saintz08

SAINTS & VOODOO ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH WUPL-TV/VIACOM
October 21, 2003
New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints and New Orleans VooDoo today announced a new, comprehensive, three-year television broadcasting agreement with WUPL-TV, UPN 54 in New Orleans. WUPL is part of the Viacom Television Stations Group, which consists of 39 stations, including 20 CBS, 18 UPN and one independent station.

As part of this new agreement, WUPL will become the new home of Saints preseason football games (both home and away), beginning in 2004. The station will also air a 30-minute Saints holiday special, an hour-long draft day special, a three-hour training camp kickoff-weekend special, and four 30-minute player feature shows.

For the New Orleans VooDoo -- the Arena Football League team owned by Saints Owner Tom Benson that begins play in February 2004 -- WUPL will air an annual two-hour "Fan Day" special, as well as an Arena Football Rules 101 special in December 2003, and January 2004.

"We are looking forward to this wide-ranging relationship with WUPL and Viacom," said Saints Executive Vice President of Administration Arnold D. Fielkow. "Viacom already works with the NBA and Major League Baseball, as well as with more than 10 NFL teams. With properties such as CBS, MTV, Showtime and BET, Viacom is the world's largest media platform, and the Saints organization looks forward to working with such a strong partner."

WUPL station manager Peter Uzelac echoed Fielkows sentiments about the new partnership between the Saints and UPN 54.

"Local sports, especially with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, adds just the sort of 'Oh wow!' programming that WUPL likes to provide its viewers," Uzelac said. "We're very pleased to forge this relationship with the New Orleans Saints."

Other details of the agreement between the Saints and WUPL include:

* Six public service announcements per year related to Saints/VooDoo community causes

* Four 20-second spots called "Saints/VooDoo in the Community"

Syndication rights for WUPL to broadcast Saints and VooDoo programming throughout the Gulf South region, subject to NFL and AFL regulations

On-air talent for all broadcasts will be determined at a later date

NFL teams that have partnerships with Viacom include: the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.