CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With the 2013-14 collegiate athletic season officially under way, University of Illinois Athletics and Learfield Sports’ Fighting Illini Sports Properties today announced several enhancements to its television distribution plans.
Fans will benefit significantly from the strengthened exposure of increased distribution, including a new partnership with WCIA/WCIX in Champaign-Springfield. WCIX (Comcast Cable Channel 003 in Champaign) will broadcast approximately 30 weekly Fighting Illini Insider shows on Tuesdays at both 7:30 and 11 p.m. WCIA also will promote the Fighting Illini Insider show during its 6 p.m. newscast each Tuesday, and WCIA will sponsor and promote Illinois’ on-campus “pack the house” events.
Additionally, Fighting Illini Sports Properties has secured television agreements in new markets of Chicago and Rockford, with Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WTVO-TV ABC Channel 17, respectively. FOX Sports Midwest also will resume its affiliate partnership with Illinois Athletics in the 2013-14 athletic season.
According to University of Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas, the increased distribution plans by Learfield Sports and its local entity, Fighting Illini Sports Properties, is perfectly primed. “Having only announced our multimedia rights partnership with Learfield just eight months ago, we couldn’t be more pleased about the direction we’re heading. We have already made tremendous advancements for our fans in terms of how we bring Fighting Illini game action and programming to life through our expanded radio and television coverage, and we pledge to keep that a priority.”
“We set out to bolster the television package for Illinois and ensure the best possible programming for fans, and we’re pleased with the solid distribution we’ve assembled,” said Chris Andrews, general manager of Fighting Illini Sports Properties.
In addition to Illinois, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations and titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup with NACDA and USA Today. Its exclusive sports programming reaches more than 50 million television households nationally and delivers nearly 17,000 hours of radio programming on more than 1,100 radio stations. To learn more, visit learfieldsports.com.
Fighting Illini Insider TV Information:
Comcast SportsNet Chicago – Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. (*show week of Sept. 9 airs Wednesday 9/11 at 11 a.m.)
WCIX-Springfield – Tuesdays, 7:30 & 11 p.m. (*exceptions due to White Sox games: Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. & Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m.)
Fox Sports Midwest – Wednesdays, 6 p.m. (*show week of Oct. 7 airs Tuesday 10/8 at 6 p.m.)
WTVO-Rockford – Tuesdays, 11 p.m. (*Sept. 3 show airs at 10:30 p.m., other exceptions due to White Sox games: Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. & Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m.)