2020-21 TV Package

by **Bulldog2323** » October 6th, 2021, 6:47 pm

ESPN announced the first part of the Valley TV package today. 10 games have been chosen for distribution across ESPN2 or ESPNU, with an additional 31 games picked for ESPN3 or ESPN+ exclusivity.

These games on ESPN2 or ESPNU:
Valpo at Drake
Loyola at SIU
Drake at UNI
Loyola at Drake
UNI at Drake
Loyola at Missouri State
UNI at Loyola
Drake at Loyola
Missouri State at UNI
Loyola at UNI

Every game on ESPN2 or ESPNU involves either Loyola, Drake, or UNI, so clearly that's who ESPN favor for the conference title this year.

For those of you not familiar with the TV contract, next CBS Sports gets their pick of games. Then MVC TV, (Bally Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City + NBC Sports Chicago (Bally Sports is formerly FOX Sports regional networks)). The remaining games will then go to ESPN+ with the options for local TV where applicable.

**Sponsor**

by **Kyle_Saluki_17** » October 7th, 2021, 6:31 am

Bulldog2323 wrote:ESPN announced the first part of the Valley TV package today. 10 games have been chosen for distribution across ESPN2 or ESPNU, with an additional 31 games picked for ESPN3 or ESPN+ exclusivity.

These games on ESPN2 or ESPNU:
Valpo at Drake
Loyola at SIU
Drake at UNI
Loyola at Drake
UNI at Drake
Loyola at Missouri State
UNI at Loyola
Drake at Loyola
Missouri State at UNI
Loyola at UNI

Every game on ESPN2 or ESPNU involves either Loyola, Drake, or UNI, so clearly that's who ESPN favor for the conference title this year.

For those of you not familiar with the TV contract, next CBS Sports gets their pick of games. Then MVC TV, (Bally Sports Midwest-Indiana-Kansas City + NBC Sports Chicago (Bally Sports is formerly FOX Sports regional networks)). The remaining games will then go to ESPN+ with the options for local TV where applicable.

I was wondering about this. Last year I know EVERY game was able to be watched/streamed in some way. Thanks for putting this out there.

by **squirrel** » October 7th, 2021, 8:31 am

CBS went Loyola-heavy last year, I would expect something similar this year.

by **squirrel** » October 7th, 2021, 9:49 am

squirrel wrote:CBS went Loyola-heavy last year, I would expect something similar this year.

Loyola gets 5 of 8 non-tournament games on CBS Sports.

http://mvc-sports.com/documents/2021/10 ... df?id=3172

My guess is CBS will love Belmont too, and the league can hopefully get a bigger deal with CBS, including expanded tournament coverage.

by **Loyola_Fan** » October 7th, 2021, 10:14 am

squirrel wrote:CBS went Loyola-heavy last year, I would expect something similar this year.

Much to our chagrin. We play terribly on CBS.

by **BCPanther** » October 7th, 2021, 10:14 am

ESPN tends to go with what should be the best games, CBS tends to go with biggest markets. Just who they are.

MVC-TV package (Bally Sports, NBC Chicago) out tomorrow and we've got all the missing pieces filled in.

by **Red** » October 8th, 2021, 10:11 am

Underwhleming TV package.

by **Bulldog2323** » October 18th, 2021, 6:49 pm

Conference games on CBS Sports Network:

Loyola at Illinois State
Northern Iowa at Missouri State
Valpo at Loyola
Loyola at Indiana State
Missouri State at Loyola
Loyola at Bradley
Southern Illinois at Drake

Games on MVC TV:

Indiana State at Loyola
Drake at Missouri State
Valpo at Northern Iowa
Bradley at Loyola
Illinois State at Drake
Drake at Evansville
Loyola at Evansville
Evansville at Illinois State
Southern Illinois at Loyola
Indiana State at Bradley
Missouri State at Southern Illinois
Missouri State at Drake
Valpo at Missouri State
Loyola at Valparaiso
Illinois State at Bradley
Northern Iowa at Indiana State

In regards to the package, depends on who you are. If you're Drake you got half your conference games on at least MVC TV. Others not so much.

This is year 8 of the 10 year deal. In addition to the MVC most power conference rights come up at the end of the 2024 season. Negotiations likely will not begin until next season, but the landscape could be different. Some sort of streaming is considered essential now. With NBC Sports Network closing down & CBS losing SEC football whether or not CBS Sports Network's days are numbered is an open question. The good news is CBS still considers the Arch Madness title game an essential property to keep.

by **BCPanther** » October 18th, 2021, 9:48 pm

I'll be shocked if we don't re-up with ESPN on basically the same terms including licensing the title game to CBS. Crazy to think that the title game will have been on CBS for 17 years at the end of this contract.

CBS also sends a regional weekend announce team to do the game so it's apparent they value it.

I'd also be pretty surprised if they pull the plug on CBS Sports Net. They've got lots of college deals plus some other inexpensive niche sports.

And you're right. It's good to be Drake, Loyola, MoSt and UNI with this schedule. I can see how others may not feel the same way.

by **BEARZ77** » October 19th, 2021, 7:51 am

Based on the #s above between ESPN2/ESPNU, CBS, and MVCTV, I came out with the following totals for each team:

Loyola 16
Drake 10
MSU 8
UNI 8
Valpo 5
Bradley 4
ISUr 4
ISUb 4
SIU 4
Evansville 3

Kinda mirrors what the preseason polls have at least at the top.