Just what is the American Sports Network (ASN)?

Earlier today, the Southern Conference announced their 2014 football broadcast package that includes six games to be broadcast by the American Sports Network (ASN) .

Simultaneously, the Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will launch an initiative called American Sports Network, a college sports channel  that will be broadcast on Sinclair’s stations.  The American Sports Network will broadcast games on Sinclair's CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates, or on subchannels. The initial launch will include over 50 universities and colleges, airing live sporting events including football, basketball and soccer.

A total of five collegiate conferences were announced as partners with Sinclair in the first year of sports broadcasting. The conferences are the Southern Conference, Big South Conference, Conference USA, Colonial Athletic Association and the Patriot League.

Sinclair CEO David Smith said in a statement. “We have a history of producing large amounts of successful, first-run, original content through our local newscasts, high school sports presentations....and have demonstrated our ability to brand content and build audience share.”  He added, "The launch of ASN will provide important and valuable content that is directed at serving our local communities, while improving the value of our CW and MyNet affiliates."  Sinclair’s stations reaches approximately 38.9% of U.S. television household.

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