The Missouri Valley Conference and ESPN reach new agreement
In an announcement from Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin in Chicago, he unveiled a 10-year extension between the league and ESPN for the MVC’s media rights across various ESPN platforms, particularly a conference-wide initiative on ESPN3. The agreement runs through 2023-24.
“The 10-year extension of the ESPN-MVC media rights agreement clearly signals a new era for our Conference,” said Elgin. ”Over the term of this new agreement, our member institutions will literally be producing thousands of live events that will be carried on ESPN3.
“The co-branded network that we are announcing today – The Valley on ESPN3 – is recognition that the MVC continues to be relevant in an increasingly competitive Division I environment. The exponential increase in exposure will bring significant benefits to men’s and women’s basketball, and to every Conference-sponsored sport.”
As part of the deal, ESPN, the Missouri Valley Conference and its 10 member institutions, including Missouri State, will work to develop in-house production capabilities at each campus that will provide significant national coverage for multiple sports on ESPN3 and hands-on educational opportunities for students. It is estimated ESPN3 will showcase over 800 events a year, including a minimum of 70 men’s basketball games, in the final six years of the agreement.
The campus model is a three-year roll out, starting this fall with the production of all home volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games on the ESPN3 platform from all institutions. In subsequent years of the agreement, Missouri State and others will roll out on-campus production of all home men’s soccer, women’s soccer, baseball and softball games as part of the league package, in addition to special programming, features and Olympic sport coverage.
“This is a great opportunity for the league, and a great initiative for our institution,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “Missouri State will have a global digital platform of its very own, and that is very exciting for our University and our fans.
The campus-based production model, of which MSU will participate, features the involvement of students in academic programs to provide hands-on experience. Hite Media of Springfield will produce the HD-quality telecasts for most Missouri State events produced on the ESPN3 package.
“I’m proud of the commitment that our Presidents Council and athletics directors are making to our student-athletes and teams, and to the campus community, in general,” said Elgin. “The opportunity to promote our academic programs, and to showcase individuals throughout our campus communities will also be greatly enhanced. We are extremely grateful that the Missouri Valley’s relationship with ESPN will be stronger than ever.”
ESPN also retains the rights to the Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals and championship and Women’s Basketball Tournament championship each year. The agreement will continue to feature multiple men’s basketball and Olympic sports game telecasts across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS each year.
Missouri State television partner, Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., will continue to produce 17 MSU men’s and women’s basketball games annually, as part of a five-year agreement signed last August. Nexstar and its Springfield affiliates KOLR-10 and KOZL will provide feeds of their MSU games to ESPN3 as well as the Missouri State Basketball Television Network affiliates.
Story courtesy of Missouri State Athletics
