Fresh off the blades of the Winter Olympics, ABC has reached a multi-year agreement with Disson Skating, a leader in family entertainment programming, for the exclusive broadcast of Disson Skating's legendary entertainment specials for the 2014/2015 television season. This marks the return of figure skating to ABC, which has a long and well-received history in the sport.
ABC will air the first set of 2-hour skating shows in the fall of 2014. The second pair of skating specials will air in early 2015.
Each show will feature the signature lifts, spins and jumps choreographed to chart-topping hits performed live by some of the biggest stars in the music industry. Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who made Olympic history at the Sochi Games as the first-ever U.S. gold medal winners in ice dancing and most recently, were announced as contestants on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars," have been confirmed to perform for the series, alongside fellow gold medal champion Brian Boitano. Gold medal skater and "Dancing with the Stars" winner Kristi Yamaguchi returns to
ABC and will host alongside three-time national champion and two-time U.S. Olympian Michael Weiss.
"Over the past 25 years, we've been proud to create hundreds of skating specials showcasing one of the most beloved sports in the world combined with live musical entertainment," said Stephen Disson, president of Disson Skating. "This new long-term partnership with
ABC is a natural fit, and we look forward to adding to their slate of great, family-friendly programming."
Stephen Disson and Disson Skating, LLC has owned and produced family entertainment skating specials featuring celebrity guest performing artists since 1989. Disson has partnered on ice skating specials with some of the biggest names in the sport including Olympic champions Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton and Kristi Yamaguchi and World champion Kurt Browning. Disson's specials have featured other Olympic champions including Peggy Fleming, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Dorothy Hamill, Sarah Hughes, Ilia Kulik, Tara Lapinski, Evan Lysacek and recent Olympic champion ice dance team Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
Some of the celebrity guest artists who have appeared in Disson shows have included Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, Michael Buble, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Renee Fleming, Foreigner, Aretha Franklin, Fresh Beat Band, the Goo Goo Dolls, Josh Groban, Jewel, the Jonas Brothers, Wynonna Judd, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Martina McBride, Audra McDonald, Michael McDonald, Scotty McCreery, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Seal, Styx and Frankie Valli.
These original skating events will be taped before a live audience in the following venues across the country beginning in the fall:
Musselman's Apple Sauce Family Skating Tribute at Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena (taped October 19th)
Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (taped November 15th)
Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena (taped December 13th)
Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas (taped December 20th)
The television production of these specials will once again be handled by IMG Productions. The final air dates as well as performance line-up and celebrity musical guests will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT DISSON
Disson Skating annually produces nationally televised figure skating spectaculars, all featuring celebrity guest artists. Disson Skating's shows continue to
Capture large television audiences with every event and
Disson Skating has earned the reputation as the leading producer of televised ice skating spectaculars in the United States.
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