KSNT-TV Becomes Jayhawk Television Network Affiliate in Topeka
June 23, 2006
TOPEKA, Kan. – KSNT 27 News this fall will become the new flagship station in the Topeka market for the Jayhawk Television Network airing University of Kansas men’s basketball games, Big 12 Conference regular-season and conference tournament basketball games, and the Kansas football and basketball coaches’ shows, KSNT, ESPN+ and KU officials announced Friday. In addition, KSNT will telecast several Kansas football and basketball specials and will attempt to schedule a telecast of a Kansas women’s basketball game.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The Jayhawk Television Network is administered by ESPN+ under an agreement with Kansas Athletics.
“We’re pleased to welcome KSNT 27 News as the Jayhawk Television Network affiliate in Topeka,” said KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins. “The exposure of all Jayhawk TV programming is important to Kansas Athletics and KSNT will provide that exposure. This is a big step forward for Kansas Athletics.”
“We’re excited to offer these local sports programs to our viewers,” said Ken Selvaggi, KSNT-TV President and General Manager. “The University of Kansas runs one of the elite programs in the nation and Big 12 basketball is among the best in the country. Our focus is on serving our local community and we appreciate the opportunity to televise local sports to an enthusiastic sports community. These games will complement our sports coverage from our news team and the NBC network, which will begin televising Sunday night NFL football this year. We expect the University of Kansas to contend for the NCAA men’s basketball championship and continue its athletics success in all sports programs.”
The first two men’s basketball games telecast will likely be Kansas exhibition home games with Washburn and Emporia State the first week of November. The football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows will air Sunday nights, following “27 News” and “Without a Trace”.
KSNT and KSNT DT serve 17 counties in Northeast Kansas and offer Live Precision Doppler, the only live Doppler radar in the area, and more than 20 hours of local news weekly. Beginning in September, KSNT will broadcast the new CW Network, in addition to the NBC Network.
