HDNet to Broadcast Live, High Definition Coverage of the Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery - Saturday, May 31

Network's comprehensive launch coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET with launch from the Kennedy Space Center scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET DALLAS, May 28


DALLAS, May 28 /PRNewswire/ --



WHAT:  HDNet to broadcast LIVE, high definition coverage of Space Shuttle
Discovery STS-124.


(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)



HDNet's launch coverage -- which is far more comprehensive than any other
network -- is hosted by HDNet World Report Correspondent, Greg Dobbs.  Dobbs
will be joined on the broadcast by NASA astronaut Julie Payette, a veteran of
space flight.


Discovery's mission is to deliver Kibo, the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency -- or JAXA -- station laboratory.  It is the largest laboratory (and
also the second component of Japan's laboratory complex) to fly to the
station.  The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It's so
large that the shuttle's robotic arm was left at the station during the last
mission. There's not room in Discovery's cargo bay for both the boom arm and
the lab.



WHEN:  HDNet's LIVE coverage begins at 4:30 p.m., running until 5:30 p.m.
with the launch of Discovery scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET.



About HDNet


HDNet (http://www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original
comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.


HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically
acclaimed original programming, including television's only HD news feature
programs "HDNet World Report," "Dan Rather Reports" featuring legendary
journalist Dan Rather and "NASA on HDNet" (presenting live shuttle launches
through 2010).  HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the
National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the NASCAR Camping World Series,
NASCAR Sprint Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from
"HDNet Fights;" behind-the-scenes sports news with "Inside the NHL" and
"Inside MMA;" groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series
featuring leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, Black
Eyed Peas and more; and entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming
including "Deadline!," "Art Mann Presents," and "Get Out!"  HDNet is also the
exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning
programs such as the Emmy Award winning "Arrested Development," "The Black
Donnellys,"  "Star Trek:  Enterprise," "Dead Like Me," "Smallville" and the
hit series "Torchwood."


HDNet Movies features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases
-- all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that
HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.


Only HDNet Movies' exclusive "Sneak Previews" bring feature films to
viewers before they premiere in theaters!  Some of the HDNet Movies "Sneak
Previews" have included the Academy Award nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys
in the Room," Toronto Film Festival nominee "The War Within," and "Bubble,"
the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced
exclusively for HDNet Films.  Other featured films include  "Cashback,"
written and produced by Sean Ellis, "Broken English," from Zoe Cassavetes,
starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne, the
critically acclaimed "Redacted" directed by Brian De Palma, and most recently,
"Flawless," starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore.  Upcoming "Sneak Previews"
include "Quid Pro Quo," starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, and "Finding
Amanda" starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, "Red" starring Brian
Cox, "Special" starring Michael Rapaport, "Great Buck Howard" starring Colin
Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, "Harlem Aria" starring Damon Wayans and
"Humboldt County" starring Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich & Frances Conroy.


Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the
HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter
Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable,
Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies.  For more information
visit http://www.hd.net.



SOURCE  HDNet