JLTV Announces First-Ever Global Broadcast of Maccabiah Games

JLTV Announces First-Ever Global Broadcast of Maccabiah Games

World's First 24-Hour Jewish-Themed TV Channel Makes History

LOS ANGELES, July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Poised to significantly expand its coverage on July 12 - going from nearly 25 million U.S. homes to over 100 million homes worldwide - JLTV, America's (soon to be the world's) first 24-hour Jewish-themed TV channel, will broadcast the 18th Maccabiah Games July 12-23 as part of its special events and sports programming. This marks the first broadcast to audiences outside of Israel.

Known as the "Jewish Olympics," the Maccabiah Games are held every four years in Israel and attract outstanding Jewish athletes from around the world. More than 8,000 athletes from over 50 countries compete, making the Games the world's third largest sporting event. Team USA, which has almost 1,000 athletes from 41 states, is comprised of 87 teams competing in 26 sports.

"The Maccabiah Games are an incredible cultural experience, with global athletes uniting in Israel for the common interest of sports," stated JLTV president and CEO Phil Blazer. "As the first global Jewish network, it is our hope that audiences around the world will celebrate the feats of Jewish athletes."

JLTV's schedule of the Maccabiah Games includes a three-hour pre-special Sunday, July 12 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. (EDT), with two additional, back-to-back repeats. The four-hour opening ceremony will broadcast Monday, July 13 from 6:00-10:00 pm (EDT), with two repeats. Coverage will continue Tuesday, July 14 through July 24 with game highlights, athlete interviews and human interest stories.

JLTV's coverage of the Maccabiah Games will be anchored by Olympic gold medalist Mitch Gaylord. "Winning the gold in the 1984 Olympics was certainly the ultimate, but I've always looked back at my participation in the Maccabiah Games as one of the highlights of my gymnastics career," stated Gaylord. "Coming back to Israel over 25 years later to anchor the first-ever broadcast of the Games with JLTV is not only an honor, but is sure to be an experience of a lifetime. I can't wait to see the competition unfold, and for young aspiring athletes from around the world to be inspired by what they witness."

Mitch Gaylord thrilled the world in 1984 when he helped lead the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team to its gold medal victory. In addition to being the first American gymnast to score a perfect "10," he went on to capture a silver medal for vault and bronze medals for both rings and parallel bars. As the #1 ranked gymnast in 1983 and 1984, he invented two skills still recognized internationally toady: the Gaylord Flip and the Gaylord Two. After the Olympics, Gaylord was appointed by President Reagan to the President's Council for Physical Fitness and was asked to return for a second term under President George Bush Sr. In 1995, he was inducted into UCLA's Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he entered the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Recently, he has served as a journalist/broadcaster for Fox Sports.

Additional reporting from the Maccabiah Games will be provided by Brad Pomerance (CNN Headline News Local Edition), Steve Grad (KNX-AM, CBS Radio), Igal Hecht (Canadian producer, director and editor of documentary films and television shows) and Keren Aroni (host of JLTV's "FLIX").

About JLTV

JLTV (Jewish Life Television) is the world's first 24-hour, full-time television network delivering Jewish-themed programming. Launched in 2007, the network offers a full breadth of news, sports, lifestyle and entertainment programming including films, documentaries, music, reviews, interviews and special events. JLTV's spotlight on Israel and Jewish life is facilitated by broadcast studios in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto as well as bureaus in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington DC, Miami, London and Moscow. Members of its website (www.jewishlifetv.com) can access live and on-demand programming; watch unique local, national and international news stories; and take part in one of the fastest growing online social networks. In the U.S., JLTV can be seen by 25 million households across all 50 states through DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, and independent broadcast stations, expanding its reach to more than 100 million homes globally with its July 12 launch on Hot Bird, a family of satellites broadcasting across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Source: JLTV

CONTACT: Lisa Kussell, +1-212-901-3930, lisa.kussell@bwr-ny.com or
Steven Wilson, +1-310-248-6163, swilson@bwr-la.com, both of B|W|R Public
Relations

Web Site: http://www.jewishlifetv.com/

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