CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The America East Conference and CBS Sports Network announced today a national television package including both men’s and women’s basketball games, the first such deal in league history. It will be the first time that multiple conference regular-season games will be televised nationally in one season.
CBS Sports Network will broadcast five league contests featuring eight America East schools starting in January. America East previously partnered with the Network to televise two men’s lacrosse games in 2010, including the conference championship game.
“We are excited to partner with CBS Sports for the first national television package in league history,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “This package will showcase our men’s and women’s basketball teams, student-athletes and institutions to a national audience and expose our brand of basketball to a new generation of America East fans.”
The package kicks off with a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day men’s matchup between defending league champion Boston University and University at Albany on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. The two teams were picked first and fourth, respectively, in the conference’s preseason poll. Old rivals University of New Hampshire and University of Vermont will meet for the 132nd time in men’s action on Jan. 29 at 12 p.m. The Catamounts will then face Stony Brook University in a get together of the league’s last two men’s regular-season champions on February 12.
The preseason favorite on the women’s side, UMBC, and 2011 league champion, Hartford, will square off on Feb. 19 at Chase Arena in the first-ever nationally televised conference women’s game. The final game of the package will feature University of Maine at Stony Brook in men’s action on the final day of the regular season, February 26.
CBS Sports Network, which is seen in 48 million home and available to 98 million homes nationwide, is widely available across the country through local cable and video providers and nationally via DirecTV channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 152. For more information and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
The original 24-hour sports channel dedicated to capturing the passion of college sports, CBS Sports Network covers 30 men’s and women’s sports and televises over 2,000 hours of live programming a year, including more than 300 live events. The network airs 50 football games and over 140 basketball games in HD annually and is the home of Armed Forces Football, with exclusive rights to home Army, Navy and Air Force games. CBS Sports Network also telecasts a full slate of original programming such as behind-the-scenes series, documentaries and studio coverage featuring expert analysis, predictions, in-depth interviews and more.
Into its third decade of operation, America East has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports and also conducts the nation’s most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes. With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.
America East/CBS Sports Network Production Schedule
January
Mon. 16 MBB: Albany at Boston U. (CBS Sports Network) 7 p.m.
Sun. 29 MBB: New Hampshire at Vermont (CBS Sports Network) 12 p.m.
February
Sun. 12 MBB: Stony Brook at Vermont (CBS Sports Network) 12 p.m.
Sun. 19 WBB: UMBC at Hartford (CBS Sports Network) 12 p.m.
Sun. 26 MBB: Maine at Stony Brook (CBS Sports Network) 12 p.m.