Are there really that many Panthers that are also Hawks?

[FarmerClone]

That the crack production staff that did the game tonight felt the need to put the score of the Iowa game on the TV almost the enitre time? or was that supposed to be for the benefit of the Hawk fans that had to watch ISU-UNI because they did not have ESPNU or whatever the Hawks were on?

Overall, a terrible production job as the score was consistently slow to update and the announcers numerous times acted confused themselves as to what the score was. But I found the need to list the Hawk score amusing and was just curious for a UNI take.

[TH1974]

I'd guess there were many Iowa fans who watched the game tonight. It's better than watching almost everything else on TV.

[speechpanther]

I'm glad someone mentioned this. I know that the Iowa game was on ESPNU tonight, so most the state couldn't see it, but seriously. I certainly hope UNI can find a better deal than this when their contract runs out with Fox. And with the Big 10 Network taking Big 10 games away from ESPN + regional coverage, we just might have our shot.

[TH1974]

I'm glad someone mentioned this. I know that the Iowa game was on ESPNU tonight, so most the state couldn't see it, but seriously.

But seriously what?

[Panthers to the Bone]

I wasn't happy about it Clone. It has nothing to do with UNI though. UNI doesn't produce it, to my knowledge. Fox won the bid to do UNI's games, and they do the rest.

[BCPanther]

I believe that that deal is up after this season or next, I can't wait and hope the university can negotiate a deal that puts them in a better light.

[Born-a-Panther]

And then there's Channel 9 whose lead story on sports tonight was the Iowa LOSS. Get a clue KCRG.

[FarmerClone]

And then there's Channel 9 whose lead story on sports tonight was the Iowa LOSS. Get a clue KCRG.

Well it is Iowa's worst start to a season since, what, the 1960's? It IS kind of newsworthy, but it is a surprise that it would trump a in state battle as solid as the one we saw tonight.

[ColoradoPanther]

And then there's Channel 9 whose lead story on sports tonight was the Iowa LOSS. Get a clue KCRG.

I understand and normally would agree with everything being said in this thread, but honestly I kind of like the news focusing on hawk losses. No harm in reminding every recruit in the state about how lame the hawks are.

Of course, no news on the hawks is always better than losing news, but that utopia is somewhere down the road still.

[Newsbreaker]

And then there's Channel 9 whose lead story on sports tonight was the Iowa LOSS. Get a clue KCRG.

From a strategic stand point, KCRG focuses almost exclusively on the I-380, CR/IC corridor. They don't get great numbers out of Waterloo, thanks to KWWL, so they spend their resources where they can "win". Therefore, in that area, the Iowa loss was a bigger story then a UNI/ISU game.

As an example, if we had lost a non-conference game on the night that Drake beat ISU in Des Moines, which would be the "top" story on KWWL?

Fox's production isn't very good, I agree. The score bug they were using was pretty sad as well, but in doing so, they're just trying to increase their audience, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I don't like the whole "Big 4" deal at all. If we are granting the rights, it's a UNI broadcast, not a Subway "we're doing 4 games this year" broadcast.

FWIW, I don't think all Big Ten basketball goes away from ESPN+ next year. Too often there are many games happening at once...more then a single Big Ten channel can accommodate.

[UNI MadCat]

FWIW, I don't think all Big Ten basketball goes away from ESPN+ next year. Too often there are many games happening at once...more then a single Big Ten channel can accommodate.

Correct.

Regarding the B10 channel, in the end people will come to realize that it is actually giving more coverage to their sports (including more VB, baseball and softball). The games that are moved onto the B10 channel aren't necessarily games people would be getting regularly anyway.

As a B10 fan, I think I'm one of the only people excited about this channel (and I dont even have DirecTV yet!) but I think that will change once it gets underway.

[speechpanther]

Well, the Big 10's own documentation on the network indicates that ESPN + coverage is gone.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big10/genrel/auto_pdf/tv-comparison-chart.pdf

On this chart, they show this year that games are going to be shown on ESPN + in syndication. The line for next year, in both Football and Men's Basketball, does not exist. It indicates that 13 games will be carried on emerging networks (ESPNU, 360), and that 105 games will be carried on the Big 10 Network. The logistics of this seems interesting to me too, and I guess I will fully believe it when I see it, but the word in Iowa City is that ESPN+ and KGAN's coverage of the Hawks dies next year. As far as I am concerned, if this is correct, this is one heck of an opportunity for the Panthers to try and get a local network to carry us.

[speechpanther]

Oh, and as for other sports, there will be a definate increase in exposure for them too, but the Big 10 has made this network to make money, and while I may be excited to see some Iowa Women's Volleyball road games televised, I got a feeling not too many others will be. In the end, this network will either succeed or fail on the back of men's basketball and football...so they are going to show as many of these games as possible.

[CIPanther]

FarmerClone - In answer to your original question about Panther fans being Hawk fans. There are some. At pretty much every UNI event I have attended, and there are many, there is at least one putz who has to wear Hawkeye gear.

Even at the championship game in Chattanooga last year, there was one guy wearing a Hawkeye sweatshirt. I asked him if he knew where he was. He didn't answer which made me wonder that maybe he didn't.

[Matt Trump]

Farmer

Alford has done a lot to turn a lot of Hawk fans away from their basketball program. At the same time, UNI's team started to rise. This gave some Hawk fans an easy out during bball season. They can easily root for the Hawks during football season and turn around and cheer for UNI when football ends.