KoriEllis
09-08-2004, 02:20 AM
ESPN to start 24-Hour college sports channel next year
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, September 8, 2004
The ESPN cable network will start a 24-hour college sports television channel showing live games next March.
ESPNU will carry about 300 games in its first year, mostly Division I football and men's and women's basketball, the network said. It also will cover sports such as baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse and hockey, ESPN said.
"ESPNU will offer a broad variety of ESPN-branded college product across all of our entities, which will enhance our relationship with fans and colleges," ESPN President George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
ESPN is available in about 90 million of the 109.6 million U.S. households with televisions, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc. ESPNU will also show regular-season and National Collegiate Athletic Association championships, plus game replays on ESPN and ESPN2.
Closely held College Sports Television, a 24-hour network also devoted to college sports, began broadcasting last year on cable and satellite television. It is available in about 35 million U.S. homes. New York-based College Sports has agreements with major Division I athletic conferences to show live men's and women's college athletics.
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, September 8, 2004
The ESPN cable network will start a 24-hour college sports television channel showing live games next March.
ESPNU will carry about 300 games in its first year, mostly Division I football and men's and women's basketball, the network said. It also will cover sports such as baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse and hockey, ESPN said.
"ESPNU will offer a broad variety of ESPN-branded college product across all of our entities, which will enhance our relationship with fans and colleges," ESPN President George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
ESPN is available in about 90 million of the 109.6 million U.S. households with televisions, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc. ESPNU will also show regular-season and National Collegiate Athletic Association championships, plus game replays on ESPN and ESPN2.
Closely held College Sports Television, a 24-hour network also devoted to college sports, began broadcasting last year on cable and satellite television. It is available in about 35 million U.S. homes. New York-based College Sports has agreements with major Division I athletic conferences to show live men's and women's college athletics.