News-Sports.net - Sep 14,2012 - The University of Oklahoma and FOX Sports have agreed to a long-term multimedia programming partnership featuring Sooner Sports TV powered by FOX Sports.
The multi-platform network provides for immediate and wide distribution of at least 1,000 hours of Sooner sports programming annually on a variety of FOX Sports outlets, including FOX Sports Oklahoma, FOX Sports Southwest and FOX College Sports. The initiative launched on Sept. 1 prior to OU's football game with UTEP.
Sooner Sports TV's programming blocks will be distributed on FOX Sports Networks, reaching approximately 9 million TV homes serving Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Outside of this four-state region, select programming from Sooner Sports TV will be made available nationally, either on FOX College Sports (FCS) via cable providers or on outer market regional sports packages offered by satellite providers.
Additionally, the partnership between the University of Oklahoma and FOX Sports will include a comprehensive online component featuring extensive "all-access" content not televised on FOX Sports networks. Such material will include live streaming, archived games, and additional content created exclusively for the web.
Learfield Sports, Oklahoma's multi-media rights holder, participated in the agreement and will serve in a marketing and development capacity for a portion of the programming sponsorships.
"The programming agreement between the University of Oklahoma and FOX Sports marks the beginning of a terrific opportunity to engage our entire university community in athletic, academic and cultural events all across our campus," said OU President David L. Boren. "By providing unprecedented access to many areas of our university, millions of people across our state and nation will be able to see all of the truly great developments happening at OU."
OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione said the university's primary goals were satisfied in this agreement.
"As we began this process, our goals were to develop a network that was widely distributed and sustainable," Castiglione said. "We accomplished those goals by placing Oklahoma programming on visible platforms and in a model that allows us to remain strong and viable for a long period of time. We're excited to take this very significant step with FOX, a leader in sports and digital media, and we're invigorated to seek more challenges while tapping into the vast media opportunities that seem to blossom every day."
"We've made significant investment in SoonerVision to prepare for this day. With an eye on the future, we put in place an infrastructure that gives us almost limitless possibilities from a production standpoint. That state-of-the-art facility has paved the way for us to not only launch this venture, but look ahead with dynamic creativity."
FOX officials lauded Oklahoma's tradition and brand at the time of the announcement.
"We're excited about our new partnership with one of the preeminent collegiate athletics programs in the country," said FOX Sports Southwest Senior Vice President/General Manager Jon Heidtke. "We look forward to showcasing OU programming to Sooner fans not only in Oklahoma but across the Southwest region on all of our distribution platforms. OU is
