News Update: Feb. 1, 2004

24/7 ACTION SPORTS NET FUEL AND VANS BRING VANS TRIPLE CROWN SERIES LIBRARY AND “OFF THE WALL” SERIES TO FUEL

FSN Keeps Rights to Primary Telecast of “Off the Wall”

LOS ANGELES, CA – VANS, Inc.,one of the most recognized youth brands in the world, and FUEL, America’s first and only network of its kind dedicated to surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX, wakeboarding and motocross, have entered into agreements giving FUEL the television rights to the Vans Triple Crown Series library and second-window telecast rights for the VANS television series “Off the Wall”, which will run initially on FUEL sister network FSN,it was announced today by Doug Palladini, Vans’ Senior Director of Marketing and CJ Olivares, SVP and Assistant General Manager, FUEL. 

"Vans’ renewed partnership with FSN, now paired with FUEL’s innovative network, gives us a powerful platform on which to share our all-new, progressive, action sports programming," said Doug Palladini, Vans' Senior Director of Marketing. "We have completely re-engineered the way Vans creates TV for our “Off the Wall” hour; making it much more an accurate reflection of what is current in action sports.  Along with historic Vans Triple Crown shows, FUEL viewers will be watching a full slate of Vans events this year."

“By partnering with Vans, we are bringing FUEL audiences a prestigious collection of existing and new events in all areas of action sports,” said Olivares.  “And by obtaining the Vans Triple Crown library, we are able to engage new and existing participants with a historic collection from the Vans Triple Crown Series franchise.”

The deal makes FSN and now FUEL the television home of Vans’ 2004 and 2005 event coverage.  A minimum of 21 new episodes of “Off the Wall” featuring Vans events will air over the course of the year.  Coverage will include the 2004 and 2005 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, 2004 Vans Championships of BMX, 2004 Vans Championships of FMX, Vans Tahoe Cup, Vans Downtown Showdown, Pro-tec Pool Party, Vans BMX Open, 2004 Best of Skateboarding, 2004 Best of BMX and 2004 Best of Snowboarding.  Additionally, the “Rip Curl Search” with Rip Curl surfers combing the planet for the world’s best waves will be featured in five “Off the Wall” episodes.   New “Off the Wall” episodes for 2005 began airing on FSN in early January at the new Thursday 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm time slot and will air on FUEL starting in February.

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In a separate deal, FUEL has licensed the Vans Triple Crown Series library consisting of 26 one-hour episodes featuring skateboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, freestyle motocross, supercross and BMX.   These programs will air in a branded block later this year.

Additional Note – “Orange Crush” at the Orange County Museum of Art

FUEL and VANS are also teaming up to co-sponsor “Orange Crush,” a series of Thursday night after-hours events at the Orange County Museum of Art from February 17 through May 12.  Coinciding with the acclaimed Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture exhibit, “Orange Crush” features live bands, film screenings and skate demos.   “Orange Crush” opens with special guests writer-director Stacy Peralta, producer Agi Orsi and editor Paul Crowder and a screening of their ground-breaking film “Dogtown and Z-Boys.”  Visit www.ocma.net for a calendar of events and more information.

For more information on Vans visit www.vans.com. For local listings on FSN, visit www.foxsports.com.  For more information on FUEL or to learn how to get FUEL, visit www.fuel.tv or call 1-877-4FUELTV.

FUEL is the first and only 24-hour network of its kind dedicated to the world of action sports.  As a driving force in youth culture, action sports have captured the imagination, energy and excitement of a generation. FUEL covers both competitive and free-riding action in the arenas of skateboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, snowboarding and wakeboarding. Original and co-produced series are complemented by unique and compelling interstitials, featuring the best slams, the top tricks, and the voices of the action sports industry.  Launched on July 1, 2003 by Fox Cable Networks, FUEL is seen in nearly 12 million homes.

FSN reaches more than 82 million homes through its network of 20 regional sports channels. FSN, based in Los Angeles, serves as the cable TV home to 62 of the 82 MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States, and produces over 4,600 live events each year. In addition to home team games, FSN telecasts a wide variety of national sports events and programming, including Best Damn Sports Show Period, I, Max and Beyond the Glory. For the latest up-to-the-minute sports news and opinions, visit the FOX Sports/FSN website at www.FoxSports.com.

Vans, Inc., a subsidiary of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), is a leading lifestyle brand for the youth market. Vans collections, which include active and performance footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and bindings and the Pro-tec, Inc. line of protective gear, are sold in the United States through 146 company owned stores and factory outlets as well as independent retailers.  Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 50 countries through a network of distributors, sales agents and foreign offices.  Vans supports and promotes the action sports lifestyle through such events as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, the Vans Warped Tour® and the Vans World Amateur Skateboarding Championships.