Universal Sports Network Presents Multi-Platform Coverage of 2011 Cup of China

Universal Sports Network provides multi-platform coverage of the third stop in the 2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating with 2011 Cup of China. Universal Sports Network will begin its coverage this Saturday, November 5 at 6 p.m. ET with the Ladies Free and Free Dance. At 10 p.m. ET, the network will televise the Men’s Free and Pairs Free competitions.

In addition, UniversalSports.com will provide live streaming of the Cup of China for a subscription price of $14.95, which includes the remaining Grand Prix events. For more information, go to http://www.universalsports.com/figure-skating/index.html. Live and on-demand coverage can also be found at www.icenetwork.com, with coverage available to Season Pass subscribers.

The broadcast booth will include play-by-play announcer Andrea Joyce who will be joined by Olympic gold medalist and World and U.S. champion Tara Lipinski, Olympic silver medalist and four-time U.S. champion pairs skater Peter Carruthers, and five-time U.S. champion ice dancer Judy Blumberg.

2011 Cup of China will feature compelling skaters and storylines in all four areas of competition.

Ladies

U.S. skater Mirai Nagasu continues the season after making her Grand Prix debut last week at Skate Canada where she placed fifth. Nagasu started the season with a win at 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy earlier this fall. American Christina Gao, who finished fourth at the 2011 World Junior Championships, makes her senior international debut in Shanghai. Gao owns five medals from two seasons competing on the Junior Grand Prix, including the 2009 JGP Final bronze medal.

Men

Jeremy Abbott makes his season debut this week. The two-time U.S. champion finished the 2010-11 season with a bronze medal at the Four Continents championships after medaling in both of this Grand Prix events (silver at NHK Trophy and bronze at Rostelecom Cup) and finishing fourth at the 2011 U.S. Championships. Richard Dornbush made his Grand Prix Series career debut two weeks ago at 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America where he placed fourth.

Pairs

Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, two-time reigning U.S. silver medalists and 2010 Olympians, look for their second career Grand Prix Series medal in China. They were fifth at this event last season before winning bronze at 2010 Rostelecom Cup.

Ice dancing

Last season, Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani became the first ice dancing team to medal at both of their Grand Prix events in their first year as seniors (bronze at NHK Trophy and Skate America). They built on that success by becoming the 2010 U.S. silver medalists and then the first U.S. ice dancing team to medal in their debut at the World Championships (bronze). Charlotte Lichtman and Dean Copely make their international senior debuts. They are the 2011 U.S. junior titlists and 2011 World Junior bronze medalists. Emily Samuelson and Todd Gilles make their competitive debuts. They announced their partnership in late August. Samuelson, a 2010 Olympian with former partner Evan Bates, did not compete last year after a Bates injury forced them to sit out the season. Gilles previously skated with Jane Summersett and Trina Pratt.

For more information, contact: mbondi@universalsports.com

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