WVUE-TV FOX 8, through a partnership with Cox Sports Television, will broadcast the final three Saints preseason games in high definition, it was announced today. In addition, the newly created high definition signal of FOX 8 will also broadcast eleven of the sixteen regular season Saints games.
"One of our initial steps since acquiring WVUE TV FOX 8 was to provide our viewers with a high definition signal. We did that in the first week," said Tom Benson, who owns the New Orleans Saints as well as the Louisiana Media Company. "Our next move was to get Saints football in high definition to our viewers as quickly as possible. We did that and I would like to thank Rod Mickler at Cox Sports Television for working with us to make this a reality."
Cox Sports Television, a regional sports network, will provide the programming that will be aired on WVUE TV FOX 8. In addition, Cox Sports Television also broadcasts Saints programming throughout the week which includes press conference coverage; a highlight show and a weekly magazine program.
"CST is excited to be entering into our third consecutive year of broadcasting Saints pre-season football games on the network," said Rod Mickler, Vice President of Cox Sports Television. "We welcome WVUE TV FOX 8 as our New Orleans broadcast partner and know all Saints fans across the Gulf South will enjoy our High Definition broadcasts of these next three Saints pre-season games."
National broadcasters Tim Brando and Soloman Wilcots will handle the play-by-play and color commentary, while Mike Nabors will handle the sideline reporting. The first game of the three-game high definition broadcast schedule on WVUE TV FOX 8 will be on Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 pm from the Louisiana Superdome against the Houston Texans. The second game will feature a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, August 23 at 6:30 pm. Both of these games will be preceded by a one-hour pre-game show on WVUE TV FOX 8. The final preseason game will be a home tilt against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, August 28 at 7:00 pm, preceded by a 30-minute pre-game show.
"WVUE TV FOX 8 and our viewers are very appreciative that Cox Sports Television has agreed to terms allowing us to kick off the new ownership of the station by Tom Benson by the airing of these three pre-season games. We will also carry 11 regular season Saints games this year, all in HD," said Joe Cook, General Manager of WVUE TV FOX 8.
WVUE-TV FOX 8 is the source of popular sports programs such as the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball, NASCAR, along with popular mainstream shows such as "American Idol," "House," "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," as well as local news, sports and weather telecasts.
