CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa and its athletics multimedia rights partner, Learfield Sports, announced today the statewide television broadcast plans for the Panthers during the upcoming 2015-16 athletic season.
Fans throughout Iowa will have several viewing options available to them when football kicks off next month. Des Moines’ WHO-HD NBC Channel 13 and Sioux City’s KMEG Channel 14 are the newest affiliates to carry the Panthers, to be joined by KGCW 26 in the Davenport Market; KCRG-TV ABC Channel 9 in the Cedar Rapids’ market; CFU Cable TV Channel 15 in the Cedar Falls’ market; and regionally on Comcast Chicago Sports Net & Comcast Chicago Sports Net Plus.
Again this year, the Cedar Falls Cable Division will produce Panther games for the statewide network and for distribution through Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU) Cable TV. The CFU distribution complements the company’s existing UNI Athletics’ partnership via Learfield Sports’, Panther Sports Properties in Cedar Falls that directly manages the rights relationship.
All television agreements are effective for the 2015-16 athletic season and encompass the following Panther broadcasts: four home football games (Sept. 12 vs. Eastern Washington at 1 p.m. CST, Oct.17 vs. Western Illinois at 4 p.m. CST, Oct.31 vs. South Dakota at 1 p.m. CST and Nov.7 vs. Indiana State at 4 p.m. CST; additional UNI event dates will be announced later.
In addition to the four home games the Panther Sports Network will feature two road football games during the 2015 season: Oct. 10 at North Dakota State at 1p.m. CST and Oct. 24 at South Dakota State at 2 p.m. CST.
Each of the six television outlets for UNI’s 2015-16 athletic season will broadcast the above mentioned games live on their respective channels – CFU 15 and HD415, KCRG 9.2, WHO Channel 13 D-2, KMEG Channel 14 D-2, KGCW-TV Channel 26. For Comcast Chicago Sports Net & Comcast Chicago Sports Net Plus, check your local listings.
“We’re definitely pleased with the television line up secured by Learfield, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to continue to showcase our Panther brand throughout the state,” UNI Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “We want nothing less than to provide our loyal fans the chance to watch their favorite team and look forward to working with this group of broadcast partners to deliver excellent game broadcasts in the coming year.”
“It was a priority for us to piece together the best television scenario for the university and a quality deliverable for the fans,” said Learfield Sports’ Chief Content Officer Joe Ferreira. “We are pleased with our TV arrangement for this year and wish the Panthers a very successful season.”
Panther Sports Properties’ General Manager Brian Gabel commented, “We strive to bring the best in Panther Athletics to fans with our TV and radio partnerships, and we feel we have done that again this year.”
In addition to UNI, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights and sponsorships for over 100 collegiate institutions and associations, and titles the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. Learfield represents collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas for their respective multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives, and offers these partners with professional concessions and ticket sales, licensing and trademark consulting, digital platform expertise and venue and technology systems through its owned companies. To learn more about its history, businesses and job opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.