Email Article

Printable Page

Southern U., Regional Cable Network Sign Sports Programming Deal

By Gabrielle Maple
Black College Wire

Cox Sports Television has agreed to produce more than 25 Southern University sports events through an extensive television and promotional partnership.

The agreement was announced Jan. 9 by Southern’s Chancellor Edward R. Jackson and Cox Sports Television’s vice president of regional sports, Rod Mickler.

The agreement also calls for joint promotions through the respective Web sites, re-airs of Jaguars coaches’ shows, replays of Jaguar games during the summer months, and promotional mentions and branding of CST during all home sporting events. Mickler did not disclose the value of the agreement.

"This is an exciting announcement for all Jaguar fans," said Jackson. "Through this new television agreement with Cox Sports Television, Southern University will get tremendous exposure for the many fine student athletes and great teams we field throughout the year."

In return for the right to broadcast its games, Southern will receive the right to sell 25 percent of the commercials aired during its events, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported.

Floyd Kerr, SU athletic director, said that SU coaches were excited to have such a recruiting tool. "The Gulf Coast is also home to many of our alumni and fans who will now be able to follow the Southern University Jaguars throughout the year," said Kerr.

CST, the new home of the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, is a 24-hour, local sports network that delivers professional, amateur and collegiate men’s and women’s sports events to approximately 600,000 viewers in Louisiana, southern Mississippi, western Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.

The telecast is to begin in late January with men and women’s basketball. CST also plans to produce tape-delayed coverage of selected football games, as well as men’s baseball, women’s softball, track and field, and other Jaguar events throughout the year.

Gabrielle Maple is a student at Southern University who writes for The Southern Digest.