MSG Network and the YES Network have “landed the regional cable sports rights" to Syracuse Univ. football and men's basketball, according to Brent Axe of the Syracuse POST-STANDARD. New York's regional Time Warner Cable SportsChannel networks, which previously held SU's regional cable TV rights, is now “at the back of the line in terms of how SU football and men's basketball games are distributed.” ESPN gets “first choice of games and will select what they determine to be the most attractive matchups.” Once ESPN has “made its pick for their entire family of networks and for their online channel ESPN3, the next in line is Raycom Sports,” which distributes games via the ACC Network. Through Raycom's deal with MSG and YES, the nets are now “second in line.” Meanwhile, CNY Central “recently acquired the local ‘over the air rights’ offered by Raycom.” TWC has been a “major sponsor of SU athletics in recent years and has used the fact that certain games and SU-related programming could be seen only on TWCSC as a selling point to customers.” The networks "may still air some Syracuse football and men's basketball games not picked up by ESPN or Raycom." A Time Warner spokesperson said that the nets will “continue to air Syracuse-related programming, including coaches shows, pre- and post-game shows and play-by-play of other Syracuse University sports.” The spokesperson also pointed out that MSG and YES "both are available on Time Warner Cable” (SYRACUSE.com, 6/25).
