Free Premier Film Event, Honoring the Coast Guard, to be Held Wed., Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Nauticus Museum

CHESAPEAKE, Va., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A special free premier of The Weather Channel's newest original series Coast Guard Alaska will be held Wednesday, November 9 at the Nauticus Maritime Museum. The film screening begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Nauticus is located at 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA.

This event is free and open to the public; however reservations must be made at www.usohrcv.com. Screening attendees will be among the first to see the new program to be aired on The Weather Channel.  

Cox Communications, The Weather Channel, the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, and Nauticus are partnering to hold this event in recognition of the 2011 Veteran's Day celebration.  

Coast Guard Alaska follows a team of Coast Guard swimmers and rescue pilots stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. Set against the awe-inspiring beauty of Kodiak's majestic peaks and rolling mountains, the series shows us life for these brave men and women as they balance duty versus family, and how each one deals with the pressures associated with the job.  

"Cox is always pleased to be able to work with our impressive list of national programmers to bring valuable and relevant premier opportunities to the community. While this event celebrates the U.S. Coast Guard, we believe that the local community at large will want to be a part of this important screening," said Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Cox Virginia.

The Weather Channel Sr. Director of Marketing Annie House said, "This series joins The Weather Channel's stable of new and popular long-form original content.  Coast Guard Alaska has all the elements we're looking for in original programming – great storytelling, action and adventure, and most importantly, how the weather affects someone's work and life everyday."  She adds, "The show reveals the strategy implemented in saving lives in such a harsh environment, along with the teamwork and discipline associated with the job."  The 7 episode hour-long series will also explore what life is like off-duty on the base, in a world so dependent on weather conditions.

USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia President Bruce LaLonde said, "There are a lot of folks doing great things to protect and serve our country. And the accomplishments of the Coast Guard are particularly important, but often not seen. This series is a fantastic way to honor the Coast Guard, to educate the public about what they do, and to celebrate Veteran's Day. I'm thrilled the USO could be part of this effort."

Event specifics are below:

About Cox Communications:

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves more than 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for six years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and the company holds a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About The Weather Channel Companies

The Weather Channel companies (TWCC) are made up of The Weather Channel® television network, The Weather Channel digital properties, and WSI.  The Weather Channel is based in Atlanta and is seen in more than 100 million U.S. households.  TWCC also operates Weatherscan®, a 24-hour all-local weather network; The Weather Channel Radio Network; and The Weather Channel HD.  The digital properties of TWCC, which include the weather.com, The Weather Channel Desktop and The Weather Channel Mobile, reach more than 40 million monthly unique users, are the most popular source of online weather news and information, and offer the second most popular mobile application on all smart phones.  WSI, headquartered in Andover, MA, primarily provides business-to-business weather services, particularly for the media, aviation, marine and energy sectors. TWCC is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.weather.com/press.

About the USO

It is the mission of the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families worldwide and to create a cooperative relationship between U.S. military communities and involved or supporting civilian communities. The USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia is a non-governmental, non-profit 501c(3) organization that depends on corporate and individual support to fund its programs and services.

About Nauticus Maritime Center

NAUTICUS inspires and educates with engaging & interactive experiences that celebrate our connections with today's maritime world. Nauticus is a contemporary museum that uses the natural setting of Norfolk's harbor to showcase global maritime commerce and the world's largest Navy.

SOURCE Cox Communications