University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn and Connecticut Public Television Sign Five-Year Extension
10/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. (October 20, 2003) – The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics and Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) have signed a new five-year contract extension for CPTV to continue to be UConn’s exclusive local market television broadcast partner for women’s basketball.
The agreement runs from the 2003-04 academic year through 2007-08 and calls for CPTV to televise a minimum of 17 UConn women’s basketball games per season during the five-year contract period.
"The UConn Division of Athletics and Connecticut Public Television have a relationship like no other in college sports today," says UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway. "We are very pleased to announce that our partnership with CPTV to provide local market television coverage of Husky women’s basketball games will continue through the 2007-08 season. Our women’s basketball team has no peers in terms of its media attention on both the national and local level and that this agreement with CPTV will ensure that will continue for years to come."
The new five-year agreement with CPTV supercedes the final year (2003-04) of a four-year contract signed by UConn and CPTV in March of 2001. This latest five-year extension agreement will generate a minimum of $4,010,000 in cash to the University. CPTV will pay UConn seasonal rights of $600,000 for the 2003-04 women’s basketball local market television right and that fee will escalate each of the following years of the agreement — $700,000 in 2004-05, $810,000 in 2005-06, $900,000 in 2006-07 and $1,000,0000 in 2007-08.
"Connecticut Public Television is a valued member of the UConn family," says Hathaway. "CPTV began to televise our women’s basketball games in 1994 and has become a very important reason why our program enjoys so much success on an annual basis. We appreciate (CPTV President and CEO) Jerry Franklin’s leadership and the tremendous support provided by CPTV’s viewers and staff."
In addition to the UConn games on CPTV, the agreement calls for the continuation of The Geno Auriemma Show, which appears on CTPV 12 times during the season.
"There’s no programming relationship more important to CPTV and its viewers than that which exists with UConn Athletics and the women’s basketball program," says Franklin. "We are delighted that we will continue bringing the achievements of this remarkable team to Connecticut residents as we have for the last decade.
"What we have built together — UConn Athletics, CPTV and the people of Connecticut — is unique in America. It’s fitting that this women’s basketball team - the best in all the land - has the most comprehensive television coverage of any team in the country."
CPTV began its coverage of UConn women’s basketball late in the 1993-94 season, covering the championship game of the 1994 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament and televising three games in the 1994 NCAA Tournament. During the past 10 seasons, Connecticut Public Television has televised a total of 195 UConn women’s basketball games. In those 195 games, Connecticut has compiled a stunning 193-2 overall record.
During the 2002-03 season, CPTV televised a total of 26 UConn women’s basketball games, including the quarterfinal game of the BIG EAST Tournament against Seton Hall – a 70-47 Husky win.
