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Interactive telethon to be simulcast Sunday, May 11th, 5-8 A.M. ET
SARS Telethon, Hosted By Yao Ming,
to Air Live On NBA TV in the U.S.

SECAUCUS, N.J., May 8 -- NBA TV -- the league's 24 hour television network -- will simulcast a special three-hour interactive SARS fundraiser telethon on Sunday, May 11th live from 5-8:00AM/ET (rebroadcast from 8-11:00AM/ET). The telethon, co-organized by the Shanghai TV Great Sports Channel (STV) and Houston Rockets' star Yao Ming, will be hosted by Yao, and will help raise funds to combat the epidemic.

"The fight against SARS is an extremely important one and I wanted to do something to support the fight and help overcome the disease," said Yao Ming. "This is the least I can do to help my country get through this difficult time."

NBA TV's telecast will feature commentary and translation from Yao's translater Colin Pine, along with translator Mei Jiangzhong. Jay Stone Shih, producer and host of China Crosstalk, a mandarin-based, live call-in TV talk show, will also provide commentary, all from the NBA TV studios in Secaucus, NJ.

During the show, viewers in the U.S. can contribute to this cause by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800 HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669). The goal is to raise funds to provide much needed support in the fight against SARS.

Many members of the NBA family have already joined Yao Ming in this effort to battle against SARS. Among those who have already pledged their support and will be featured on the show with messages, include Yao's teammate Steve Francis, Derek Fisher, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, Phil Jackson, Bill Walton, Earl Monroe, Kevin McHale, John Havlicek, Richard Jefferson, David Robinson and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The show is a co-production of the Shanghai TV Great Sports Channel and the Shanghai Broadcasting Network, and will be televised nationally across China. This will be the first major telethon ever to be conducted in China.

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