Today's USA Today (February 5) has a front page article about the launch of a new cable network, College Sports Television. This network will show exclusively college sports, but no Division I football or men's basketball. The network will feature I-AA and small college football, all levels of women's hoops, baseball, lower level men's hoops, hockey, and SOCCER! I have no idea what kind of soccer rights they'll acquire, but I am really hoping they show some of 2003's marquee matchups (UCLA at Maryland, etc.). I'm going to call my cable company and get that. The 24-hour network will simply be a part of digital and satellite packages, no extra charge like HBO, and the guys who are starting it founded ESPN Classic. Sounds very promising, they expect 2 to 5 million homes to get it by April and 10 million in a year. February 23 is the official launch.
If it works, this would be great! Lets hope that there are enough alums of the smaller schools who will get the channel to see there schools play football or basketball. I think this is how they will get viewers, not those wanting soccer. I am not sure there is enough of a demand for just college soccer. But the fact that it will be included will be a great plus.
The SI from this summer with Landon Donovan on the cover also had a story on this channel. Here's hoping it gets off the ground, gets made readily available and, of course, covers college footy.
Hop over CSTV's website at http://www.cstv.com (of all places). Click on the programming link to see which conferences have inked deals. Unfortunately, ACC is not one of them yet. I'm going to write in and plead with them to signup the ACC for soccer season...
They're apparently signing deals with the governing bodies of sports in addition to the deals with individual conferences. *American Volleyball Coaches Association--7-10 Week “Game of the Week” package featuring the best Division 1 Women’s Volleyball Game of the Week IMHO, the NSCAA should seek a similar programming deal in addition to the conference deals. How sweet would it be to have the men's college soccer "Game of the Week"?