MVC TV Returns in 2018-19

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

(St. Louis, MO) –  The Missouri Valley Conference will produce a 22-game men’s basketball telecast package for the upcoming season on FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago.

The Valley, with Niles Media Group serving as its production company, has worked in conjunction with FOX Sports Midwest — along with its sister regional outlets FOX Sports Indiana and FOX Sports Kansas City — and NBC Sports Chicago to clear the telecasts.  The Valley on ESPN — the league’s co-branded digital distribution platform with ESPN via the ESPN app — 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 app.

On July 2, The Valley executed a multi-year extension with FOX Sports Midwest through the 2023-24 academic year.  The league is in the second year of a two-year agreement with NBC Sports Chicago.

“The way that college basketball fans consume content is ever-changing, and it’s wonderful to have regional sports partners like FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago which cooperate to provide us with linear and digital distribution of our men’s basketball games,” said Commissioner Doug Elgin.

“While both networks have NHL and NBA partners competing for shelf space, it’s critical to have individuals like Jack Donovan (Senior VP/General Manager at FOX Sports Midwest) and Greg Bowman (Vice President of Programming and Live Event Production at NBC Sports Chicago) value quality content that resides in their footprint and find clearance windows for our contests,” said Elgin.

The 2018-19 package features four appearances each by Bradley and Southern Illinois, while the remaining eight schools — including 2018 NCAA Final Four participant Loyola — all will receive a minimum of three appearances apiece.  The schedule of games begins on Jan. 2, when defending regular-season and Arch Madness champion Loyola plays host to Indiana State at Gentile Arena.

“We are very excited about the rivalry games on the MVC TV Network slate,” said Jack R. Watkins, MVC Associate Commissioner and tournament manager for Arch Madness.  “Having both ends of the Drake-Northern Iowa and Indiana State-Southern Illinois series are a coup, and the I-74 rivalry contest between Illinois State and Bradley promises to be as spirited as ever.”

The 2019 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship — the league’s 29th-consecutive tournament in St. Louis — on March 7-10 will feature nine games with the first six contests being shown on FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago.

“A presenting partner for Arch Madness since 1997, FOX Sports Midwest has been a regional TV home for Valley hoops 22 seasons,” said Watkins.  “The combination of FOX Sports Midwest and NBC Sports Chicago provides a perfect starting point for our tourney coverage.”