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NEWS RELEASE
DENVER (Wednesday, May 22, 1996) -- Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids and TCI of Colorado today announced the launch of a new television show, "The Rapids Report."
The "Rapids Report" can be seen only by TCI of Colorado subscribers and will premier Saturday, June 1, at 9:30 am MDT on ESPN2. The new program is scheduled to run every other Saturday after June 1 through the October season. ESPN's regularly scheduled programming during the half-hour time slot between 9:30 and 10 am can be preempted by cable systems which elect to carry local sports-oriented programming during that time. Such usage is termed a "Local Sports Break" and TCI of Colorado is one of the first systems in the country to utilize this break.
Tom Green, noted Denver television and radio personality, will host the show, which will feature Colorado Rapids Head Coach Bob Houghton and several of the world-class players on his team and the other nine MLS teams. The show will consist of Rapids game highlights, player features, interviews, news and stories from around the first-year league and an instructional series designed for soccer players of all ages and abilities.
"Major League Soccer is excited to have a home here in Colorado where there are so many soccer players and fans," said Rapids General Manager Richard A. Levine, "We want to be a part of the community and let them learn more about the incredible players on our team and throughout the league. The "Rapids Report" will provide another opportunity for everyone to learn more about soccer at the highest level and the Colorado Rapids."
"We're very happy with our association with a sport as exciting as Major League Soccer and we're pleased to be able to take advantage of this opportunity to bring exclusive, quality programming to our viewers," said Steve Santamaria, General Manager of TCI of Colorado.
On the show, Coach Houghton plans to break down the Rapids games and his strategies for upcoming opponents. Houghton has more than 20 years experience as a coach and is considered one of the world's premier coaching talents, after leading championship teams in premier or first division leagues on four different continents. Houghton has also authored two books on soccer and was a celebrity television analyst for the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
"Whether it's viewed by someone new to the game, the experienced player or the rabid fan, this show will have something all can enjoy," Houghton said. "I am very pleased that a first-year team like the Rapids can establish such a prominent television show in its inception. It's another great step in establishing permanent credibility."