ESPNU
ESPNU is a
television channel that specializes in
college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network
ESPN.The network was launched on
March 4 2005 from the site of
Gallagher-Iba Arena on the
Oklahoma State University Campus in
Stillwater, Oklahoma. The network's first live event was a semi-final game of the
Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball touranment that saw
Southeast Missouri State University fall to
Eastern Kentucky University. The network was launched as a response to upstart rival
College Sports TV (CSTV), which has since been purchased by
CBS Corporation. ESPN was also being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department due to "warehousing" of college games from certain conferences, or signing a deal with a conference for all their games, but only televising a small number and not allowing the conference to make other arrangements for TV broadcasts.
1ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's
Charlotte, North Carolina offices.
ESPN and XOS Technologies signed a partnership for college athletics websites to compete directly with
College Sports TV's growing internet presence.
On
August 28,
2006, ESPNU plans to launch a new
SportsCenter spin-off dealing entirely with college sports. That show will broadcast from ESPN headquarters in
Bristol, Connecticut and be called
SportsCenterU. No anchors have been announced, but
Mike Hall, its current lead anchor, is expected to remain on staff in some capacity.
BracketologySaturday PrimetimeFaces of SportsFull CircleSportsCenterUThe UTown Hall*
Mike Hall1USA Today, Apr. 8, 2005, page 1C
*
Official Site*
ESPN U Television Listings
