After a few years without a major national TV contract, the Great Alaska Shootout will be seen nationally again starting this November. CBS Sports Network has signed a multi-year agreement with the University of Alaska-Anchorage to air the tournament. While the tournament began in 1978, it gained national prominence when ESPN began to air the Shootout, but stopped airing it when it started to funnel teams to its own tournaments in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Anaheim among other locations.
For the last few years, the Shootout had pieced together a network of regional cable networks, but thanks to CBS Sports Network, fans will be able to see the games again and hopefully, the fields will improve.
We have the joint announcement from CBS Sports Network and the University of Alaska-Anchorage.
CBS Sports Network to televise Great Alaska Shootout
The University of Alaska Anchorage has reached a multi-year agreement with CBS Sports Network to televise the Great Alaska Shootout, UAA director of athletics Dr. Steve Cobb announced Tuesday.
Beginning with the 2012 event, CBS Sports Network will carry seven games from the 35th annual men’s basketball tournament, scheduled for Nov. 21-24 at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena. This year’s action will feature three first-round matchups, both semifinals, and the third-place and championship games.
“We are thrilled to partner with CBS Sports Network to bring the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout to a national audience,” said Dr. Cobb. “This should be the beginning of a long and successful venture for both parties.”
CBS Sports Network coverage will premiere with Belmont vs. host Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 21 at 10 p.m. AST (Nov. 22/2 a.m. EST). The other first-round contests will air Thanksgiving night, Nov. 22, with UC Riverside vs. Oral Roberts at 5 p.m. AST (9 p.m. EST) and Texas State vs. Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. AST (11:30 p.m. EST).
Friday’s semifinals are set for 5:30 AST/9:30 EST and 8 p.m. AST/Midnight EST, followed Saturday by the 3rd-place (6 pm AST/10 pm EST) and championship (8:30 pm AST/12:30 am EST Sunday) games.
Started in 1978, the Shootout is the longest running regular-season tournament in men’s college basketball, featuring such past champions as North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky, and a list of alumni that includes 10 NBA Draft No. 1 picks.
CBS Sports Network is available to 99 million homes nationwide through local cable, video and telco providers including Verizon FiOS (Channel 94) and AT&T U-Verse (Channel 643, 1643 in HD) and via satellite on DirecTV (Channel 613) and Dish Network (Channel 158). For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
2012 GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT
Sullivan Arena – Anchorage, Alaska
All times Alaska Standard Time (4 hours behind EST)Men’s Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 21 – First Round
7:30 pm – UC Riverside vs Northeastern
10 pm – Belmont vs Alaska Anchorage (CBS Sports Network)
Thursday, Nov. 22 – First Round
5 pm – Loyola Marymount vs Oral Roberts (CBS Sports Network)
7:30 pm – Texas State vs Charlotte (CBS Sports Network)
Friday, Nov. 23 – Consolation Semifinals & Semifinals
Noon – Belmont/UAA loser vs NU/UCR loser
2 pm – ORU/LMU loser vs Charlotte/TXST loser
5:30 pm – Belmont/UAA winner vs NU/UCR winner (CBS Sports Network)
8 pm – ORU/LMU winner vs Charlotte/ TXST winner (CBS Sports Network)Saturday, Nov. 24
Noon – 7th/8th-place game
2 pm – 4th/6th-place game
6 pm – 3rd/5th-place game (CBS Sports Network)
8:30 pm – Championship game (CBS Sports Network)
That’s all.
