MVC TV Network = 22 Games

Editor: The following is part of a press release from mvc-sports.com.

(St. Louis, MO) –  The Missouri Valley Conference will clear a 22-game men’s basketball television package on FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago (formerly known as Comcast SportsNet Chicago) in 2017-18, 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 NBC Sports Chicago to clear the telecasts.

ESPN3 — ESPN’s digital network — will also distribute the productions outside the two networks’ combined six-state regional footprint — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Telecasts shown within the FOX Sports Midwest distribution area will also be streamed on FOX Sports GO.

Earlier in 2017, the Missouri Valley Conference executed multi-year agreements with FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago to secure its regional sports network home for men’s basketball through the 2019-20 academic term.

“In the ever-changing landscape of linear and digital production and distribution, it’s comforting to have partners like FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago which cooperate to provide us with long-standing regional sports coverage,” said Elgin. “While navigating professional sports programming and maximizing your exposure, it’s vital to have people like Jack Donovan (senior vice president/general manager at FOX Sports Midwest) and Greg Bowman (vice president/programming at NBC Sports Chicago) at your side.”

For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Missouri Valley Conference will conduct games prior to the Christmas holiday, and both of those games will be shown on FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago — Loyola at Missouri State (Dec. 22) and Illinois State at Evansville (Dec. 23).

New league member Valparaiso makes its Valley TV debut against Indiana State on December 28.

The 2018 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship — the league’s 28th consecutive tournament in St. Louis — on March 1-4 will feature nine games with the first six contests being shown on FOX Sports and NBC Sports Chicago.

“FOX Sports Midwest has been distributing tourney games almost as long as we’ve been playing at Scottrade Center,” said MVC Associate Commissioner Jack Watkins.  “A presenting partner for the event since 1997, FOX Sports Midwest and its affiliates have been our regional television home for 21 seasons, and it’s great to know that FOX Sports and NBC Sports will showcase the 30th chapter of Arch Madness in 2020.”