New MVC deal with ESPN

[Canton BU fan]

http://www.mvc-sports.com/mbasketball/news/2011-12/5543/missouri-valley-conference-signs-five-year-agreement-with-espn/

[OrangeandBlack74]

The Championship game of the Men's BB tournament will now be on ESPN, not on CBS as has been done the previous few years...

"As part of the contract, ESPN receives the rights to the championship game of the State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Tournament each year. The ESPN agreement will also include at least eight regular-season national TV men’s basketball appearances for the Missouri Valley Conference on ESPN or ESPN2 each year."

[Da Coach]

With all their extra networks, ESPN is apparently trying to lock up deals for games to fill them. I think this is good for the MVC in the long run, and they will get more games broadcast nationally, though by not being part of the CBS coverage, there may be a slightly smaller audience for the championship game.

[TylerDurden]

The Championship game of the Men's BB tournament will now be on ESPN, not on CBS as has been done the previous few years...

"As part of the contract, ESPN receives the rights to the championship game of the State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Tournament each year. The ESPN agreement will also include at least eight regular-season national TV men’s basketball appearances for the Missouri Valley Conference on ESPN or ESPN2 each year."

Point of clarification - ESPN has owned the rights to the Arch Madness final in each of the seasons the CBS has shown it. The networks and the league have come to agreements that allow it to be shown on CBS - a sublease, if you will.

Edit - I'm not certain if that agreement has been made this year. It's generally a year-to-year deal.

[LittleBrave]

I actually enjoyed the MVC Championship Game on ESPN2 before it switched to CBS. Hopefully they will go back to an evening game too and it could give the teams a few more hours to rest.

So MVC teams will only have a total of 4 games on ESPN3 this year?
Anyways - not a big loss as long as NeuLion has better quality & better gameflow this year so we can see BU from the BUBraves site.

[LittleBrave]

With MVC media day tomorrow, will the MVC-TV Network release the schedule for the upcoming season?
Just trying to get a better idea of what games will be on which channels, and which month(s) to purchase the Internet Package from the BUBraves.com site.

[Double D]

With all their extra networks, ESPN is apparently trying to lock up deals for games to fill them. I think this is good for the MVC in the long run, and they will get more games broadcast nationally, though by not being part of the CBS coverage, there may be a slightly smaller audience for the championship game.

I hope that this means more games in HD.

IMO aside from MVC fans others simply aren't going to watch if it isn't. I know through my provider (DISH) most ESPN networks are in HD but ESPNU isn't.

[Da Coach]

...I know through my provider (DISH) most ESPN networks are in HD but ESPNU isn't.

I am surprised to hear this. Even Comcast cable offers ESPNU in HD on their digital sports package. Is it not available in HD on any of the available DISH packages?

[ph]

I am surprised to hear this. Even Comcast cable offers ESPNU in HD on their digital sports package. Is it not available in HD on any of the available DISH packages?

It seems there is a current lawsuit between Echostar and Disney, and it is speculated that Dish will not add any more Disney owned channels until that dispute ends or a new contract is negotiated..

[Da Coach]

The MVC has also just announced a 3-year TV deal with Fox-

http://www.mvc-sports.com/mbasketball/news/2011-12/5545/Missouri_Valley_Conference_Signs_Three-Year_Agreement_with_FOX/

[Canton BU fan]

I am surprised to hear this. Even Comcast cable offers ESPNU in HD on their digital sports package. Is it not available in HD on any of the available DISH packages?

ESPNU is in HD on Directv.

[Canton BU fan]

I actually enjoyed the MVC Championship Game on ESPN2 before it switched to CBS. Hopefully they will go back to an evening game too and it could give the teams a few more hours to rest.

So MVC teams will only have a total of 4 games on ESPN3 this year?
Anyways - not a big loss as long as NeuLion has better quality & better gameflow this year so we can see BU from the BUBraves site.

As a fan going to the games in St Louis I prefer the afternoon game on Sunday so I can get home at a decent hour. If they switch back to an evening game...especially on Monday night again I may not go anymore.

[real fan]

As a fan going to the games in St Louis I prefer the afternoon game on Sunday so I can get home at a decent hour. If they switch back to an evening game...especially on Monday night again I may not go anymore.

They would be making a huge mistake in going back to the monday night championship game, it would hurt ticket sales .

[bigjimmy]

This tournament is the perfect get-a-way tournamnet. Hopefully ESPN won't change a thing.

[jrish12]

ESPNU is in HD on Directv.

Directv is not DISH Network. And Da Coach, it is not offered in HD on any Dish Network packages. Typically the MVC games on FSN are not in HD either through Dish which makes it very difficult to watch on a larger LCD TV