ESPN network might benefit WAC, Hawai'i
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i and Western Athletic Conference hope to reap additional exposure from ESPN's plans to launch a new 24-hour college sports channel, ESPNU, officials said.
The debut is scheduled in March with about 300 live events a year, the network said.
BENSON
"They are going to (start) that network next spring and I would anticipate that we could be looking at additional WAC coverage as early as next year," said Karl Benson, WAC commissioner, who was in New York for the announcement. "I would hope there would be opportunities for women's basketball, volleyball and baseball."
Herman Frazier, UH athletic director, said, "I would say it will definitely showcase more collegiate sports as a whole, but I'm not sure how it will affect U of H."
ESPN's announcement follows the birth of College Sports Television and plans by Fox Sports to expand its college offerings. In addition, the U.S. Justice Department has made inquiries into ESPN's operations.
Benson said: "I know this (ESPNU) is something that has been on the books for ESPN for several months as part of their on-going development."
Frazier said he would welcome additional exposure for UH teams but "we have to look and see how it would affect what we're doing locally."
UH has a $700,000-a-year local television agreement with KFVE.
The WAC earlier this summer signed a new three-year multi-million dollar agreement with ESPN. The Mountain West Conference recently signed with CSTV and Benson said he is hopeful the WAC will pick up some of the slots to be vacated by the MWC in 2006. The WAC is especially interested in participating in ESPN's "Big Monday" basketball package.
"If ESPN continues to program basketball in that midnight Eastern (7 p.m. Hawai'i time) slot, I think the WAC would be very well positioned to do a lot of games," Benson said.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
