April 18, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Big Ten Network Spring Football Tour will stop in Evanston for the 2007 Spring Game at Ryan Field at noon on Saturday, April 21.

Fans will have the opportunity to win a Big Ten Network jacket and free t-shirts and learn more about the network at the Big Ten Network table, which will be located in Wildcat Alley on Walker Terrace. Fans can also receive Big Ten Conference football schedule calendars, courtesy of the Big Ten Network, as well as information regarding a viewer survey on Big Ten Network for the chance to win additional prizes and show their support for the network.

"The Big Ten Network Spring Football Tour will continue to generate awareness as we grow closer to our launch in August 2007," said Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman. "With football season right around the corner, this is a great opportunity to excite the passionate fans of the Big Ten about all the network has to offer."

The Big Ten Network Spring Football tour will promote the upcoming 24-hour a day, 365-day a year television network that is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference, and is available through local cable and satellite providers in August.

"Northwestern is excited about the creation of the Big Ten Network," said Mark Murphy, Northwestern's director of athletics. "Not only will football and basketball receive exposure through this channel, but all of our programs will see a significant increase in national TV coverage."

The tour includes visits to all Big Ten spring football games.

The Big Ten Network is a national television network that will allow fans to see their home teams regardless of where they live, and provide another national platform for all Big Ten sports. The sports programming on the Big Ten Network and alternative platforms will include, but is not limited to:

• More than 35 football games each season
• More than 105 regular season men's basketball games, with four to six weeknight games and four to seven weekend games per week
• A nightly studio show including multiple segments from each campus
• Women's sports including basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball
• More than 170 Olympic sporting events including baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming, diving and more
• Classic games and historical footage from ESPN and ABC libraries
• Original, non-sports programming produced by Big Ten member universities showcasing their academic excellence, talented students and award-winning programs
• Weekly coaches shows

The Big Ten Conference's compelling athletic competition positions the network as the go-to destination for Big Ten alumni and fans across the nation. In addition to traditional distribution through cable and satellite providers nationwide, select Big Ten Network content also will be available through alternative media platforms such as the Internet, iPods, cell phones and/or other emerging technologies.

About the Big Ten Network: Launching this August, the Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network will provide unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities and associated personalities. Sports programming will include live coverage of more major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced content. The network is available to all cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a 20-year partnership between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.

For more information regarding the Big Ten Network, visit Big Ten Network. For employment opportunities, interested candidates should submit resumes to bigten.jobs@fox.com.