The MIAA announced Wednesday the launch of the MIAA Broadcasting Network that will feature 20 televised football and basketball conference games in 2010-11, beginning with the Emporia State at Central Missouri football game on Sept. 11, 2010.

The games will be carried live on KSMO Channel 62 in the Kansas City area as well as several cable systems throughout the MIAA geographical footprint, including Cox Communications in Kansas, Cablevision in St. Joseph, Mo., Eagle Communications in Hays, Kan., and Mediacom cable systems in Springfield, Columbia, and Jefferson City, Mo. The network will be available to more than 1.5 million households, and the conference hopes to announce the addition of other cable/local stations to the network in the very near future.

The MIAA has partnered with Kansas City-based Niles Media Group to provide production, distribution and media sales for the broadcast network. The founders of Niles Media Group — John Denison, John Sprugel and Neil Harwell — have created and operated two other regional sports channels and will all play active roles in the broadcasts produced this year for the MIAA Network.

“The MIAA is very excited to work with Niles Media Group on the launch of our network,” said Jim Johnson, MIAA Commissioner. “They bring a wealth of experience and expertise not only to the production of the broadcasts, but also through their relationships with distributors and potential advertising partners both on the local and national level.

“The network provides the MIAA and its member institutions a marketing and promotional vehicle that sets us apart from the majority of conferences at the Division II level,” Johnson added. “In addition, these telecasts provide a branding opportunity for our corporate partners. The creation of this network and the opportunity to watch games throughout our geographical footprint is something we certainly hope will excite MIAA fans and alumni.”

The football schedule for the 2010 season includes the following matchups, with a televised game being played on each MIAA campus during the season:

 

2010 MIAA Football Television Schedule

Sept. 11: Emporia State at Central Missouri

Sept. 18: Northwest Missouri at Nebraska-Omaha

Sept. 25: Pittsburg State at Missouri Western

Oct. 2: Missouri Western at Northwest Missouri

Oct. 9: Central Missouri at Fort Hays State

Oct. 16: Washburn at Pittsburg State

Oct. 23: Truman at Emporia State

Oct. 30: Central Missouri at Missouri Southern

Nov. 6: Emporia State at Washburn

Nov. 13: Nebraska-Omaha at Truman

Game times will be released at a later date, as will the schedule for basketball broadcasts. Each MIAA Network broadcast will also include a pre-game show highlighting other MIAA sports and a profile on the host institution for that day’s game.

The MIAA Broadcasting Network is a substantive addition to the league’s growing media asset mix that includes not only television and broadband programming but also the MIAA Web site, powered by PrestoSports, including social media and e-mail marketing as well as other licensing and branding initiatives. All conference football and basketball games will continue to be streamed live on B2 Networks.