Monday, November 15, 2004

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 15, 2004) - Expanded radio coverage, tape-delayed television broadcasts and a new format for the television version of the Inside Buc Sports coaches show are all part of the Mountain States Health Alliance Buccaneer Sports Network plans in 2004-05.

"We're really trying to take our network to the next level by improving the production of both our radio and television broadcasts, while also expanding our radio coverage to include women's basketball and baseball this season," said ETSU Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations Michael White. "We think our fans will be pleased with these improvements, plus we're extremely excited about the expanded affiliate reach for our radio broadcasts this year."

The MSHA Buccaneer Sports Network will again broadcast all men's basketball games live this season, beginning with a one-hour pre-game show and concluding with a one-hour post-game show. In addition, the network will broadcast 14 regular season women's basketball games along with the Southern Conference tournament, as well as 15 regular season baseball games and postseason play. Fans are invited to listen to "The Voice of the Bucs" Jay Sandos, Don Helman, Mark Newland, and the rest of the MSHA BSN radio network team throughout the year.

            The weekly Inside Buc Sports radio coaches show will again air each Thursday at 6 p.m. live from the Firehouse Restaurant in Johnson City. Fans will once again have the opportunity to call in and ask questions to selected ETSU coaches.

Fans can pick up the radio network throughout the Mountain Empire thanks to a wider-reaching group of affiliates. The list of affiliates now includes: WJCW-AM (910) in the Tri-Cities; WKIN-AM (1320) in Kingsport, WPWT-AM (870) in Bristol and Colonial Heights, WABN-AM (1230) in Abingdon, Va., WJFC-AM (1480) in Jefferson City, WRGS-AM (1370) in Rogersville, WBEJ-AM (1240) in Elizabethton, WLIK-AM (1270) in Newport, and Adelphia Cable Channel 73 in Greeneville.

""We are so excited to have our stations on board with the BSN," said Matthew Hill, general manager for WJFC, WABN and WPWT. "We know that there are a lot of people who want to hear the Bucs and show their ETSU Pride. We are glad that we can be part of the team."

Once again this season, fans away from the Mountain Empire will still be able to listen to the MSHA BSN radio broadcasts by visiting ETSUBucs.com and clicking on the network link. Games will air live on the worldwide web, and will later be archived on the same page. This service is provided free by the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

While the radio side of the network continues to grow, the television component continues to improve as well. With a new format this year, the television version of Inside Buc Sports takes fans around the entire spectrum of ETSU athletics, with features, coach interviews and special news packages from all of the Bucs' 16 sports. Inside Buc Sports airs each Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. on Charter Cable Channel 13 and Comcast Cable Channel 14.

In addition, all of ETSU's 14 home games and the team's exhibition contest will air on a tape-delayed basis this season on both Charter and Comcast. Local sports talk personality Bill Meade will provide play-by-play, while former Buccaneer hoopsters Michael Woods and Jerry Pelphrey will give analysis of the games. The tentative schedule for re-broadcast of the games will be Tuesday night (for Saturday games) and Wednesday night (for early week games on Monday or Tuesday).

Attached is the current airtime schedule for the men's and women's basketball broadcasts, as well as coaches shows for the 2004-05 season.