VERSUS Hypes Games This Week, As They Should

NEW YORK, N.Y. (February 5, 2009)-VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of the National Hockey League (NHL), will air two of the marquee games of the season on back-to-back nights next week.  The New York Rangers visit the New Jersey Devils on Monday, February 9, as both teams continue to battle for Atlantic Division dominance, followed by a clash for the best record in the league when the Boston Bruins (the top-ranked team in the East) host the San Jose Sharks (the #1 team in the West) on Tuesday, February 10. 
  
Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Bob Harwood will serve as the announce team for the Rangers/Devils game on Monday night, while Joe Beninati, Andy Brickley and Billy Jaffe will call all the action from the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on Tuesday night.  The network will, as always, wrap up both nights of its NHL coverage with its studio show, Hockey Central, with host Bill Patrick and analysts Keith Jones and Brian Engblom.  On Tuesday night, Eddie Olczyk will join the Hockey Central team in studio to offer viewers a fourth perspective for one of the biggest games of the season.   
  
VERSUS continues to see dramatic gains in viewership for 2008-09 regular season as compared to the same time period last year.  Through 36 games, VERSUS has garnered a 24-percent increase in household impressions, 25-percent growth in total viewership and substantial viewership growth among all key male demos: Men 18-34 (up 72%), Men 18-49 (up 54%) and Men 25-54 (up 46%).