Super Bowl Watchers In It For the Ads?

Do you tune into the Super Bowl for the action on the field or the ads between plays? According to the results of a survey recently released by The Nielsen Company, if you watch for the game, you are in the minority. The media company found that the majority of Super Bowl viewers enjoy the game’s ads more than the action on the field.

Fifty-one percent of those questioned said they most enjoy the commercials that air throughout the game when compared to the Super Bowl game itself. Forty-nine percent said that they enjoy the game more than the ads. Results were based on a sample of over 25,000 households in Nielsen’s Homescan panel.

The poll was just a small portion of what Nielsen released as part of their comprehensive study of the trends and effectiveness of paid Super Bowl advertising. Read about all their findings here.

If you do plan to actually watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, which team will you be rooting for? (Go SAINTS!)

Knology and NFL Network Announce Expanded Partnership

Good news for Knology customers who are also NFL fans. The cable company plans to deliver more football games to sports fans across its viewing area in 2010 and beyond. Knology and NFL Network recently announced a multi-year agreement to continue carriage of NFL Network through 2014. The new deal includes primetime regular-season games carried by NFL Network, including Thursday night games, as well as all preseason games.

NFL Network is now available to Knology digital cable customers as part of the Digital Preferred packaging in Alabama (except Dothan), Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. High definition customers in Pinellas County, Florida can also view NFL Network in HD. Knology basic and HD customers in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota will continue to have access to the NFL Network live games.

If you want to see more NFL games in the New Year, see if Knology is available in your area.

Final Earth Day Tip: Green Fitness

Happy Earth Day, folks. Our countdown to Earth Day finally comes to a close with one final tip that's sure to get your green motor running.

We all know the obvious ways to go green. There are plenty of guides and tips available online that can help us reduce our electricity, find better appliances, or buy products that are more eco-friendly and recyclable. However, have you ever thought about how you can go green and be fit all at the same time?

There are many ways to incorporate green fitness into your daily work-out routine. From the kinds of shoes and clothes you buy, to planting trees for a more earthy and natural workout, there's something available for everyone. Here are some handy guides to get you started on the path to green exercise:

• Green Living Ideas has a comprehensive list on all kinds of things you can do to green up your work out, including commuting and even "green gyms".
• SparkPeople compiles a run down of the earth friendly work out gear you can purchase, including links where you can find what you need.
• Runner's World tackles the question of "how is a running shoe produced"? It's a fascinating look the behind the process of making the shoes we wear.
• Suite101 lists useful tips for anyone just getting started into the world of green, and takes a gander at some easy things we can all do to help the planet and get in better shape.

Enjoy Earth Day, and let's all do our part to be environmentally conscious. If you enjoyed this tip, please be sure to see some of our other Earth Day tips.

Grande Communications Adds Lonestar Sports Network to its Digital Cable Lineup in Texas

Good news for Texas sports fans! LoneStar Sports Network recently reached an agreement with Grande Communications for cable carriage throughout its Texas broadcast markets. 

“As a homegrown Texas company, with deep roots a decade old, Grande Communications knows that Texans love their sports. By teaming up with LoneStar Sports Network, we continue to deliver the sports and entertainment programming Texans want to watch,” said W.K.L. “Scott” Ferguson, Grande chief operating officer.  “At Grande, our customers are our top priority. We are proud of this win for our customers!”

LoneStar Sports Networks will be available in 2009 as part of Grande Communications digital cable lineup. For more information on all the great Texas sports programming available through LoneStar, view their schedule here.

DIRECTV's Grand Slam

No, we aren't talking baseball. DIRECTV recently announced that it will expand its interactive sports programming this year with coverage of all four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open this weekend.

For the first time, DIRECTV will offer expanded coverage of the Australian Open, featuring its six-screens-in-one Mix Channel and other interactive features during the first eight days of the tournament from Melbourne Park. In addition, the interactive application, the Mix Channel and the five court channels will be broadcast in High Definition.

The Mix Channel will offer, on a single screen, the network channel and five court channels with live coverage tuneable to full screen via remote. Each channel will feature natural sound and commentary from tennis experts.

And in a first for any tennis tournament, all live Australian Open coverage on ESPN2 and Tennis Channel throughout the tournament will be accompanied by access to the Results and Draw features.

Australian Open coverage airs on channels 701-707 on each of the first eight days of the tournament starting at 7 p.m. (ET)

DIRECTV will also offer interactive services for ESPN and Tennis Channel's coverage of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open tournaments this year, completing the Grand Slam.

Thinking of making the switch from cable? Find DIRECTV plans and pricing available in your area.

NHL Network and NHL Network HD Skate on to AT&T U-Verse TV Channel Lineup

AT&T recently announced that it is adding NHL Network™ and NHL Network HD to it's AT&T U-verse^SM lineup.

If you have U-verse, you can now experience NHL Network’s 24-hour, all-access hockey coverage, including live games, daily highlight shows, up-to-the-minute hockey news, and exclusive hockey programming and special events. The network is available to all U-verse TV customers who subscribe to the U400 programming package or The Sports Package. U-verse TV customers can also watch NHL Network in High Definition (HD) with an HD service subscription. NHL Network is on channel 638 in Standard Definition and channel 1638 in HD.

"NHL Network is an exciting addition to our U-verse TV channel lineup," said Chris Lauricella, assistant vice president of programming, AT&T Operations, Inc. "Year-round hockey fans can catch in-depth coverage of their favorite sport and also enjoy live games in HD. This is just one more way we’re delivering the content our customers want."

Not a U-verse customer? Find out if AT&T U-verse is available in your area!