May 17, 2007
Indianapolis, Ind. - The Horizon League and America Channel announced today that they have entered into a comprehensive video sports broadcast and content cooperation agreement. The new partnership includes extensive television coverage of Horizon League basketball and other sports, and cooperation on multi-platform initiatives.
All Horizon League member institutions will be represented in America Channel's broadcasts. The Horizon League member institutions are:
Butler University, Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit
Mercy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago,
Valparaiso University (set to join July 1, 2007), the University of
Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State
University and Youngstown State University.
Coverage includes extensive men's basketball; as well as women's basketball, the League men's and women's soccer tournaments, the League volleyball tournament, the League softball tournament, and the League baseball tournament.
The Horizon League already produces extensive game coverage for its
broadband offering, Horizon League Network (HLN, located at www.horizonleague.org), and the new partnership includes joint
development of sports and lifestyle content for multi-platform
distribution.
"This new partnership presents unique synergies in sports broadcasts,
lifestyle content development, and multi-platform distribution," said
Jon LeCrone, Commissioner of the Horizon League. "America Channel
provides us with new and differentiated ways to connect with consumers.
We look forward to working together on this unique initiative, to
deliver exciting Horizon League sports and lifestyle content throughout
the region."
America Channel has now partnered with 18 NCAA Division I Conferences,
representing 164 Universities, to broadcast extensive football,
basketball and other sports as well as numerous conference tournaments.
The transaction represents a milestone for America Channel, as it has
now partnered with Conferences representing in excess of 50% of all NCAA
Division I schools, all of which will appear on America Channel this
coming season. America Channel will broadcast well over 400 basketball
games per year. In addition, 31 of the teams that participated in this
year's NCAA Basketball Tournament will have a total of 96 regular season
appearances on America Channel next season.
"Horizon League's member institutions have loyal followings in some of
the Midwest's largest markets, including Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland,
Milwaukee, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Dayton and Youngstown," stated Doron
Gorshein, CEO of America Channel. "We look forward to delivering
exciting Horizon League basketball and other sports to communities
throughout the region, as the Horizon League will be a featured partner
on our Midwest regional service. In addition, the Horizon League
Network is among the most advanced of broadband sports offerings, and we
look forward to working with the Horizon League on joint initiatives in
both sports and lifestyle content for multi-platform distribution."
America Channel also previously announced its SportsLife (tm)
initiative, pursuant to which the America Channel and its Conference
partners, their Student Athletic Advisory Committees (SAACs) and
Universities, will cooperate to create video content about the
aspirations, achievements, challenges, adventures, community service,
and lifestyles of students and student athletes.
About America Channel
America Channel(r) is a new sports and lifestyle television programming
network. Its SportsLife (tm) initiative combines broadcast of over 600
NCAA Division I sports games, with real-life stories about the
aspirations, achievements, challenges and adventures of students and
student athletes.