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| HDNet To Broadcast World Cyber Games 2005 Coverage Move over, poker. Competitive video gaming, known as "e-Sports", is poised to become the next spectator sport when it debuts on HDNet this week. For the first time in the United States, HDNet will broadcast ground breaking coverage of the 2005 World Cyber Games US Final, premiering Thursday November 10, 2005 at 8pm EDT. Featuring games for Xbox and PCs, the show will focus on the country's best Halo 2 players as they battle for cash prizes and the right to represent the United States in Halo 2 against elite Xbox gamers from 67 countries in Singapore later this month. The 2005 US Final will also take a close-up look at the world of the popular PC game Counter-Strike and its unique culture. For sports fans, the World Cyber Games US Final will also feature the country's best FIFA soccer players. HDNet will become the first US television outlet to broadcast video game tournament coverage in a sports style format. The timing is ideal as the mainstream popularity of video games has exploded into a $25.5 billion industry. The World Cyber Games is the world's largest video and computer game tournament, with more than 1.25 million participants globally battling for $2.5 million in prizes and national pride. Known as the tournament capable of launching professional careers for gamers and as a prime location for sponsorship announcements, the World Cyber Games has emerged as the leader in e-Sports for players, sponsors and spectators alike. The pairing World Cyber Games with HDNet in itself marks a trend. Next generation video game consoles, such as the Xbox 360, will be enabled for high-definition (HD) play and recent studies have shown a spike in viewing HD programming by core gamers, even as their viewing of traditional TV is in decline. Coverage of the US Final of the World Cyber Games will premiere on HDNet on Thursday, November 10th at 8:00 pm ET. The HDNet networks are available on Adelphia, Charter, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. Additional airings will include: Saturday November 12, 2005 - 3:00 pm ET & 10:00 pm ET Sunday November 13, 2005 - 5:30 pm ET Monday November 13, 2005 - 7:05 pm ET write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Game News :: home page |