WTVP to televise Bradley games for 2010-2011

[Big Mike]

PJS on the TV games....

http://www.bradleyhoops.com/news/x858298654/Bussone-Kleine-to-call-10-BU-games-on-WTVP

[tornado]

I like Chad Kleine

[Da Coach]

Illinois State has agreed to stay with Comcast SportsNet Chicago as their TV partner. However, in keeping with Comcast's policy of greatly reducing the number of college games they plan to cover, the deal only includes 4 games (2 early preconference games in December, and 2 conference games in January)-

http://boxscorenews.com/illinois-state-athletics-partners-with-comcast-sportsnet-chicago-p4868-68.htm

Though it's too bad for the Chicago-area fans, I suspect most Bradley fans would have been greatly disappointed if BU had agreed to such a limited few games being televised. As was reported earlier, Comcast was not interested in carrying more than a small number of games.

[Buesch N Chips]

Though it's too bad for the Chicago-area fans, I suspect most Bradley fans would have been greatly disappointed if BU had agreed to such a limited few games being televised. As was reported earlier, Comcast was not interested in carrying more than a small number of games.

Amen! Great decision by BU!

[MDCowboy]

Da Coach - I think this is different. The deal last year was with Comcast Spotlight and that was more of a regional network only on cable. Those games were picked up by Comcast in Chicago and shown on an "off" channel that normally does home shopping, etc.

This ISU deal is with the big Comcast Sports Net Chicago, the big network that does Bulls, Blackhawks, Sox, Cubs, etc. They get a lot more people who can watch their games... this channel is on regional sports networks and can be seen nationally. Plus everyone who gets Dish Network or DirecTV in the Illinois area can get Comcast Sports Net Chicago.

Still - not sure we'd be happy with 4 games only, BUT - if BU could get even a few games on the big network, that would be pretty nice too.

[Da Coach]

MD- Bradley could have had a similar deal with Comcast, if they were willing to exclude all other stations. That would have meant no local broadcasts, other than those that could be picked up on Comcast cable. Realize that of those who get WTVP, only about half as many people in Central Illinois get Comcast, so many people would have been entirely shut out from seeing the games.

[MDCowboy]

That makes sense Coach... I am not disputing that BU made the right choice. I'm just pointing out that this ISU deal is different as Comcast Sports Net Chicago is different than the Comcast package BU had last year. For all the Peoria fans, doing a local package makes more sense. I just wish BU found a better way to service us Chicago area alums as part of this.

[Da Coach]

It was my understanding that the Comcast Spotlight deal from last year won't exist at all this year for anyone. Comcast was not interested in more college games on their rarely-watched off-channel.