Wade Martin Promoted to President and General Manager of Dew Action Sports Tour

New York (December 18, 2006) -- Wade Martin, who has guided the Dew Action Sports Tour during the Tour's first two successful seasons, has extended his contract and been promoted to President and General Manager. Ken Schanzer, President, NBC Sports and Charlie Mancuso, President, Live Nation Motor Sports made the announcement.

Owned by NBC Universal and Live Nation, the Dew Action Sports Tour, the pro tour of action sports, debuted in June 2005, and consists of five major, multi-sport events with a cumulative points system, a $2.5 million competitive purse - the largest in action sports - and an additional $1 million bonus pool based upon year-end standings. NBC and USA Network will combine for exclusive Dew Action Sports Tour coverage with the largest combined network and cable commitment in action sports. The Tour features skateboarding (park and vert), BMX (park, vert, and dirt) and freestyle motocross, and at seasons end, the Tour awards champions in the six combined disciplines with the Dew Cup. Key lifestyle elements at each Tour event's festival village includes live cutting-edge music, video gaming, and interactive events.

"Wade's vision and leadership are largely responsible for the early success of the Dew Action Sports Tour which in just two years boasts the largest on-site and media audiences, an impressive roster of complementary sponsors and the enthusiastic support of the globe's top action sports athletes," said Schanzer. "Speaking for both NBC Universal and Live Nation, we are excited about the future of the Tour and thrilled Wade Martin has agreed to lead the Dew Tour into its next chapter of growth."

Wade Martin joined NBC Sports in the fall of 2003 as General Manager of Action Sports. In this role, Martin spearheaded the creation and development of the Dew Action Sports Tour, the first season-long competitive tour featuring skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. The Tour, which successfully launched in 2005, is a joint venture between NBC Sports and Live Nation.

As General Manager, Martin oversees all facets of the joint venture and the Tour, including sponsorship sales and partner relations, marketing and communications, operations, competitions, athlete relations, and business development.  He is also central to the Tour's multi-year deal relationships with each of the Tour's host cities as well as the chief liaison between NBC Sports and Live Nation.

Before assuming his current position, Martin was Senior Vice President/Executive Director of the Gravity Games and oversaw Octagon Marketing's Action Sports Division. Martin developed the Gravity Games into one of the most widely recognized action sports properties in the world.

Martin began his career in the sports industry at Advantage International, where he worked in event management for several professional tennis tournaments before leading the creation and management of the emerging sports group. Martin earned a B.S. from Michigan State University, where he was a four-year letter winner on the tennis team, and a M.S. in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Additionally, Martin was named to Sports Business Journal's Forty Under Forty list in 2005.

Wade lives in Hinsdale, Illinois with his wife Paula and children, Tosh, 5, and Elle, 2.