The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

We have been to SEVEN STRAIGHT POSTSEASONS in Men's Hoop but we have no local TV deal. Akron has not been to the basketball postseason since Reagan was President but they get this deal. Who is doing this for us? Obviously no one.

Ohio News Network New Television Home of the Zips

Statewide network to telecast nearly 20 UA Athletics events in 2005-06


Oct. 27, 2005

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron Department of Athletics and The Ohio News Network (ONN) have finalized a multi-year television broadcast agreement.

ONN will televise at least 18 UA Athletics events during the 2005-06 academic year, beginning with Sunday's broadcast of the top-ranked and undefeated men's soccer team's match-up with Kentucky. Airtime is set for 1 p.m. (EST) from Lee Jackson Field.

The agreement is the beginning of a larger integrated partnership that positions the Dispatch Printing Company, the parent entity of ONN, and its affiliated properties as a TEAM AKRON corporate patron. As such, ONN and UA Athletics will enjoy a reciprocal relationship, including, but not limited to, hospitality, promotional rights, media rights and community outreach platforms, most notably the UA Athletics Diversity Scholarship Fund.

"Our external efforts over the last six years have been building toward taking our television product to a regional level," associate director of athletics for external relations Mike Waddell said. "Our University is growing at an impressive rate, as is our Department of Athletics. We feel that this new alliance with ONN, coupled with our radio and internet properties, position us at an all-time high level of exposure and will help introduce more people than ever to the great things going on here at The University."

As part of this agreement, ONN will telecast Akron men's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball and softball in 2005-06. This season's remaining broadcast schedule will be announced at a later date. Plans for future years include the creation of a weekly Zips Athletics television show, which will cover all 18 varsity sports, and televise a select menu of Akron football games.

ONN is available in 83 of Ohio's 88 counties on the following cable systems: Time Warner Digital, Adelphia, Insight, WOW!, Armstrong, Charter, GLW Broadband, Medina Cable Access, New Knoxville Cable, Bellaire TV Cable and AT&T Broadband.

ONN is Ohio's channel for 24-hour news, weather and sports. ONN is a member of the Dispatch Broadcast Group, which includes WBNS-TV, WBNS-AM/FM, ONN and Radio Sound Network in Columbus, Ohio; WTHR-TV and SkyTrak Weather Network in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"ONN's commitment to Ohio sports has been a core value since the day we began," ONN vice president and general manager Tom Griesdorn said. "Anyone who's been to a Mid-American Conference game knows the energy, excitement and enjoyment the fans experience. This is a great fit with our other local sports franchises and we're very pleased to be Ohio's new television home for the Akron Zips."

ONN will have multiple signage locations in UA Athletics venues, while Akron will partner with ONN to develop promotions and cross marketing programs.

"The Mid-American Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in the nation and Akron has clearly proven itself as a major player," ONN director of programming Jason Pheister said. "As more and more fans focus on these teams, its critical for them to be showcased on Ohio's channel."

TEAM AKRON Sports Marketing is the exclusive marketing partner and multimedia rights holder of University of Akron Athletics.

TEAM AKRON corporate partners include FirstEnergy, SummaCare, adidas, Pepsi, The Montrose Auto Group and Giant Eagle Supermarkets, which were charter members. AirTran Airways, ComDoc, Coors Light, Papa John's Pizza and Sky Bank have since joined, along with Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, The Four Points Sheraton - Akron West and Montrose Wireless.

I think we all know the answer here. It is just that some of us are willing to say it.

OOOOOOHHHHH...The Ohio News Network........glad they could break into the infomercials for the deal. How will they sell all of those Ginzo Knives now? :eek: What about the City Council meetings? Sky Track Weather Network...can't go bigger than that! Medina Cable! How could they! Not in Ohio, but isn't Time Warner the one KSU fans comlplain about as a HS project station?


These cannot be the "we don't think big enough about KSU athletics" complaining about this, can it?

KSU does nothing except tape delay in a two county area. Now Akron is in 85 of 88 counties and doing multiple sports. With hockey back in at Fox Ohio the statewide resources are limited. Akron is thinking big picture - what are we doing? We cannot even get our basketball and football games on the same radio station. KSU needs a change fast or the also rans of the past will leave us in the dust.

Flashy, you have to strike while the iron is hot. I thought the 2002 basketball team's success: 30 wins, elite 8, in the top ten in the final poll, would be a springboard to bigger and better things. But, the statute of limitations has appeared to have run out. Jeeze, if your games aren't aired any better statewide than Akron's...what can I say?

Despite Kent's success in basketball, field hockey, golf, and other sports, Kent still thinks like a loser, content to grovel for whatever scraps an indifferent media provides. The perpetual failure to provide timely information about the teams, particularly men's basketball, is symptomatic of the small time thinking that pervades the KSU administration and athletic department. By contrast, Akron is always crowing about its overrated teams, and you see the result.

Hey, Kentville, several years ago I went to a game with a buddy, and he wanted to buy a media guide before the game. He had trouble finding someone in the office who knew what the heck he was even talking about!!! HA!!!

Easy: they bought the time. They are basically brokering the airtime during the game, and turning around and selling commercial time within their block. Lots of smaller schools do this.