General | 7/29/2015 12:44:00 AM
FRISCO – The Southland Conference and Sinclair Networks Group have reached a multi-year agreement to televise football and men's basketball games on the American Sports Network (ASN). This includes coverage of 12 football games in 2015 and as many as nine other sports broadcasts during the upcoming academic year.
The agreement, which begins in the fall of 2015 and continues through 2016-17, represents a significant addition to the Southland's recent national television package with ESPN. The 12 football telecasts will take the place of the formerly-branded Southland Conference Television Network that aired regional and national broadcasts from 2008-14. Additionally, all Southland events on ASN will also be streamed globally on www.southland.org.
"We are very excited to announce a new broadcast partnership with Sinclair and the American Sports Network," Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett said. "ASN has developed a great opportunity for the Southland to further promote our strong brand of college football, and will do a tremendous job in telling the great stories of the Southland Conference, our member institutions and our deserving student-athletes."
Seven of the 12 football broadcasts are set, and five will become known in a 12-day advance window. Three Thursday night games will be offered to ASN's national network of affiliates while the Saturday games will be more regional in focus.
"We're proud to enter into this relationship with the Southland Conference," commented Doron Gorshein, COO of Sinclair Networks Group. "This initiative extends our sports brand, deepens our connection to our communities, and enhances localism. We're pleased to enter into this relationship. This agreement makes our offering more robust and helps take ASN to the next level."
ASN is composed of 161 Sinclair-owned and operated television stations nationwide that combine to reach approximately 43 million households nationwide. ASN has also developed an affiliate network of regional sports networks to increase the per-game potential distribution to more than 60 million households. The company, which launched in 2014-15, produced 250 college events in nine sports during its inaugural year.
2015 Southland Conference Football on American Sports NetworkThursday, Sept. 3 -- Southeastern Louisiana at Northwestern State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- Incarnate Word at McNeese State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 -- Lamar at Sam Houston State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26 -- Stephen F. Austin at Abilene Christian, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1 -- Lamar at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 -- Central Arkansas at Houston Baptist, 2:30 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 17 -- To be determined by Oct. 5
*Saturday, Oct. 24 -- To be determined by Oct. 12
*Saturday, Oct. 31 -- To be determined by Oct. 19
*Saturday, Nov. 7 -- To be determined by Oct. 26
*Saturday, Nov. 14 -- To be determined by Nov. 2
Thursday, Nov. 19 -- Nicholls State at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m.
*12-day advance selections
