The University of Louisville's reach throughout the state of Kentucky just got stronger.
For the first time in the school's history, U of L football and men's basketball games - and coaches' shows - will be broadcast on a television network that reaches areas across the Commonwealth, including Lexington, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, and Bowling Green.
However, Owensboro residents won't have access to the network at this time. "We're going to get in there one way or another," Sports Information Director Kenny Klein said.
The network will reach over 750,000 homes through cable providers across the state. The first telecast will be U of L's football game this weekend against North Carolina.
"We're very pleased to extend the viewing reach of our games and coaches' shows on WHAS-TV to fans across the state of Kentucky," said Tom Jurich. "We took great steps in increasing radio coverage of our events this year, and this venture will greatly increase the opportunity for Cardinal fans across the state to watch our games."
The following cable systems are currently participating:
Insight Communications - Northern Ky, Lexington, Louisville, Bowling Green and Henderson
Mediacom - Marshall, Calloway, Christian, Monroe, Trigg, and Crittenden
Inter Mountain Cable - Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Knott
Glasgow Electric Brand Board - Barren, Hart
TV Service Inc. - Wolfe, Breathitt, Perry, and Letcher
Additional systems may be added at a future date. Fans can contact their local cable provider to request that the games be carried in their area.
"This network allows us to reach into new markets with U of L sports," WHAS-TV President and General Manager Robert Klingle said. "To have nine eastern Kentucky counties on board, and a strong presence in southern and western Kentucky shows the growing interest in Cardinal Sports throughout the region."