(PRESS RELEASE) -- This weekend, SHOWTIME will be available in a record 54.4 million households for an ALL ACCESS Free Preview Weekend on SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HDâ„¢ and SHOWTIME On Demand. From Thursday, March 25 through Sunday, March 28, viewers across the country will have the opportunity to sample the premium network's award-winning programming via linear service, On Demand and in HD, including two live events from SHOWTIME Sports.
On Friday, March 26, hard-hitting mixed martial arts (MMA) heavyweight Lavar Johnson, completes his remarkable comeback from a near-fatal shooting when he faces undefeated Lolohea Mahe in the main event of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers telecast featuring five live fights beginning at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Inside NASCAR, the newest gem in the SHOWTIME Sports crown, will air a weekly episode featuring highlights and analysis of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race—Food City 500—at Bristol, Tenn., on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT (SHO2), on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET/PT (SHO2) and on Sunday, at 9 a.m. (SHO). This episode will be available at SHOWTIME On Demand for the entire free preview weekend.
Beyond this exciting sports programming, SHOWTIME ALL ACCESS Free Preview Weekend includes a dynamic cross section of programming including the season 2 premiere episodes of SHOWTIME original series Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara as well as hit movies Twilight and The Reader.
Visit the SHOWTIME ALL ACCESS Free Preview Weekend webpage for complete details: http://www.sho.com/site/freepreview/home.do
More on the Super Six World Boxing Classic
The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a groundbreaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports featuring the best of the super middleweight (168-pound) division. The field is comprised of world renowned fighters Abraham, Dirrell, Carl Froch (WBC world champion of England), Andre Ward (WBA world champion of Oakland), Mikkel Kessler of Denmark, and Allan Green of Oklahoma, competing in two-year tournament for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic trophy.
More on March 27th
The Armenia-born Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs) of Berlin, Germany, currently leads the tournament with three points by way of his 12th round knockout of American Jermain Taylor in Group Stage 1. Dirrell (18-1, 13 KOs), the former U.S. Olympic bronze medalist from Flint, Mich., is looking to score his first points of the tournament as he dropped a close 12-round decision to Carl Froch in his Group Stage 1 bout.
More on STRIKEFORCE Challengers
STRIKEFORCE Challengers provides today’s top MMA prospects with an opportunity to get on the fast-track to stardom. Up-and-coming fighters challenge other top prospects in their respective divisions and gain valuable national television exposure as they vie for an opportunity to move up to the higher-profile STRIKEFORCE events.
More on March 26th
Johnson, who just six months ago was fighting for his life after being gunned down at a family barbeque during the July 4 holiday, will enter a new chapter in his incredible recovery when he restarts his professional MMA career in the main event of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers telecast. After being struck down by the gunfire that also led to the death of a cousin, Johnson, a 32-year-old father of two boys, spent one month in hospital care and lost approximately 60 pounds.
For information on all SHOWTIME Sports telecasts, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries from its events and complete information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at http://www.sports.sho.com
*****Free preview available to digital subscribers in participating systems only. Not all services available in all areas. Previews may contain PG, PG-13, TV-14, TVMA and R rated programming. Programming is subject to change. You must be a digital subscriber to receive Video On Demand and HD. Video On Demand is not available in all areas. If you do not wish to receive the preview in your home, please contact your local service provider. *****
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2â„¢, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNELâ„¢ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNELâ„¢ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNELâ„¢ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.