Full MVC Release

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference will clear a 27-game men's basketball television package on FOX Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago in 2016-17, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.
 
The Valley, with Niles Media Group of Kansas City serving as its production company, has worked in conjunction with FOX Sports Midwest -- along with its sister regional cable outlets FOX Sports Indiana and FOX Sports Kansas City -- and Comcast SportsNet Chicago to clear the high-definition telecasts.
 
The University of Evansville will play a minimum of two contests on the network this season.  Both the home and road contest against Southern Illinois will be televised.
 
Among the schedule, FOX Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago will also clear games produced by COX HD 2022 and COX HD 2122 of Wichita, Kan.
 
ESPN3 -- ESPN's digital network -- will also distribute the telecasts outside the league's five-state regional footprint, where FOX Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet Chicago productions are delivered.
 
Telecasts shown within the FOX Sports Midwest distribution area -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri -- will also be streamed on FOX Sports GO.
 
"In an era when maximizing resources and furthering your brand are extremely important, we are grateful for the spirit of cooperation displayed between our regional sports network partners -- FOX Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- plus our institutional partners -- COX HD 2022 and 2122," said Elgin, who is in his 29th year at the Conference.
 
"When you consider we will have three Wednesday double-headers on FOX Sports Midwest and five on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, you recognize what great partners you have in people like Jack Donovan (senior vice president/general manager at FOX Sports Midwest) and Phil Bedella (vice president/general manager at Comcast SportsNet Chicago)," said Elgin.
 
Wednesday, December 28, marks the first double-header on FOX Sports-Comcast SportsNet, as Wichita State visits Indiana State and UNI plays host to Missouri State.  January 11 (Loyola at WSU/UNI at Bradley) and February 15 (WSU at Southern Illinois/Illinois State at Missouri State) round out the FOX-Comcast twinbills.
 
There will be two additional double-headers on Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- January 4 (UNI at Loyola/Missouri State at Illinois State) and February 1 (Wichita State at Drake/UNI at Illinois State).
 
"This season will be the 110th in the Conference's storied history, and we've been able to accomplish something unique in a shrinking linear environment," said Jack R. Watkins, MVC Associate Commissioner.  "Navigating professional product to clear games is one thing, but having institutional buy-in to tip games at 6 and 8 p.m. Central on Wednesdays illustrates the level of commitment that permeates The Valley."
 
"We are thankful that Kent Doll (market manager) and COX HD 2022 and 2122 will permit the four Wichita State telecasts to be distributed on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports Indiana and Comcast SportsNet Chicago," said Watkins.  "As a result, the Missouri Valley Conference will receive enhanced exposure in the nation's third-largest media market."
 
The men's basketball regular-season package has stand-alone games in December -- Indiana State at Missouri State (Dec. 31) -- and in January -- Illinois State at Indiana State (Jan. 7), Southern Illinois at Evansville (Jan. 14), Loyola at UNI (Jan. 18), Drake at Illinois State (Jan. 21) and Missouri State at Southern Illinois (Jan. 28).
 
In the month of February, telecasts include Southern Illinois at Loyola (Feb. 4), Indiana State at Bradley (Feb. 8), Evansville at Southern Illinois (Feb. 11), Missouri State at Drake (Feb. 18) and Southern Illinois at Illinois State (Feb. 22).
 
Coverage of the 2017 State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Championship -- the league's 27th consecutive postseason tournament in St. Louis -- on March 2-5 will feature nine telecasts, including the title clash on CBS Sports on March 5 -- marking the 12th straight year the championship game airs on CBS.
 
Both opening-round games on March 2 and the four quarterfinal games on March 3 will air on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports Indiana, FOX Sports Kansas City, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and ESPN3 outside the five-state RSN footprint.
 
"It's amazing FOX Sports Midwest will televise tournament games for a 21st straight year," said Watkins, tourney director for Arch Madness.  "A presenting partner for the event since 1997, FOX Sports Midwest and its affiliates have been our regional television home almost as long as St. Louis has been the site for the tournament."
 
The semifinal games on March 4 will be shown on CBS Sports Network for a second-consecutive year, and the title contest on March 5 will air at 1 p.m. Central on CBS Sports.
 

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