If you enjoyed seeing Ivy League football on the Versus network last season, you'll be happy to know the rebranded NBC Sports Network has renewed it's contract with the Ancient Eight.
If you didn't enjoy the lack of basketball coverage fo the Ivies last season, you should be very excited to hear that with the new two-year deal, NBCSN has added "six-to-10 men's basketball games" annually and up to four men's lacrosse games in addition to the six-to-10 football games.
The league office announced the deal today.
"The Ivy League is excited to continue our relationship with the NBC Sports Network," said Robin Harris, Ivy League Executive Director in a statement. "The NBC Sports Network has been an outstanding partner and we appreciate their interest in enhancing our existing relationship by increasing the number of games and sports. We are pleased to showcase more Ivy League competition nationally to our passionate fan base which has a thirst for Ivy League athletics."
The deal also includes the rights to broadcast "The Game," Harvard and Yale's annual end of the season football rivalry match. There is no mention of the Penn-Princeton men's basketball games, though these may be valuable properties the NBC decides to pick up. According to the release, "Even more Ivy League games may be seen on a national basis within this agreement as the NBC Sports Network has acquired the rights to sublicense additional football and men's basketball games to a national sports network."
UPDATE (4:45 PM): Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky has commented on the deal: "I think this is a great television package for the Ivy League and will allow a national audience to become more acquainted with the high level of talent that exists among our schools. Kudos to Robin Harris and her staff for getting this accomplished."
For better or for worse, NBS Sports Network has very few other college basketball contracts (I believe previously it's only been the Mountain West conference, with the CAA coming on board soon as well). So at least the Ivy League won't be buried behind several other conferences.
This could be a boom or a bust.
As ZK accurately points out, the network does have a lack of college programming compared to other outlets (CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox affililates)
So there could be a viable opportunity for the IL to make a dent. Or these games could fall into the seasonal cable TV abyss.
I am sure the Bronzed One would prefer something more Penn-oriented, but he should be pleased with what he has.
Outside of the core group of IL fans in any sport, the general rank and file audience still doesnt give a crap about the League, despite what loyalists such as Gensler and his cohorts think.
now its time for them to get the big ten and the big east!
It should be its, not it's, in the first sentence.