SNY Tackles UConn TV Deal

SNY will serve as the home for University of Connecticut sports as part of a multi-year partnership announced Thursday.
Beginning next month the regional sports network will feature 300 hours of UConn programming annually, including 120 hours of Huskie college football, basketball, and other college game coverage, according to the network. In addition, the network will expand its coverage of the Big East powerhouse school throughout its sports news and entertainment programming.
In September, SNY will produce and air five live UConn football games as well as offer a UConn Huskies football season preview show and a re-air of every Huskies football game, according to the network.
For hoops season, the network will air at least 13 Huskies college basketball games and at least one women's basketball game each season, along with a Men's basketball preview show and specials featuring the coaches of the UConn men's and women's basketball teams.
"We're excited to have this landmark partnership with the University of Connecticut, one of the preeminent schools in the Big East Conference and in the nation," said Steve Raab, President of SNY in a statement. "SNY will provide UConn fans with an unprecedented level of in-depth coverage and original programming dedicated to the Huskies."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.