Thursday June 6, 9:31 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: National College Sports Network
First 24-Hour College Sports Network Set to Debut First Quarter 2003
National College Sports Network (NCSN) Wins Backing of More Than a Dozen College Conferences
NEW YORK, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The co-founders of Classic Sports Network (now ESPN Classic), along with a former senior Nike Inc. executive, today announced plans for the nation's first 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to the best in college sports. The network, named the National College Sports Network (NCSN), is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2003.

In making the announcement, Brian Bedol and Steven Greenberg, who co-founded Classic Sports Network and later sold it to ESPN, along with NCSN co-founder Chris Bevilacqua, confirmed that the venture plans to invest close to $100 million. In addition, more than a dozen college conferences, representing some 150 colleges and universities, have committed to date to partnering with NCSN.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring to a devoted and passionate audience of tens of millions of college alumni and sports fans the very best in college sports that this country has to offer," said Mr. Bedol. "NCSN will be the first TV network to showcase marquee events, rivalries and tournaments across a broad spectrum of colleges and sports."

Mr. Bedol will lead a seasoned team of cable and sports industry professionals that includes Mr. Greenberg, a managing director with the New York investment firm Allen & Company, and Mr. Bevilacqua, who previously was Director of Global Negotiation and League Affairs at Nike, Inc., where he led the company's successful foray into the college sports market during the mid 1990's. In 1995, Mr. Bedol and Mr. Greenberg co-founded one of the most successful entrepreneurial ventures in the cable industry, Classic Sports Network. The network was later sold to ESPN, and is now available in more than 40 million homes.

"What's most significant about NCSN is its appeal not only to fans, but to colleges and universities who are seeking greater exposure for, and revenue from their sports programs," said Mr. Bevilacqua. "This is especially true today as colleges wrestle with Title IX regulations to try to maintain and build fledgling properties into long-terms assets. NCSN will also assist colleges in alumni fundraising and athlete recruiting efforts, as well as provide a national platform for institutional messages at little or no incremental expense."

"The Big Ten Conference is pleased and honored to be included in the National College Sports Network," added Conference Commissioner James E. Delany. "The Big Ten-NCSN relationship will provide welcome television opportunities for Conference men's and women's championships and sports that generally do not benefit from television exposure, enhancing the overall experiences of all student-athletes."

As the first home on television dedicated solely to college sports, NCSN will feature thousands of hours of original and exclusive programming -- from live games and record-breaking performances to classic rivalries and championship moments. Network programming will be anchored by noteworthy intercollegiate competition in those sports with large, loyal and passionate audiences such as football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, track and field, swimming and diving, and volleyball. It also will feature Olympic-style shoulder programming and storytelling, and a look at college sports history and context, through the lifestyles and personalities of the greatest college athletes and coaches of all time.

NCSN has been in discussions with the country's leading multiple system cable operators (MSOs) and satellite providers whose response to the network's programming plans and business model has been nothing short of enthusiastic.

Besides offering programming through its 24-hour network, NCSN will provide extensive programming through broadband and video-on-demand distribution channels. Finally, for advertisers, NCSN offers a chance to reach an elusive audience of college alumni and college sports fans age 25-39 with a secondary focus on current students, college athletes and fans age 17-24.

SOURCE: National College Sports Network