Men's Basketball TV Exposure Nearly Doubles

AMES, Iowa ? The national television exposure for the Iowa State men's basketball team in 2007-08 is nearly twice as much as last season according to conference schedules released by the Big 12 Office.

Iowa State will have live television coverage on the ABC/ESPN platform for 13 of its Big 12 games this season. The Cyclones had just seven appearances in league play on those networks in 2006-07.

Additional conference and non-conference men's basketball games will be televised on the school's third-tier TV package that will be released in August. The three conference games without coverage at this point will most likely be part of that third-tier TV package as well as many of the non-conference games.

“Cyclone fans across the state and nation are the real winners,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “Several national telecasts and the majority of conference games on the ABC/ESPN platform are all by-products of the enhanced television contracts signed by the Big 12 last spring and the excitement for Cyclone basketball under Greg McDermott's leadership.”

McDermott's second Cyclone club will have one appearance on ABC (Feb. 9 vs. Texas in Hilton Coliseum), two ESPN telecasts (Jan. 23 at Kansas and Feb. 17 vs. Kansas in Ames), eight ESPN Plus appearances and two ESPN Classic contests during conference play.

“The Big 12 negotiated to get three appearances weekly on the ESPN platform during conference play and is the only league in the nation with that exposure,” Pollard said. “Cyclone fans are one of the beneficiaries of that commitment by ESPN to carry Big 12 basketball.

The ABC telecast of the Texas game will be a special opportunity for the Cyclones. Iowa State has hosted ABC in Hilton Coliseum for a regular-season game just once previously, a 72-64 win over Missouri in 2001.

“It's another chance to showcase our men's basketball team, and most importantly, the award-winning atmosphere of Hilton Magic to a huge audience,” Pollard said.

Iowa State's entire 2007-08 schedule, including TV coverage, will be announced later this summer when all television decisions are finalized.

Iowa State University Athletics

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