In the list of markets listed by ESPN in their release, only 17 states are listed. Noticeably missing from this list is the Washington, DC Market (Georgetown), unless they have folded that into Baltimore market under MASN. This could be because some markets like New York City and Philadelphia bleed across state lines. In addition, there are only 45 markets listed. That may round up to 50, but is not "nearly 50." Unfortunately, no one is available at ESPN today to provide any clarification.
Here is the the press release issued by ESPN today, followed by the schedule and a listing of the network affiliates that will carry the games.
ESPN Regional Television and BIG EAST Conference Announce BIG EAST Network College Basketball Game of the Week Syndication Package
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – ESPN Regional Television, Inc., and the BIG EAST Conference have announced that their 2009-10 BIG EAST Network Game of the Week regionally syndicated basketball package will air in nearly 50 television markets covering 24 states. Once again, the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week has the most substantial coverage of any regionally syndicated college basketball network, with the designated market areas of the network’s affiliates covering nearly 50 million households (41% of the U.S.).
Sixteen of the nation’s top 35 television markets will have clearance, including New York; Chicago; Philadelphia; Washington DC; Boston; Tampa, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; St. Louis; Pittsburgh; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Hartford, Conn.; Kansas City, Kan.; Cincinnati; Milwaukee; and for the first time, Los Angeles.
The package will consist of 12 BIG EAST Conference matchups, beginning Saturday, Jan. 2, with a battle between perennial BIG EAST powers and long-time rivals: undefeated Syracuse, ranked No. 5 in the nation, and Pittsburgh, a No. 1 seed in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Each of the BIG EAST Conference’s 16 member institutions is represented on the 2010 Game of the Week schedule.
“We are again pleased to provide our viewers with a consistent window for BIG EAST Conference basketball,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president & general manager, ESPN Regional Television. “ESPN’s multimedia platforms continue to help deliver BIG EAST content to a significant base of college basketball fans. This season’s schedule of games is a fantastic representation of the BIG EAST Conference and its member institutions and will showcase the exceptional quality and competitiveness of the league.”
The games will be distributed nationally via the ESPN GamePlan pay-per-view package, which is available to fans via cable, DIRECTV and Dish Network.
“Providing our 16 member institutions and student-athletes with maximum television exposure is always one of our highest priorities,” said BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto. “With a reach that includes more than one-third of the nation’s households – and still growing -- no regional syndicated television package provides more exposure than ESPN Regional’s BIG EAST Network Game of the Week. Fans in markets that stretch across the country can continue to count on seeing the best of BIG EAST basketball at the same time each week during the season.”
Along with Pittsburgh at No. 5 Syracuse on Jan. 2, the BIG EAST Network will feature preseason No. 23 Louisville at Pittsburgh on Jan. 16, No. 13 Georgetown at No. 8 Villanova on Jan. 17 and a Feb. 13 showdown between Cincinnati and No. 10 Connecticut. The schedule concludes with a special 2 p.m. ET start on Feb. 27 with Cincinnati at No. 6 West Virginia. All other games will tip off at noon ET.
2010 BIG EAST Network ‘Game of the Week’ Schedule
Date
Time (ET)
Matchup
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Noon
Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Noon
St. John’s at Louisville
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Noon
Louisville at Pittsburgh
Sun, January 17, 2010
Noon
Georgetown at Villanova
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Noon
Rutgers at Georgetown
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Noon
Marquette at Connecticut
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Noon
Marquette at Providence
Sun, February 7, 2010
Noon
USF at Notre Dame
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Noon
Cincinnati at Connecticut
Sun, February 14, 2010
Noon
DePaul at Seton Hall
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Noon
St. John’s at USF
Sun, February 27, 2010
2 p.m.
Cincinnati at West Virginia
BIG EAST Network Basketball Affiliates
City (DMA Rank)
Station(s)
Affiliation(s)
California
Los Angeles (2)
KJLA
LATV
Connecticut
Hartford-New Haven (30)
WTNH, WCTX
ABC, MyNet
Florida
Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne (19)
BrightHouse
RSN
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota (14)
WFTS, BrightHouse
ABC, RSN
Illinois
Chicago (3)
WCIU-DT 4
IND
Rockford (134)
WTVO-DT 2
My Net
Indiana
Evansville (102)
WAZE, WAZE-DT
CW
Indianapolis (25)
WTTV
CW
South Bend-Elkhart (91)
WBND,WCWW,WMYS
ABC,IND,IND
Kansas
Wichita-Hutchinson (69)
KSCW, KWCH
CW, CBS
Kentucky
Lexington (62)
WTVQ, WTVQ-DT
ABC, MyNet
Louisville (49)
WHAS
ABC
Louisiana
New Orleans (51)
Cox-New Orleans
RSN
Maryland
Baltimore (27)
MASN
RSN
Massachusetts
Boston-Manchester (7)
WCVB
ABC
Missouri
Kansas City (32)
Metro Sports
RSN
St. Louis (21)
Charter
RSN
New York
New York (1)
SportsNet NY
RSN
Albany-Schenectady-Troy (57)
Time Warner
RSN
Binghamton (157)
Time Warner
RSN
Buffalo (52)
Time Warner
RSN
Elmira (176)
Time Warner
RSN
Rochester (80)
Time Warner
RSN
Syracuse (83)
Time Warner
RSN
Utica (170)
Time Warner
RSN
Watertown (177)
Time Warner
RSN
Ohio
Cincinnati (33)
WKRC, EKRC
CBS
Columbus (34)
WWHO
CW
Dayton (65)
WBDT
CW
Youngstown (110)
WYTV, WYTV-DT
ABC
Pennsylvania
Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York (39)
WHP, WLYH
CBS, CW
Johnstown-Altoona (101)
WHVL
MyNet
Philadelphia (4)
WPHL
MyNet
Pittsburgh (23)
WTAE
ABC
Wilkes Barre-Scranton (54)
WSWB
CW
Rhode Island
Providence-New Bedford (53)
Cox-New England
RSN
West Virginia
Bluefield-Beckley-Oak Hill (156)
WOAY
ABC
Charleston-Huntington (63)
WCHS, WVAH
ABC, FOX
Clarksburg-Weston (168)
WVFX
FOX
Parkersburg (194)
WTAP-DT 2
MyNet
Wheeling-Steubenville (159)
WTOV
NBC
Wisconsin
Green Bay-Appleton (70)
WACY
MyNet
La Crosse-Eau Claire (127)
KQEG
FamilyNet
Madison (85)
WMSN
FOX
Milwaukee (35)
WMLW
IND
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