 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the fourth consecutive season, ESPN Regional Television, Inc., a subsidiary of ESPN, and the Mid-American Conference have announced a six-week regionally syndicated football package that will air in 27 television markets, including Chicago; Philadelphia; Detroit; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati; Indianapolis; Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Buffalo, N.Y. The package will consist of MAC conference matchups, running six weeks, beginning Saturday, Sept. 17.
“We are extremely excited about the upcoming football season and the MAC Game of the Week schedule,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president & general manager, ESPN Regional Television. “We have assembled an extensive group of MAC affiliates that reaches a significant base of college football fans. The demand for this content is a testament to the quality of MAC football.”
All games will begin at noon ET, with the telecast window extending to 3:30 p.m. 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. The telecasts will also be available on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network.
“The Mid-American Conference is a proud partner with ESPN Regional Television and our syndicated package has brought tremendous value and exposure to our conference,” said Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, Mid-American Conference Commissioner. “This year’s package presents a number of attractive match-ups. Through the efforts of our partners at ESPN Regional Television, we have a strong group of affiliates throughout the MAC footprint that assist in our continuing efforts to foster and grow the MAC brand.”
The six-week package will begin Saturday, Sept. 17 with an in-state rivalry between Central Michigan and Western Michigan. The package will conclude Saturday, Nov. 5, when Ball State travels to Eastern Michigan.
The 27 markets that will air the package represent 24 million television households, or 21 percent of the U.S. Those markets and affiliates include: Chicago (WPWR – MNT); Philadelphia (WPVI – ABC); Detroit (WXYZ – ABC); Cleveland (WEWS – ABC); Indianapolis (WNDY – CW); Columbus (WWHO – CW); Cincinnati (EKRC – CW); Milwaukee (WMLW – Independent); Grand Rapids (WZZM – ABC); and Buffalo (WNYO – MNT).
Michael Reghi will call the action each week with analyst Doug Graber.
The 2011 football campaign marks the 65th season of MAC football and the 15th with a championship game. The season concludes Friday, Dec. 2, at Ford Field with the Marathon MAC Football Championship on ESPN2. With a conference record of at least four schools participating in bowl games in each of the last three consecutive seasons, the MAC has produced bowl teams from 10 conference schools in the past three years. In addition, the competitiveness of the league has seen six different schools represent their respective divisions in the last three championship games.
2011 MAC Game of the Week Schedule (All Times Noon ET)
Date Matchup
Sat, Sep 17 Central Michigan at Western Michigan
Sat, Oct 1 Toledo at Temple
Sat, Oct 15 Toledo at Bowling Green
Sat, Oct 22 Northern Illinois at Buffalo
Sat, Oct 29 Central Michigan at Akron
Sat, Nov 5 Ball State at Eastern Michigan
MAC Football Affiliates
City/DMA Size Station Affiliation
Chicago (3) WPWR MNT
Philadelphia (4) WPVI / WPVI-DT2 ABC / Live Well
Detroit (11) WXYZ ABC
Tampa-St. Pete, FL(14) Bright House RSN
Cleveland (18) WEWS ABC
Orlando, FL (19) Bright House RSN
Indianapolis (27) WNDY CW
Cincinnati (33) EKRC CW
Columbus, OH (34) WWHO CW
Milwaukee (35) WMLW Independent
Harrisburg, PA (39) EHP-DT2 CBS
Grand Rapids, MI (41) WZZM ABC
Buffalo, NY (51) WNYO MNT
Providence, RI (53) COX-New England COX (RSN)
Dayton, OH (62) WKEF FOX
Charleston, WV (64) MYZTV MNT
Flint, MI (69) WSMH FOX
Toledo, OH (70) WTVG / WTVG-DT2 ABC
Green Bay, WI (71) WACY MNT
Madison, WI (85) ETVW MNT
South Bend, IN (93) WMYS Independent
Youngstown, OH (111) WYTV ABC
Lansing , MI (115) WHTV MNT
LaCrosse, WI (128) KQEG FMN
Rockford, IL (134) WTVO / WTVO-DT2 ABC
Wausau, WI (135) WSAW / WSAW-DT2 CBS / MNT
Wheeling, WV (159) WTOV-DT2 RTV
Courtesy of MAC
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