NEW YORK - SNY and ESPN, in conjunction with the BIG EAST Conference, today announced a comprehensive multi-year partnership which will feature over 800 hours of BIG EAST Conference programming – including more than 125 football and men’s and women’s basketball games.  SNY, which will be tabbed as “the official television home of the BIG EAST Conference” in the New York region, will deliver to BIG EAST fans in the New York Metropolitan area unprecedented access to coaches, players and their schools as part of this agreement.

SNY will air a minimum of 16 football games per season, including the Saturday afternoon “Game of the Week” – which will be wrapped by in-depth pre-game, halftime and post-game shows – produced by SNY.  Throughout the entire season, the network will also air an ensemble of weekly BIG EAST football coaches’ shows. 

When the college basketball season tips-off, SNY’s all access conference pass continues as the network becomes “the official TV home of BIG EAST basketball” – airing more than 100 BIG EAST basketball contests each season.  The package includes the men’s and women’s “Game of the Week,” weekly coaches’ shows from BIG EAST schools – including St. John’s Rutgers and Seton Hall – and in-depth pre-game, halftime and post-game shows – produced by SNY – surrounding all intra-conference primetime basketball match-ups that will air on the network. 

“We’re thrilled to have this landmark partnership with the BIG EAST, the preeminent collegiate conference in the New York area,” said Steve Raab, President of SNY.  “The BIG EAST is now a major programming pillar for SNY, and further solidifies our commitment to providing New York sport fans with the most inclusive year-round sports coverage.”

“The New York Metropolitan area has always been so important to the BIG EAST, said Michael Tranghese, BIG EAST Commissioner.  “It’s great to have our fans know that SNY is the place for BIG EAST football and men’s and women’s basketball.  We’re delighted that SNY is our partner.”

On-air talent and additional programming details for SNY’s BIG EAST football and basketball coverage will be announced at a later date.

A second announcement is expected to be made in the near future to articulate a continuation of the longstanding ESPN and MSG Network relationship with the BIG EAST Conference.  These two broadcast entities will provide the BIG EAST Conference and its 16 member schools with continued broad based exposure in the Metropolitan New York area in the years ahead. 

--SNY contributed to this announcement