coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger selection series for the America's Cup, airs Sept. 30 to Jan. 15. More than 20 International Skiing Federation World Cup alpine skiing events air December through February. In Global Extremes: Mt. Everest - 4Runners of Adventure, kicking off Jan. 6, men and women compete in outdoor sports; it culminates with a live telecast of the finalists' ascent to the summit of Mt. Everest. OLN offers year-round rodeo coverage including the debut airing of the Professional Bull Riders' 2003 Bud Light Cup Series on Nov. 16 and the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's 2003 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour (ESPN and CBS air PRCA's other events).

Oxygen: 2002/03 events include the Women's Tennis Association Swisscom Challenge on Oct. 26 and the Women's National Invitational College Basketball Tournament preseason championship game on Nov. 23. WNBA games air weekly from May to September 2003. Air dates are still being determined for the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup Final and the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Final.

PAX: Mia Hamm and the women of WUSA soccer return in April, with PAX televising one game per week in the lead-up to the 2003 women's soccer World Cup. Other matches can be seen on Fox Sports South, MSG Network, Comcast SportsNet, Cox San Diego and other regional nets.

Showtime: Boxing legend Mike Tyson is tentatively scheduled to square off against "the Black Rhino," Clifford Etienne, in February. ShoBox: The Next Generation, featuring up-and-coming fighters, starts a new season in the first quarter.

TechTV: This fall, The Tech of a Touchdown and The Tech of a Race Car look at the science behind sports while Extended Play discusses sports video games.

Tennis Channel: The network recently added eight tournaments - including the ATP's U.S. Clay Court Championships - to its roster plus the rights to televise World TeamTennis events. Biography series No Strings will highlight network investors Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

TNN: Slamball - a two-team sport played on a four-trampoline court - has been a ratings hit with adults 18 to 49 and teens since it premiered in August.

TNT: Besides NASCAR and the NBA on Thursday nights, TNT boasts exclusive daytime coverage of the PGA Championship in August and just inked a deal to air the British Open in July, giving it more hours of golf's majors than any other TV network.