MVC TV Package to Improve

[Panthers to the Bone]

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/wichita_state_university/12212183.htm

More MVC on TV -- WSU basketball coach Mark Turgeon and his staff are recruiting, trying to convince players there's life outside BCS conferences.

Help, he says, is on the way as the MVC's television exposure may improve.

Turgeon said he expects the MVC to have as many as 10 games on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU this season. That could be a noteworthy increase for the Valley, which usually has two or three regular-season games on ESPN or ESPN2, depending on appearances earned on Bracket Buster Saturday.

Some of the benefit will depend on the number of games on ESPNU, a network that started in March and, with a reach of around four million homes, doesn't approach the exposure gained by an appearance on ESPN or ESPN2. It's not available on Cox Cable.

MVC associate commissioner Mike Kern said TV games won't be set until next month.

"Mark is right to be optimistic that we will have additional opportunities for national exposure," Kern said.

Kern said the MVC's package with Fox Sports Midwest will increase to 15 games, up one from last season.
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It's good to see more ESPN games (which means UNI should be one of the marquee names this seaon---due to the hype coming in this season), as well as more FSN Midwest games. That averages out to 3 games on FSN Midwest per team. 3 FSN games, 3 ESPN/2/U games, and then 2 games (maybe more?) on Fox28 could mean 1/2 the conference games would be on television. That's a very, very nice start to improving the television package.

[Newsbreaker]

That's outstanding news. IMO, the more this team is on TV, the better attendance will be, the more support the squad gets in the community, and on and on.

[Marc Wigim]

Yeah, it's a pretty big paradox that we always get the big crowds for the televised games. You'd think more people would stay home, but history has proven otherwise. I'm pleased with how things are going thus far...

[panther2317]

The more opportunities for UNI to be seen on national television just increases the reach for Panther coaches to go out and get kids from all parts of the country. Just think about it...about 10years ago Gonzaga was just the place where John Stockton went to college. Now, it's a household name in college basketball. If UNI can continue to make the NCAA's, they can gain that level of notoriety in college basketball. (of course a run to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8 wouldn't hurt either )

[Panthers to the Bone]

There was a post on Valley Talk where someone from Creighton said that one of the UNI/Creighton games (home facility not specified) would be on ESPN or ESPN2 this year.

[Marc Wigim]

I read that, too... maybe ESPN is coming to the Dome yet again... *gets giddy*

Nothing like national exposure. For some reason, ESPN and CBS Sportsline have been treating UNI like media darlings in their coverage to date. I can only hope that this continues throughout the year.