ESPN agrees to deal with HBCU Network

[TSUalum05]

There has yet to be an official press release from either ESPN our the HBCU Network as this link came from Alabama A&M's website. I'm interested to see how this will turn out in regards to HBCU's on a national aspect. Will comcast (partner with Texas Southern for an on-demand channel that replays sporting events and academic interst) and AT&T on other cable provider bring on this channel. All remains to be seen but this is a step in the right direction.


"It's about time," are the words from many Historically Black College and University fans across the nation.

ESPN has entered into a programming agreement with the HBCU Network. The Network will be solely focused on HBCU colleges and universities.

Curtis Symonds, chief executive of this project said, "the network would launch in August 2011.

"The network will not only feature sports, HBCU net will broadcast entertainment, culture and lifestyles programming. The network will be modeled after the Big Ten Network, sports will only be 28 percent of the programming.

http://aamusports.com/news/2011/1/28/MBB_0128112215.aspx?path=mbball

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Congratulations! This looks like a winner of a deal for HBCU's, IMO.

[TexasTerror]

They are adding plenty of networks, aren't they?

http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/espn-launching-9-new-university-channels-here-official-logos-1485242/

[TSUalum05]

They are adding plenty of networks, aren't they?

http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/espn-launching-9-new-university-channels-here-official-logos-1485242/

Who knows! I still haven't seen a press release other than the AAMU release for the HBCU Network deal with ESPN.

Ha ha, it's funny that Thug.com has the same information. http://www.thug.com/espn-is-launching-9-new-university-channels-here-are-the-official-logos/

There's a few LSU posters on Tiger Droppings that say this deal is fake.

http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/24181534/ESPN-is-Launching-9-New-University-Channels-LSU-one-of-them.aspx

Of note, we had our own ESPN logo similiar to LSU's this past week.

[superman7515]

I doubt it's fake considering this is months old. This was announced back in September.

HBCU Network To Launch In August 2011 (http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/hbcu-network-august-2011_b1193#)


“We are going to anchor it with black college sports,” Symonds told SportsNewser.com. ”Sports will be 28 percent of the programming starting off. The idea is to really get more branding of that programming.”

Along with live athletics, the sports programming block will feature a nightly wrap-up show. The rest of the programming on the network will feature lifestyle content and “edutainment” programming, a combination of education and entertainment programming.

“We hope to launch in 10 million homes and I think over the next five years, we hope to be in close to 50 million homes,” Symonds said. The network is scheduled to launch in August 2011 with a possible “soft launch” during Black History Month next February.

Their primary target will be the 20 states where HBCU’s are located and they are proposing a 7.5-cent per subscriber monthly carriage fee, much lower than rates for other college sports networks. According to SNL Kagan, Big 10 Network has a carriage fee of $0.36, Fox College Sports has a fee of $0.34, CBS College Sports Network has a fee of $0.19 and ESPNU has a monthly fee of $0.16.

[TSUalum05]

I doubt it's fake considering this is months old. This was announced back in September.

HBCU Network To Launch In August 2011 (http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/hbcu-network-august-2011_b1193#)

Thanks, I doubt that it's fake as well.

[whoanellie]

oh great band hazing!!!!

[TexasTerror]

It must be pretty ancient...

Did not see it listed on the ESPN PR site - http://www.espnmediazone3.com - as of the last few weeks. Wonder why AAMU is coming out with this now?

[TSUalum05]

They are adding plenty of networks, aren't they?

http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/espn-launching-9-new-university-channels-here-official-logos-1485242/


It must be pretty ancient...

Did not see it listed on the ESPN PR site - http://www.espnmediazone3.com - as of the last few weeks. Wonder why AAMU is coming out with this now?

Wonder why you didn't go there first instead of quoting a blog site. LOL...thug.com had the same information.

[TexasTerror]

Wonder why you didn't go there first instead of quoting a blog site. LOL...thug.com had the same information.

The Slumz link was a joke... it's not legit. I was trying to be funny... the ESPN Media Zone is the ESPN PR arm. Of course it would not have the links...

[TSUalum05]

The Slumz link was a joke... it's not legit. I was trying to be funny... the ESPN Media Zone is the ESPN PR arm. Of course it would not have the links...

LOL -- understood. thug.com was a joke added on top of your joke.