THIS TV Pays Tribute to 'The Boss' of Baseball George Steinbrenner

LOS ANGELES, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- THIS TV, the free broadcast movie network from MGM Studios and Weigel Broadcasting, will honor "The Boss" of baseball, the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, with a special programming lineup on Saturday, July 24. Kicking off at 7:00 pm ET the tribute will include "The Pride of the Yankees," the Academy Award® winning film starring Gary Cooper followed by four back-to-back episodes of the 1960 television series "Home Run Derby," with Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. An encore presentation of the tribute will air Sunday, July 25 at 11:00 pm ET.

Leading off the tribute will be the premiere of the newly-remastered version of the classic baseball movie, "The Pride of the Yankees," which hasn't been seen on broadcast TV in nearly a decade. The 1942 biographical film stars Gary Cooper as Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, who had his career cut short at 37 years of age when he was stricken with the fatal disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (later to become known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease"). The Academy Award® winning film follows the "Iron Horse" from his childhood in New York to his famous "Luckiest Man" speech at Gehrig's farewell day in 1939. Yankees teammates Babe Ruth, Bob Meusel, Mark Koenig, Bill Dickey and sportscaster Bill Stern portray themselves.

"George Steinbrenner was a visionary who built the New York Yankees from the ground up. His passing marks the end of an era," said John Bryan, Executive Vice President, Broadcast Strategy, MGM. "We are fortunate to have some great Yankees content in our library, and we could not think of a better way to honor 'The Boss' of baseball than to share them with THIS TV's viewers."

Following the film will be four back-to-back episodes of the 1960 television show "Home Run Derby," which helped inspire today's Home Run Derby event, held annually before each MLB All-Star Game. The series pitted top sluggers of baseball including Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and Willie Mays, against each other in a nine-inning home run contest. THIS TV will broadcast the first four episodes of "Home Run Derby," which features Yankees' Hall-of-Famer Mickey Mantle, in Steinbrenner's honor.

Widely known as "The Boss" of baseball, George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees principal owner and chairperson, passed away last week at the age of 80. At the time of his passing, Steinbrenner was celebrating his 37th anniversary as principal owner of the team. During his tenure, the Yankees posted a Major League-best .566 winning percentage (3,364-2,583-3 record) while winning 11 American League pennants and seven World Championships (also the most in the Majors). And under his leadership, the New York Yankees became the leading sports franchise and the most highly recognized sports brand in the world.

THIS TV is cleared in over 80% of the U.S. and airs on Tribune Broadcasting stations in New York (WPIX), Los Angeles (KTLA), Philadelphia (WPHL), Washington D.C. (WDCW), Miami (WSFL), Denver (KWGN), St. Louis (KPLR), San Diego (KSWB), Grand Rapids (WXMI), Indianapolis/Bloomington (WTTV/WTIC), Hartford (WTIC) and New Orleans (WNOL) among others.

For schedule highlights or to see where THIS TV airs in your city, please visit www.thistv.com.

About THIS TV

THIS TV, cleared in over 80% of the United States, is a programming service for local television stations delivered over their digital platform. Created jointly by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Weigel Broadcasting, the channel leverages MGM's treasured library, which features over 4,100 films and 10,000 hours of television programming.

About Weigel Broadcasting Co.

Weigel Broadcasting Co. and affiliate companies own and operate WCIU-TV/26.1, Me-TV/ WCIU-TV 26.2, Me-Too/WCIU-TV 26.3, THIS/WCIU-TV 26.4, FBT/WCIU-TV 26.6, WWME-CA 23, Me-Too/WMEU-CA 48 in Chicago, IL, CBS/WDJT-TV 58.1, WMLW/WDJT-TV 58.2, THIS/WDJT-TV 58.3, Shorewest TV/WDJT-TV 58.4, WMLW-CA 41, WMLW-LD 41.1, Me-TV/WBME-TV 49.1, Telemundo/WBME-TV 49.4, Telemundo/WYTU-LD 63.1, Me-TV/WYTU-LP 63 in Milwaukee, WI, and ABC/WBND-TV 57.1, CW/WCWW-TV 25.1, THIS/WCWW-TV 25.2, My Michiana/WMYS-TV 69.1, ABC/WBND-LP 57, CW/WCWW-LP 25, My Michiana/WMYS-LP 69, in South Bend, IN.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching over 130 countries and territories around the world. MGM ownership is currently as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

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