Quote:SUMMARY OF CAA AGREEMENT WITH THE NBC SPORTS GROUP

· 12 national telecasts of CAA men’s basketball games, including national television coverage of the semifinals and finals of the CAA Men’s Basketball Championship for the first time.

· Five national telecasts of CAA Football games for the first time in conference history.

· A strong regional television package maintained with the Comcast SportsNet regional networks, featuring 39 men’s and women’s basketball games and 13 football games.

· Numerous other CAA games and CAA championships broadcast on NBCSports.com.

http://www.caasports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=205378874

A few points that pertain to the MAC:

-The CAA is getting online content with NBCSports.com a clone of ESPN3.

-The CAA commish said having a second final four participant in 4 years greatly helped their bargaining position in men's basketball.

-The CAA will continue as part of ESPN bracketbusters even though they don't have a TV deal anymore with ESPN. Bracketbusters was granted by NBC Sports as an exception.

-The CAA is looking to move up their men's basketball conference tournament window to the final week before selection Sunday and the contract with NBC Sports affords them the flexibility.

-It would be in the MAC's best interest to split its second tier rights between ESPN and another network like NBC Sports. Football could retatin the midweek MACtion on ESPN and early season opening contest while sigining a September-October contract with NBC Sports for game of the week. NBC Sports sounds like they can offer MAC basketball a lot more exposure.

-It might make sense for the MAC to go with TBS instead of NBC Sports because TBS is a Time Warner property and is a common cable system in the midwest. One advantage the CAA has is it leverages the extensive Comcast Sports Net offerings along the East Coast within its footprint.