HDNet to Air Second Season of the 'M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction'

HDNet to Air Second Season of the 'M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction'

International MMA Competition to Premiere Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET

DALLAS, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- WHAT: HDNet to premiere the second season of the M-1 Challenge -- now with Affliction onboard -- Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. HDNet will then air subsequent matches every Friday at 8:00 p.m.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

Billed as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts," the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by partner Affliction that showcase some of the best up-and-coming MMA fighters in the world, and pits teams of five fighters representing their respective countries against each other for international bragging rights and the title of M-1 Challenge Champions.

The 2009 tournament is the second annual installment of this international MMA team competition. The challenge consists of sixteen teams from around the world, each comprised of five MMA fighters, one from each weight class.

Each nation vs. nation match-up will be a one-hour program and HDNet will air up to twenty-eight one-hour programs from the round robin competition.

WHEN: "HDNet Fights Presents: The M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" will air on HDNet on Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Subsequent matches in the tournament will air every Friday on HDNet at 8:00 p.m. ET.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, 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 presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline 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.

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 Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Vegas Confessions," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" 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.

Only HDNet Movies 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, and Emily Blunt.

Upcoming Sneak Previews include "The Girlfriend Experience" directed by Steven Soderbergh.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five "HD Premieres" each month. 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, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: HDNet

CONTACT: Colette Carey of HDNet, +1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net

Web Site: http://www.hd.net/

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