Oct. 31, 2007

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Big Ten Network and PlayON! Sports, a division of Turner Sports, will partner to stream nine Big Ten men's basketball games online this season. The games will be available free via live and on-demand webcasts on www.BigTenNetwork.com. The first scheduled contests will include the season openers for Iowa and Minnesota on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. CT.

Purdue's game against Lipscomb on Nov. 20 will appear live on the webcast.

The new partnership allows for the games to be produced and distributed on www.BigTenNetwork.com using PlayON! technology.

"The Big Ten Network is pleased to make these games available to fans for free," said Michael Calderon, Big Ten Network director of new media. "The network is committed to using new technology to bring fans closer to their teams than ever before. Over time, we will be at the forefront of emerging technologies and this is an early example of that."

"This new opportunity with the Big Ten Network signifies our dedication to providing fans greater access to online sports coverage, especially in the college market," said Phil Sharpe, SVP/GM of PlayON! Sports. "We are excited to stream basketball games from one of the nation's top conferences, as well as partner with the Big Ten Network."

BigTenNetwork.com Men's Basketball Schedule
Thurs., November 1 7 p.m. CT Mankato State at Minnesota
Thurs., November 1 7 p.m. CT Simpson College at Iowa
Sat., November 10 2 p.m. CT Army at Minnesota
Mon., November 12 7 p.m. ET St. Francis at Penn State
Tues., November 20 9 p.m. ET Lipscomb at Purdue
Sat., December 1 11 a.m. CT Savannah State at Northwestern
Mon., December 3 7 p.m. CT Arkansas State at Northwestern
Sat., December 15 1 p.m. ET Denver at Penn State
Wed., January 30 7 p.m. CT Texas-Pan American at Northwestern

The Big Ten Network will be the destination for Big Ten basketball fans this winter. The network will carry 140 regular season games this season, with each team having between 15 and 23 of their games televised on the network. The Big Ten Network will carry nearly two-thirds of all in-conference match-ups.

Earlier this fall, the Big Ten Network became the first new network in cable or satellite television history to reach 30 million homes in its first 30 days. The network is available through DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight Communications, WideOpenWest, RCN, Service Electric, AT&T U-Verse and more than 150 cable operators.

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