Six of the toughest professional cowboys in America will achieve extra "style" points this weekend at the Ellensburg PRCA Rodeo when they debut  their Crown Royal-branded riding gear for the very first time. Through a year-long partnership with the Canadian Whisky brand, the team of six will hit the dirt at Ellensburg for what some consider the most dangerous eight seconds in sports in hopes of bringing home a Crown Royal victory.

The 2010 Crown Royal Riders line-up includes:

• Clayton Williams (Carthage, Texas) Bull Rider
• Cody Whitney (Asher, Okla) Bull Rider
• J.W. Harris (Mullin, Texas) 2008 & 2009 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider
• Steve Woolsey (Payson, Utah) Bull Rider and Saddle Bronc Rider
• Tilden Hooper (Carthage, Texas) Bareback Rider
• Wesley Silcox (Santaquin, Utah) 2007 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider

"The Crown Royal Riders team is comprised of the best and toughest professional cowboys in the sport," said Yvonne Briese, Crown Royal marketing director. "We can't wait to see them compete in their Crown Royal gear this weekend at Ellensburg and we look forward to responsibly toasting their wins.  This program will serve to reinforce the important message of responsible drinking to all adult pro rodeo fans."

Though not new to professional rodeo, this earmarks the first official relationship Crown Royal has announced specifically with a team of cowboys.  In addition to dueling in the dirt, the Crown Royal Riders will be on hand to sign autographs and take photos with fans Saturday evening.

"It's an honor to represent Crown Royal for the first time at one of the most exciting rodeos of the year," World Champion Wes Silcox said. "To be a member of such an elite team of cowboys is pretty remarkable. I'm sure we'll have some healthy competition along the way with the end goal of toasting with a Crown Royal, responsibly of course."

Known as one of the "old rodeos", the Ellensburg Rodeo is the final Gold Rodeo stop on the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. In Ellensburg, today's best riders, ropers, and wrestlers compete in what many consider to be the best rodeo arena in the nation. The top 24 qualifiers from the Gold and Silver Tours advance to the Justin Boots Playoffs September 10 – 12 in Puyallup, Washington. For more information, visit www.ellensburgrodeo.com.

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the US by value and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky's smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. The Crown Royal Company is a primary sponsor of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion driven by Matt Kenseth. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

SOURCE Crown Royal

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As Virginia Tech and Boise State face off Monday night in the first NCAA® college football game broadcast in 3D, LG Electronics USA and Best Buy are joining forces to bring the 3D experience to college football fans at FedExField™.

At the Labor Day game, broadcast by ESPN 3D, fans at the stadium will be able to experience the game in 3D at Best Buy-LG kiosks built around eight 55-inch LG Infinia LX9500 3D HDTVs on the Club Level of the stadium. Fans will experience college football, delivered to the LG screens by DIRECTV, in a whole new dimension. Representatives from Best Buy will be staffing the kiosks to answer questions about the new 3D technology and highlight the world's first Full LED 3D HDTVs.

"There's nothing like experiencing a college football game live, especially when two of the top five ranked teams are playing each other. LG is adding to the experience with 3D viewing at FedExField, providing fans with 'Something Better' during the game," said Jay Vandenbree, senior vice president, sales, LG Electronics USA. "As an NCAA corporate partner, we are proud to partner with Best Buy to showcase this first-ever 3D broadcast of an NCAA college football game."

To help promote 3D for the entire stadium audience, Best Buy and LG are sponsoring a special fan appreciation event. Between the first and second quarters, one lucky fan will have the opportunity to toss a football to win an LG 3D home entertainment package including an LG Infinia 3D HDTV, LG 3D Blu-ray Disc player and two pairs of LG 3D glasses.  

In addition to being an NCAA Corporate Partner, LG Electronics also is the official HDTV of FedExField, with more than 300 LG LCD screens positioned throughout the stadium.

"Thanks to LG and Best Buy, our Club Level guests will have a special experience at the game, viewing college football in 3D for the first time," said Mitch Gershman, chief marketing officer of the Washington Redskins. "This builds on our alliance with LG Electronics, which is a strong technology partner for the Redskins and FedExField."

The LG LX9500's proprietary Full LED Slim technology elevates picture quality with LED backlighting that supports detailed local dimming for improved contrast and detail, while also allowing for a sleek frame with an ultra-slim .92-inch wide bezel for a virtually borderless look.

Available at Best Buy's Magnolia stores, the set itself measures less than an inch thick at its thinnest point. This state-of-the-art HDTV, which works with the use of active shutter glasses and an emitter built directly into the television, provides deeper black levels, sharper colors and an overall uniform picture quality that typically could not be achieved on an ultra-thin set. With an astonishing 480Hz refresh rate, LED local dimming, 2D THX Certification and its eye-catching super-slim frame, the LX9500 is a stunning display whether the power is on or off.

For more information about LG Electronics, please visit www.lg.com.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances and business solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. LG Electronics USA is an Official Corporate Partner of the NCAA. LG Electronics USA Business Solutions is official technology partner of the Washington Redskins and FedExField. For more information, please visit www.LG.com.

For a small percentage of the population, the viewing of stereoscopic 3D video may cause discomfort such as dizziness or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, discontinue using the 3D functionality and contact your health care provider. 3D glasses required and sold separately.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA

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Advanstar Communications, Inc., a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for the Fashion, Life Sciences and Powersports industries, today announced that it has appointed Thomas W. Ehardt to fill its newly created position of Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer.

For the past several years, Advanstar has embarked upon an aggressive strategy to secure its market-leading positions in several of its segments, and the addition of the key operations position of Chief Administrative Officer was seen as instrumental in accomplishing this goal. Ehardt's primary focus as Chief Administrative Officer will be to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and oversee the support units of the Company.

Ehardt previously served as Chief Executive Officer for Advogent Group within the Platinum Equity Group. His role at Advogent Group was to oversee four business units that develop, provide and deliver full life cycle solutions for Publications planning services, Healthcare Communications and Event Management and Logistics. He led the restructuring/reengineering efforts within the company post acquisition and successfully developed strategies for long term growth.  Before joining Advogent Group in 2007, Ehardt held the position of CEO at Jobson Publishing Group where he led the company through a major management restructuring resulting in substantial increases in revenues and profits across the organization. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting at Pace University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Long Island University, graduating Valedictorian.

About Advanstar

Advanstar Communications, Inc. (www.advanstar.com) is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for the Fashion, Life Sciences and Powersports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 141 events, 60 publications and directories, 233 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovative, quality products and services enables Advanstar to "Connect Our Customers With Theirs." Advanstar has approximately 750 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.

SOURCE Advanstar Communications, Inc.

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Assemblyman Bob Reilly is the man leading the charge against legalizing mixed martial arts in the state of New York, and tomorrow night on  "Inside MMA," the sport's most vocal critic explains his opposition in Part One of an exclusive two-part interview.

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"What attracts people to Ultimate Fighting unfortunately is the violence and violence is not good for our society," Reilly says. "The difference between mixed martial arts and every other sport is that in mixed martial arts the purpose is to damage your opponent."

A clip of Reilly's comments is available at:

http://www.hd.net/insidemma.html

Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined on the panel this week by Randy and Ryan Couture and Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, all who strongly disagree with Reilly's statements.  

"I think it's an uneducated view," says Randy Couture. "He doesn't understand our sport. We're not crazy, we're not dangerous, this is not violence, it's a combative sport."

Also on this week's show, the Coutures discuss their respective recent victories in the cage, and Lombard talks about his upcoming title defense.

Plus, Ron Kruck has breaking news on a Bellator fighter who isn't letting a recent diagnosis with leukemia keep him out of the gym, and the "Inside America's Gyms" series continues with a look at the Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge, CO.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.  Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world.  HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series.  "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.  

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com).  "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more.  HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features regular season games from the newly formed United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series.  The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more.  HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters.  The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet

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SureWest Communications (Nasdaq: SURW) today announced the launch of the SureWest Sports Radio Show on ESPN 1320 AM, a one-hour spotlight on high school football programs throughout the Sacramento region.

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An extension of the popular SureWest Sports TV program, the SureWest Sports Radio Show airs on ESPN 1320 AM each Saturday from 9-10 a.m., with the first show scheduled for this Saturday, September 4.

SureWest Sports Show's Mike Finnerty will host the new radio program, with regular weekly contributions from some of the most influential and knowledgeable sources in the Sacramento high school sports scene, including head coaches from around the region and high school sports writers Joe Davidson (Sacramento Bee), Jon Gudel (Elk Grove Citizen) and Bill Hicks (Grapevine Independent). The show will recap the previous night's games and preview next week's match-ups. Finnerty will also rank his top 15 Sacramento-area football teams in a weekly segment called the "Finnerty 15."

"The response to the SureWest Sports TV Show, which launched over a year ago, has been overwhelming," said Finnerty. "I talk to kids, coaches and families everyday, and they always want more coverage. The weekly one-hour radio show with ESPN 1320 is a great extension of our TV program and allows us to dig deeper into the Sacramento's high school sports scene to whet the appetites of our die-hard high school sports fans."

"Utilizing our relationship with the SureWest Sports Show and Mike Finnerty allows ESPN 1320 to now provide even more in-depth high school football coverage on the area's most popular sports radio station," said Brian Lopez, ESPN 1320's program director. "Mike and his guests on the show bring a unique and unparalleled amount of knowledge and passion for high school sports in Sacramento and we are excited to have them on ESPN 1320."

In addition to the weekly one-hour radio program, the SureWest Sports Show and Mike Finnerty will continue their regular high school sports updates on ESPN 1320 AM. These updates include one-minute spots that air several times a day on the station and a weekly audio Podcast available on the ESPN 1320 homepage at www.espn1320.net. The Podcast features previews, recaps and interviews from a wide range of Sacramento's high school sports programs.

Launched in February of 2009, the SureWest Sports Show is a weekly 30-minute youth and high school sports TV program that can be viewed on channel 702 on SureWest digital TV and online at www.surewestsports.com. Airing every Wednesday at 7 p.m. with replays throughout the week, the SureWest Sports Show is the only Sacramento area show to feature both youth and high school sports and consists of scores, highlights and interviews from games around the region as well as weekly awards. Fans can view new and archived shows, sign up for Twitter and Facebook alerts, and see where the show will be next at www.surewestsports.com.

ESPN 1320 (KCTC) is an affiliate of the nationally syndicated ESPN Radio. Locally, ESPN 1320 features a weekday lineup that includes Mike & Mike, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Scott Van Pelt Show, The Dan Patrick Show and The Brian Kenny Show. ESPN 1320 is also the Sacramento radio play-by-play home for San Francisco 49ers football, College Football on ESPN Radio, NBA on ESPN Radio (Regular season, Playoffs and NBA Finals) and Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio (Regular season, Divisional Series, League Championship Series and World Series), among other events.

About SureWest

SureWest Communications (www.surewest.com) is a leading integrated communications provider and the bandwidth leader in the markets it serves. Headquartered in Northern California for more than 95 years, the company expanded into the Kansas City region in February 2008 with the acquisition of Everest Broadband, Inc. and offers bundled residential and commercial services that include IP-based digital and high-definition television, high-speed Internet, Voice over IP, and local and long distance telephone. SureWest was the nation's first provider to launch residential HDTV over an IP network and offers one of the nation's fastest symmetrical Internet services with speeds of up to 50 Mbps in each direction on its fiber-to-the-home network.

SOURCE SureWest Communications

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