CBS Sports and Showtime have teamed up once already for the Manny Pacquaio-Sugar Shane Mosley fight earlier this year. They’re going to team up again for a two hour docudrama on the Army-Navy rivalry. Showtime will air a preview of the program the night before Thanksgiving, premiere the docudrama on December 21. CBS will air a preview of the docudrama on December 3 and also air a web series showing some scenes leading up to the traditional Army-Navy game on December 10.
So this is quite the effort. Showtime is already filming footage for the program at both military institutions. This sounds quite interesting. It’s also a project that was suggested by former Washington Post writer John Feinstein and led him to quitting calling Navy games on the radio for this season.
Here’s the press release from CBS/Showtime.
SHOWTIME SPORTS AND CBS SPORTS TEAM UP TO PRODUCE ALL-ACCESS DOCU-DRAMA ON ARMY-NAVY FOOTBALL; PREMIERES DECEMBER 21 ON SHOWTIME
“A Game of Honor” Delivers Unfiltered, Never-Before-Seen Look into the Lives of Military Student Athletes
Exclusive Content to Air Across Multiple CBS Platforms Including Web Series on CBSSports.com and Preview Show On CBS Television In Build Up To SHOWTIME PremiereNEW YORK (Aug. 3, 2011 )— SHOWTIME Sports and CBS Sports are teaming up for A Game Of Honor, a two-hour exclusive docu-drama revealing an unprecedented look at America’s two oldest military academies—The United States Military Academy and The United States Naval Academy. As the midshipmen and cadets prepare to serve their country and participate in a rivalry unmatched by any other in sports—the Army-Navy football game—SHOWTIME will capture an all-access look at their unique season-long journey. The in-depth docu-drama will be co-produced and promoted by SHOWTIME Sports and CBS Sports in conjunction with CBS Sports.com and premiere Wednesday, December 21 on SHOWTIME—10 days after this year’s Army-Navy game on CBS, December 10.
SHOWTIME will have behind-the-scenes access to both academies and their respective football teams for six months leading up to the Army-Navy game, as well as during the game and immediately following. With so many stories to tell, SHOWTIME will air exclusive content across multiple CBS platforms including a special preview show about the making of the docu-drama on Wednesday, November 23 on SHOWTIME; with a network television premiere of the preview show on CBS Sports on Saturday, December 3. In addition, CBSSports.com will air an exclusive 10-episode weekly original web series beginning Monday, October 17.
“We are extremely proud to announce A Game of Honor,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “This program is a significant addition to an ever-growing array of compelling and unique sports programming on SHOWTIME. It also serves as a tribute to the young men and women who have dedicated themselves to serve our country and lead our military. The athletic departments at the academies represent the epitome of what sports and sportsmanship are all about and I thank them for providing our film crews with unprecedented access to their athletic process. We are privileged to tell their stories.”
“We are honored to broadcast the Army-Navy football game every year on CBS Sports and thrilled to team with SHOWTIME, CBSSports.com and our long-standing partners at the Naval and Military academies on ‘A Game of Honor,’” said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. “Using unparalleled access provided by the academies, this project allows us to go in-depth across multiple CBS platforms to tell inspiring, compelling and unique stories — both on and off the field — about the 2011 cadets and midshipmen.”
“We are thrilled to work with our long-time partners at CBS on this outstanding production,” said Military Academy Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. “They are dedicated to telling the story of some of the finest young people this nation has to offer, and viewers will get a chance to witness the selflessness, dedication and passion that define service academy football. Everyone at West Point is excited for fans across the nation to gain a greater understanding of why both the U.S. Military Academy and the Army-Navy rivalry hold such a special place in the fabric of America.”
“Teaming up with CBS on any production or project has always resulted in a big time and first class end result,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “This venture could not be more well received by the Academy and the Athletic Department. The story to be told will be emotional, motivating, inspiring, and featured in a way that it will bring an even greater appreciation for some very special people who are some of our nation’s and intercollegiate athletics’ finest leaders.”
The docu-drama and web series will capture the personal stories of this unique group of men who are rivals on the football field and brothers in arms on the battlefield. As the young men at Army and Navy endure a much different athletic experience than other Division I football players, A Game of Honor will capture the dedication, discipline and determination demanded of the cadets and midshipmen who are members of these storied football programs. A Game of Honor reveals their unique journey from summer training to the demands of an elite classroom education to the weekly preparations for the football field, all while training to serve their country in a time of war. This rigorous passage culminates with the playing of the annual Army-Navy game, this year from the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.
CBS Sports’ Creative Director, Pete Radovich, who also serves as coordinating producer for the Emmy-Award winning SHOWTIME series Inside the NFL, will serve as director of the series. Radovich will co-produce with CBS Sports Coordinating Producer Steve Karasik.
That will do it.
