Return to Pointer View home page April  22,  2005

AAA, ESPN sign deal

NEW YORK -- The Army Athletic Association and  ESPN Inc. signed a five-year multimedia agreement Wednesday that guarantees live television coverage of every Army home football game and access for fans and troops around the world.

Army officials said that under the agreement, all home games would be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic or ESPNU, its new college sports station. ESPNU will also cover seven more men’s or women’s Army athletic events each year.

“ESPN’s telecasts will bring the excitement of Army football to fans and graduates across the nation,” said U.S.Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr. “I’m particularly pleased with how these telecasts will assist us in recruiting and in telling the story of our cadet-athletes.”

Lennox said the games will be available live and free of charge to Soldiers and military personnel around the world via the Internet.

“The ability to access the games on the Internet means fans worldwide can enjoy Army football,” he explained. “What a great demonstration of ESPN’s commitment and support to the Soldiers deployed in defense of our nation!”

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.

If Army becomes bowl-eligible, the Black Knights would gain special consideration for an at-large berth to appear in one of three bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television.

“This is a fantastic agreement for ESPN,” said Dave Brown, vice president, ESPN programming and acquisitions. “We look forward to showcasing the rich tradition and pageantry of Army football games to fans across the country and Soldiers around the world.”

Army head football coach Bobby Ross said being watched by Soldiers around the world is exciting to him and the team.

“I can’t begin to say what a big boost this is for our program,” Ross said. “In the past, the only opportunity they’ve [Soldiers] really had to see us play was during the Army-Navy game. This gives them an opportunity to see each and every one of our home games.”

The agreement calls for Army to move at least one game a year to a “non-traditional” day of the week (Thursday or Friday). This change, Army Athletic Director Kevin Anderson said, will heighten exposure and flexibility within broadcast slots.

“We want to maximize the exposure of our product and make our broadcasts available to the highest number of our fans, graduates and Soldiers possible,” he said. “The expansive number of platforms offered by ESPN is unmatched. We felt it was very important to capitalize on the reach that those platforms provide.”

Some other changes include shifting the Black Knights’ game against Iowa State to Sept. 23 instead of Sept. 24. ESPN2 will televise the game nationally, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m.

ESPNU will broadcast the Army-Duke lacrosse game and spring football game Sunday. Both games are being played Saturday at Michie Stadium. ESPN will air the football game Sunday at 7 p.m., followed by lacrosse at 9 p.m.