Eight is Great! Asham World Curling Tour Events, Including Grand Slams, move to Eight-End Format

Apr 19, 2007 -- TORONTO � Insight Sports Ltd. announced today a major shift in the structure of curling events in this country. Starting next season, Asham World Curling Tour events, including the prestigious Grand Slam of Curling series, will move to the eight-end format.

The innovative move follows a highly successful trial run during select men�s and women�s Grand Slam of Curling events this past season. The format will be implemented for all Grand Slam of Curling events, and phased in over the year for all other Tour events.

The most recent Grand Slam, the TYLENOL* Players� Championship, drew record television audiences for the event on CBC Sports this past weekend, with the men�s and women�s finals reaching a combined audience of more than 1 million. The women�s final delivered a national average minute audience of 417,000, while the men�s final the following day drew a record audience of 646,000.*

On-line, the World Curling Tour�s website experienced record traffic, registering more than 2.6 million page views from April 9 � 14. This represents the most-ever traffic for a Grand Slam event on-line.

The move to eight-ends for all events represents a significant shift away from the longer, traditional 10-end format familiar to many curling fans. The eight-end game represents a move towards a format that fans, television viewers, curlers, sponsors and host committees support fully.

�Insight Sports is committed to curling for the long-term, and this vision includes being at the forefront of innovation when it comes to progressing the sport,� says Kevin Albrecht, CEO and President, Insight Sports Ltd. �We, along with the World Curling Player�s Association, will be leading the way and the eight-end format is an example of our dedication to providing forward-thinking solutions that resonate with everyone involved with the sport � and this is just the beginning.�

�The move to the eight-end game ensures that we maintain a high level of excitement and drama, allowing curling to compete with other major sports properties for fan and sponsor attraction,� says Paul Boutilier, President, Grand Slam of Curling. �Similar to the recent rule changes made in hockey, curling needs positive change to ensure we maintain our leadership position as one of Canada�s top sports, while continuing our growth internationally. The support I�ve heard for this progressive shift in thinking has been overwhelming.�

The move to eight-end games for all events also includes adoption of the Grand Slam of Curling timing system, which allows rinks 35 minutes of �think time� and two time outs. This move enhances the speed of game play significantly, and also allows for exciting, point-filled ends, which were evident at the recent TYLENOL* Players� Championship.

A sampling of opinions from around the curling world (see below) provide further testament to the magnitude of the shift to eight-ends.

Curlers

"I am completely impressed with the changes that the WCPA are making with respect to the WCT Championship events. Their pro-active approach will reap rewards for our sport and our Rock Stars in the future, as well as the sponsors and millions of curling fans who enjoy watching this great Canadian game. The move from 10-ends to eight-ends will captivate the audiences for the entire game, as they won't want to miss a minute of the action! There is proof of this from the outstanding viewing audience numbers that were captured this past weekend for the final games on CBC at the Players� Championship in Calgary. I feel that these recent changes to the game, thanks to the initiative of the WCPA, will help us all to move together towards making our sport even that much more appealing!"
-- Kelly Scott, reigning women�s world champion

�From a competitor�s perspective, I have seen the impact that the eight-end game has made on the long-term success of the World Curling Tour and Grand Slam of Curling. Over the last 12 months, new sponsors and fans have become excited with the game, as illustrated by the success of the TYLENOL* Players� Championship from Calgary last weekend. The change to eight ends is a step that will hopefully help realize the potential of curlers playing consistently in major markets, and for major purses.�
-- David Nedohin, three time world and four time Brier champion

�As a curler, I am in favor of the 10-end game, but with the success of the Grand Slam this year I can understand the need to go to eight-ends. Fans� lives are becoming busier and the eight-end game allows them the chance to watch curling and not take up too much of their day. The Grand Slam is doing a great job of promoting the game.�
-- Brad Gushue 2006 Olympic gold medalist

�The direction taken by the Grand Slam of Curling and the Asham World Curling Tour is one that I believe is taking our game to the next level. You were able to see some great women�s strategy and shot-making this weekend at the Players� Championship, and the TV numbers were so good for the women�s final, it proves we are moving in the right direction.�
-- Jennifer Jones, reigning TYLENOL* Players� Championship women�s title holder.

�I am excited to see such a great response by viewers and fans in moving to eight-end games.

The players are committed to providing top notch entertainment in that three-hour time frame.�
-- Cheryl Bernard, 2007 Alberta women�s champion

�I believe the move to eight-ends for the Grand Slam series is another excellent decision by Insight Sports and the WCPA to elevate the game. The strong TV numbers from this past weekend further prove it is the best decision to make.�
-- Brent Pierce, former national and world champion

Broadcaster

"Going to eight-ends is a progressive step for the curlers, the fans and for television. The Grand Slam events have been a great addition to our schedule. This change will make the matches even more compelling. CBC Sports is committed to growing the Grand Slam over the next several years."
-- Scott Moore, Executive Director, CBC Sports

Sponsors

�We must move to the eight-end games, especially if we are staying with the triple knockout format for Tour events. Basically, curlers have day jobs, and the triple knockout format means they are away from home and work for at least five days. The eight-end format helps solve this dilemma for curlers.�
-- Arnold Asham, President, Asham Curling

"While we appreciate the tradition of the game and the significance of 10-ends, we also appreciate what is needed to continue to grow the game - both at the grassroots level and with younger participants. As a sponsor of the Grand Slam of Curling, we believe that we have an obligation to not only uphold the integrity of the game but to ensure that we support changes that make the game more appealing to the fans, players and sponsors, such as moving to eight-ends and instituting a stricter timing system. The WCT has shown leadership in growing the sport of curling and we fully support their initiatives."
-- Gordon G. Lee, BDO National Director, Marketing and Communications

�As a proud sponsor of curling and specifically the WCT, AMJ Campbell Van Lines is fully supportive of the decision to have all events played in eight-ends. There is limited time to capture fans and prospective customers during any televised event and by reducing the programming time without reducing the excitement and quality of the game on the ice will be nothing but a win for everyone involved: players, sponsors and most importantly fans.�
-- Denis Cordick, Vice President Marketing AMJ Campbell Van Lines

Host Venues

"The shift from 10-ends to eight-ends was overwhelmingly viewed as positive from our patrons at our live event in Winnipeg. This is just another step in the evolution of one of Canada's favorite sports, as it continues to develop from community rinks to international competitions and broadcasts. We look forward to the growing recognition of Curling as a pre-eminent winter sport-- both as a spectator event, and as a huge participation based activity."
-- Kevin Donnelly, Sr. VP, General Manager, MTS Centre

Ice Conditions

�The ice conditions for curlers, with practice and eight-ends, will stay more consistent throughout the game. And for the regular tour events, it will give the ice crew a chance to scrape half-way through a day, to provide even better ice conditions�.
-- Mark Shurek, Head Ice Technician

(*Source: Nielsen Media Research, audiences 2+)

Grand Slam of Curling

Insight Sports Ltd. owns and operates the Grand Slam of Curling, the most prestigious series of events on the Asham World Curling Tour. The events are highlighted by the TYLENOL* Players� Championship, one of the most important curling events on the annual schedule.

The world�s best rinks, including Randy Ferbey, Brad Gushue, Kevin Martin, Glen Howard, Jeff Stoughton, Wayne Middaugh, Jean-Michel Menard, Kerry Burtnyk and many more, compete in the world�s only true best-on-best curling events.

The Grand Slam of Curling events also see the rinks vie for valuable points on the Order of Merit that not only determines the world�s best curlers, but also contributes to the race to represent Canada at the winter games.

Events this past season included the Home Hardware Masters of Curling (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON), the BDO Classic Canadian Open of Curling (Winnipeg, MB), The National (Port Hawkesbury, NS), and the TYLENOL* Players� Championship (Calgary, AB).

Insight Sports Ltd.

Insight Sports Ltd. is a leading sports media and entertainment company.

Insight Sports operates three specialty television networks: CGTV, Casino and Gaming Television; GOLTV Canada, a 24-hour soccer network; and WFN: World Fishing Network, North America's only network devoted entirely to fishing. The company also holds a significant interest in the NHL Network, a 24-hour hockey channel. Insight Sports creates and distributes sports and entertainment content across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, DVD, on-line, mobile, in-arena and video on-demand. Aquila Productions Inc., a leader in sports television production, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Insight Sports.

Insight Sports also owns and operates the Grand Slam of Curling, the most prestigious series of events on the World Curling Tour.

Based in Toronto, the principal shareholders of Insight Sports include Larry Tanenbaum (Kilmer Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of Kilmer Van Nostrand) and MWI & Partners.