Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis will be launching a digital sports and entertainment network this week called Monumental Network, which will broadcast content focused on D.C. area sports teams including the Capitals, Washington Wizards and the WNBA's Washington Mystics.
Capitals owner launches digital network in hopes of creating TV channel
Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is developing a digital network call Monumental Network. He hopes the venture will eventually turn into a cable television network.
Bruce Bennett
Leonsis is the chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns a piece of each of the previously mentioned teams.
The network will begin operations at MonumentalNetwork.com and is expected to eventually include up to 20 affiliated sites. Leonsis stated that the goal is for the network to develop into a cable network, via The Sporting News:
“We want to become a cable network. This is a next-generation property that could very easily exist on cable or satellite as well as the Web.”
It has not been determined yet whether Leonsis will look to bring his team’s rights to the network. The Capitals still have five years remaining on their agreement with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, while the Wizards still have ten years remaining on their deal.
While the network will have a healthy amount of sports related programming, it will also feature content from the arenas owned by Monumental, which include the Verizon Center, Patriot Center and Kettler Capitals Iceplex. There is also a plan to include content from Leonsis’ online documentary company, SnagFilms.
Monumental will also include content from SB Nation’s D.C.-and Baltimore-focused websites via written and video features. Video programming will include “Press Box” and “On the Road” programming. The goal is to allow fans to receive maximum content about both the Capitals and Wizards, as well as their opponents.
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