Time Warner Cable SportsNet and the Los Angeles Sparks Announce Games and Programming for the Team’s Inaugural Season on Its Exclusive TV Home

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Time Warner Cable SportsNet and the Los Angeles Sparks today announced the details of the television network’s coverage of the Sparks, giving the team a local television home for the first time in its 17-year history. Time Warner Cable SportsNet will air 25 live games, with the first game telecast tipping off on Sunday, May 26 for the Sparks season opener vs. the Seattle Storm at 5:30 p.m. All 25 games airing on Time Warner Cable SportsNet will also be carried live on Time Warner Cable Deportes.

In addition to live games, Time Warner Cable SportsNet will cover the Sparks with pre- and post-game shows and original programming all season long. The popular “Backstage” franchise continues with “Backstage: Sparks,” which debuts on Sunday, May 26 at 4:30 p.m., one hour before the network’s coverage of opening night.

“Having the Sparks air on Time Warner Cable SportsNet allows the Sparks a unique opportunity to bring not only the game, but also the stories and personalities to our fans,” said Sparks Executive Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler. “We know Sparks fans are ready for more, and our partnership with Time Warner Cable Sports gives them the access and coverage they deserve.”

“We’re extremely excited to tip off our first Los Angeles Sparks game on Time Warner Cable SportsNet on Sunday,” said Mark Shuken, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Time Warner Cable Sports Regional Networks. “Sparks fans are incredibly passionate and we can’t wait to give them more access to their team than they’ve ever had before through our extensive team coverage and programming.”

Last year’s Sparks broadcast team returns on Sunday as long-time Sparks play-by-play announcer Larry Burnett is joined by veteran basketball analyst Tracy Warren and Time Warner Cable SportsNet host Andy Adler, who will be the Sparks sideline reporter for the second consecutive year. Burnett enters his 16^th season calling Sparks games and has been a fixture in Los Angeles sports media for more than 30 years. Warren joined Burnett last season and has previously called women’s sports for ESPN, The Big Ten Network, The Mountain Network and Fox Sports Network. Adler joined Time Warner Cable SportsNet in 2012 from Los Angeles and New York City NBC affiliates and hosts live studio shows “Access SportsNet” and “#LakeShow” for the network.

Sparks programming on Time Warner Cable SportsNet will be led by “Access SportsNet: Sparks,” a live studio show including expert analysis, highlights and exclusive interviews. Pre-game “Access SportsNet: Sparks” will begin half an hour before the game, analysts will be live from the studio again at half time and the post-game “Access: SportsNet: Sparks” will continue for an hour after the final buzzer. On non-game nights, the live studio show “Access SportsNet” will provide regular coverage of the team.

Periodic episodes of “Backstage: Sparks” will air during the season, taking fans behind-the-scenes of the team on and off the court. Sunday’s debut episode will preview the season for fans, with behind-the-scenes access to Sparks training camp and a special look at Head Coach Carol Ross and star Candace Parker. Cameras follow them at practice as well as away from the court as they balance life and basketball. The episode also takes fans inside Sparks media day as the whole team speaks to the press.

Additionally, new episodes of “Connected With…,” Time Warner Cable SportsNet’s signature interview show, will feature Sparks stars and personalities. Re-telecasts of Sparks games enhanced with social media interaction and bonus commentary will air on “Encore+” and “Timeless Sparks” will showcase classic Sparks games.

A full schedule of Los Angeles Sparks games airing on Time Warner Cable SportsNet this season is attached.

Time Warner Cable SportsNet can be found on AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Catalina Broadband, Champion Broadband, Charter, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, Hawaiian Telcom, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS systems. To find out on what channel you can watch Time Warner Cable SportsNet, visit www.twcsportsnet.com or www.twcdeportes.com and enter your information at the top of the page or call 855-4-MY-LAKERS or 1-800-700-2827 (in Spanish).

The Sparks tip-off the 2013 WNBA season on Sunday, May 26 vs. the Seattle Storm at STAPLES Center at 5:30 p.m. Individual tickets are on sale now and start at $15. Season and group ticket plans, in all lower-bowl sections of STAPLES Center, are available now by calling 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visiting LASparks.com. For up to date Sparks information, visit LASparks.com or follow the team on Facebook at Los Angeles Sparks or Twitter @LA_Sparks.

About Time Warner Cable Sports

Time Warner Cable Sports operates Southern California’s two newest regional sports networks - Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes – which launched on October 1, 2012. Through their exclusive partnerships with the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Sparks and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the 24/7, high-definition networks each deliver more than 180 live events per year plus extensive team coverage and behind-the-scenes access unlike anything fans have seen before. Time Warner Cable Deportes is the nation’s first ever Spanish-language regional sports network, with commentary, programs and a perspective created uniquely for Spanish-speaking sports fans of all nationalities. For more information, visit www.twcsportsnet.com and www.twcdeportes.com. Follow the networks on Twitter @TWCSportsNet and @TWCDeportes and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TWCSportsNet and www.facebook.com/TWCDeportes.

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