The NHL later this month will announce that it has "partnered with emerging premium cable provider Epix to produce and air the popular reality hockey series that precedes the annual Winter Classic," according to sources cited by Scott Burnside of ESPN.com. A source said that Epix not only will "produce four segments" leading up to the Jan. 1 Blackhawks-Capitals game at Nationals Park, but the net will "produce another four-segment series" that will lead into the Kings-Sharks Coors Light Stadium Series game on Feb. 21 at Levi’s Stadium. It is expected Rogers Communications "will share the production costs and air the series in Canada." Details of the new partnership "will be revealed" at a Sept. 23 press briefing in DC. The NHL parted ways with HBO after three seasons of "24/7 Road To The Winter Classic." Epix was "exploring producing more original content as opposed to simply airing Hollywood movies." Ross Greenburg "will produce the new NHL series for Epix" (ESPN.com, 9/14). Greenburg helped launch HBO's "24/7" series while at the network and also produced the documentary "Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football" for Epix, which is set to premiere on Sept. 23 (THE DAILY).
EPIX FAIL? In Chicago, Ed Sherman wonders if the majority of Chicago viewers will "be able to see" the Winter Classic reality series. Epix currently is in 50 million homes, including subscribers of DirecTV, but is "not available on Comcast," which is the major cable distributor throughout the Chicago area. That "could leave many Blackhawks fans without access to the series." Expect Blackhawks President John McDonough to "push for the widest access to the series in the Chicago area" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/16).
