RSS 2.0 Feed
February 2010, Featured Articles, NCAA-Conferences
Ivy League Seeking Media Deal
Executive Director seeks more exposure for League
The Ivy League's Executive Director, Robin Harris, told Bloomberg Sports that she wants to negotiate national television agreements to show football, basketball and possibly lacrosse and soccer games. This initiative follows a strategy Harris expressed upon her appointment in 2009 where she identified the need to seek more visibility for the league and the need to generate more revenue as well. The challenge in moving in the same direction as almost every other Division I conference will be how to balance the need to promote its sports teams with the need to maintain its high academic reputation.
Individual schools had been working out their own agreements. Now they may be willing to give up the best games from their regional television packages if Harris can use them as leverage to get a multiyear agreement that showcases the league's teams. Harris indicated that it is unlikely she'll have an agreement in place for the 2010 football season. She said she is talking to media consultants and the athletic directors, and will need approval from the eight Ivy League presidents.