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Army strikes sweeping TV
deal with ESPN
©2005 The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Army and ESPN
have reached a five-year multimedia agreement, guaranteeing live
television coverage of every Black Knights home football game to fans
and troops around the world.
Under the agreement
announced Wednesday, all games at Michie Stadium in West Point, NY, and
select neutral-site games in which Army is the home team will be
available on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic or ESPNU, its new college sports
station.
ESPNU also will offer
coverage of seven additional men's or women's Army athletic events a
year.
The games will be
available live and free of charge to soldiers and military personnel
around the world.
``I can't begin to say
what a big boost this is for our program,'' Army head coach Bobby Ross
said. ``I know people say that Dallas is America's team, but I think we
are. In the past, the only opportunity they've really had to see us play
was during the Army-Navy game.''
The contract includes at
least one Army football game on ESPN or ESPN2 each year, with additional
telecasts split between ESPNU and ESPN Classic. Every game will be
available on ESPN360, while some will be offered on ESPN's subscription
service, College GamePlan.
In addition, if Army
becomes bowl-eligible, the Black Knights, who are leaving Conference USA
to play again as an independent, would gain special consideration for an
at-large berth to appear in one of the bowl games owned and operated by
ESPN Regional Television.
In order to maximize
exposure, Army will play at least one game a year on Thursday or Friday,
and potentially two contests in Saturday prime-time.
For 2005, ESPN2 will
televise Army's home game against Iowa State on Friday, Sept. 23, at 8
p.m.
Page updated:
02/23/07 10:42 AM
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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