Big 12 Network

The Big 12 Network (stylized as the Big XII Network) was a syndicated package featuring live broadcasts of College basketball events from the Big 12 Conference that was broadcast under that branding from 2008 until 2014. It was owned and operated by ESPN Plus, the syndication arm of ESPN, Inc., and was mainly shown in areas in the Big 12’s geographical footprint, along with other areas of the United States. Games were shown locally on broadcast stations, regional sports networks, as well as on ESPN Full Court, and WatchESPN.

Big 12 Network
Big XII Network
TypeLive Syndicated college sports programming service
Country
United States
AvailabilityMainly in central portions of the United States
OwnerESPN, Inc.
(ESPN Events)
Launch date
1996 (under ESPN Plus branding)
September 6, 2008 (2008-09-06) (under the Big 12 Network branding) [1]
DissolvedMarch 15, 2014 (2014-03-15)[2]
Picture format
1080i 16:9 HDTV (since 2008)
480i 4:3 SDTV widescreen (1996–2008; 1996–2010 on some affiliates)
SEC TV, Longhorn Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU
Official website
Big 12 Website

History

The Creative Sports/OCC merger and the ESPN Plus years

Beginning in 1996 after ESPN’s consolidation of Creative Sports (which ESPN owned since 1994 [3]) and OCC Sports (acquired from Ohlmeyer Communication Company), ESPN Plus (also known as ESPN Regional Television) assumed syndication rights to Big 12 Conference men’s basketball games after the Big 8 Conference and the Southwest Conference merged to create the Big 12. Raycom Sports previously had syndication rights to basketball and football games of both those conferences from the 1980s until that syndicator lost the Big 8 in 1993–94, and the Southwest Conference merged with the Big 8 to become the Big 12 Conference in 1996.[4][5][6]

The new branding

Starting with the 2008–2009 season, all Big 12 Conference basketball game broadcasts from ESPN Plus began to be broadcast under the Big 12 Network branding.[1]

Demise

After the first 18 years of the conference’s existence, the Big 12 Network ceased operations in 2014 as all rights to Big 12 Basketball moved to the ESPN family of networks (e.g. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNews).[2] [7] Several Big 12 basketball games also moved to the Texas Longhorns-oriented Longhorn Network, which is a joint venture between ESPN and the University of Texas at Austin that launched in August 2011. However, CBS Sports does choose to broadcast at least two to three Big 12 games under their NCAA on CBS branding.

On-air personalities

College basketball
  • Dave Armstrong – play-by-play commentator (2010–2013)
  • Reid Gettys – color commentator (2010–2013)
  • Mitch Holthus – play-by-play commentator (2010–2013)
  • Bryndon Manzer – Big 12 Conference color commentator (2010–2013)
  • Chris Piper – Big 12 Conference sideline reporter (2012–2013)
  • Brad Sham – Big 12 Conference play-by-play (2010–2013)
  • Jon Sundvold – Big 12 Conference color commentator (2010–2012)
  • Rich Zvosec – Big 12 Conference sideline reporter (2012–2013)

Availability

The Big 12 Network was available mainly in areas of the central United States, including much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and western Arkansas. Other areas served by the Big 12 Network included parts of West Virginia, north-central and east-central Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Pennsylvania, especially during the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 season. This was true because in 2012, Texas Christian University joined the Big 12 from the Mountain West Conference, and West Virginia University joined the Big 12 from the original Big East Conference. In spite of the University of Missouri (along with Texas A&M University) leaving the Big 12 to join the basketball-powerful Southeastern Conference in 2012, some stations in Missouri, especially in the Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, and Joplin markets, either kept the local rights to the Big 12 Network or lost them to another station in their home market.

In addition to the listed areas above, three independent stations in California also carried the syndication package. Throughout the 2008–2014 branding period, some Big 12 Network stations also broadcast football games from sister syndicator SEC TV, which provided Southeastern Conference football games to certain stations, most notably including KTXA/Dallas, Texas and KDOC-TV/Los Angeles, California, although KDOC also broadcast SEC TV basketball games on a limited schedule. This was especially true to some former Big 12 Network partners that switched to or altered to and from SEC TV broadcasts.

Broadcast affiliates

The following over-the-air broadcast stations broadcast the Big 12 Network:[8][9][10]

Arkansas
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Fort Smith/Fayetteville KFTA-TV Fox
KNWA-DT2 In-market repeater of KFTA-TV
Little Rock KASN The CW affiliate until 2012
KARZ MyNetworkTV Affiliate from 2012 to 2014

California
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Los Angeles KDOC-TV Independent Affiliated 2011–2014 [11][12]
San Diego KUSI-TV[11] Big 12 Network was aired on a limited schedule on KUSI due to SEC TV partnership; This station also serves Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
San Francisco/Oakland KOFY

Idaho
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Boise KTRV-TV MyNetworkTV Affiliate from 2013–2014

Illinois
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Chicago WLS-DT2 Live Well Network Ran Big 12 Network programming until 2012
Peoris/Bloomington WAOE MyNetworkTV
Rockford WTVO
WTVO-DT2		 ABC
MyNetworkTV		 Affiliation shared between two of WTVO’s main channel and DT2 subchannel

Indiana
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Evansville WTVW Fox (until 2011)
Independent		 Now an affiliate of The CW since 2013
Indianapolis WHMB-TV LeSEA Became an affiliate in 2013
WHMB-DT2 [13] LeSEA Alternate affiliate in 2013–2014
WRTV-DT2 Hometown Sports Indiana
WTTV[14] The WB (now The CW) Affiliate until 2008; became a CBS affiliate in 2015
Licensed to Bloomington, Indiana
Kokomo WTTK Full-time satellite of WTTV/Bloomington; became a CBS affiliate

Iowa
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Cedar Rapids KFXA Fox
Davenport WQAD-TV ABC Licensed to Moline, Illinois
Des Moines WOI-DT ABC Acquired from WHO-TV in 2008
WOI-DT2 Live Well Network (now with Laff)
Ottumwa KYOU-TV FOX
Sioux City KPTH-DT2 MyNetworkTV/This TV

Kansas
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Dodge City KSAS-LP Fox Satellite of KSAS-TV/Wichita as part of the region-wide network, “Fox Kansas”
Garden City KAAS-LP
Great Bend KOCW
Salina KAAS-TV
Topeka KTMJ-CD Relays signal to translators KMJT-LP/Ogden, KETM-LP/Emporia, and KTLJ-CD/Junction City
Wichita KSAS-TV Flagship station of the Fox Kansas regional network

Kentucky
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Campbellsville (Louisville) WBKI-TV The CW Affiliate 2012–2014 [11][15]
OTA signal also serves portions of the Bowling Green market by default, and also reaches parts of the Lexington market
Lexington WTVQ-DT2 MyNetworkTV Affiliate 2012–2014 [15]
Louisville WMYO-DT3 The CW Simulcast of WBKI-TV/Campbellsville since 2012
Paducah WDKA MyNetworkTV Simulcast on KBSI-DT2/Cape Girardeau, Missouri; both KBSI and WDKA shared Big 12 Network affiliation until 2012

Michigan
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Lansing WHTV MyNetworkTV Big 12 Network partner 2012–2014; licensed to Jackson, Michigan[11]

Mississippi
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Meridian WTOK-TV
WTOK-DT2		 ABC
MyNetworkTV		 Affiliate 2011–2014 [11]

Missouri
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Cape Girardeau KBSI Fox Alternating affiliation with MyNetworkTV outlet WDKA/Paducah, KY until 2012
Columbia-Jefferson City KMIZ-TV ABC Primary affiliate in Columbia until 2012
KZOU-LP MyNetworkTV Alternate affiliate in Columbia until 2012
KQFX-LD Fox
Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS KFJX Fox
Kansas City, MO-KS KSHB-TV NBC
KMCI-TV Independent Alternate affiliate in the Kansas City DMA
Springfield KYTV NBC
K15CZ The CW Full-power simulcast on KSPR-DT2
St. Louis KTVI-DT2 Antenna TV Was a This TV affiliate when KTVI-DT2 first affiliated with the Big 12 Network

Nebraska
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Lincoln KLKN ABC Affiliate until 2012
Omaha KXVO The CW
KPTM-DT2 MyNetworkTV / This TV Alternate affiliate

Ohio
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Toledo, Ohio WMNT-CD MyNetworkTV
Youngstown WYFX-LD Fox Affiliate from 2012 to 2014
WKBN-TV CBS

Oklahoma
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Oklahoma City KAUT-TV MyNetworkTV until 2012 Now an independent station
KOCB The CW Alternate affiliate for the OKC market
Tulsa KMYT-TV MyNetworkTV

Pennsylvania
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Pittsburgh WPXI-TV NBC Affiliate 2012–2014
State College-Altoona WHVL-LP MyNetworkTV Affiliate 2012–2014

Puerto Rico
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Ponce WTIN-TV Independent Satellite of WAPA-TV/San Juan; also ran some SEC TV content
San Juan WAPA-TV
Mayagüez WNJX-TV Satellite of WAPA-TV/San Juan; also ran some SEC TV content

Texas
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Abilene KIDZ-LD MyNetworkTV
Amarillo KCIT Fox
KCPN-LP MyNetworkTV Alternate affiliate; simulcast on full-powered KAMR-DT2
Austin KBVO-TV MyNetworkTV
KBVO-CD Low-powered translator of KBVO-DT
Beaumont-Port Arthur KBMT ABC
KBMT-DT2 NBC Branded as KJAC
KUIL-LD MyNetworkTV Full-power simulcast on KBMT-DT5
Bryan-College Station KBTX-TV CBS Big 12 Network partner until 2012; semi-satellite of KWTX-TV/Waco
Dallas-Fort Worth KTXA Independent This station also broadcast football games from Big 12 Net’s sister service, SEC TV; now broadcasts Atlantic Coast Conference sports programming from Raycom Sports-operated ACC Network
Houston KUBE
Lubbock KMYL-LD MyNetworkTV Now a satellite of KUPT/Hobbs, New Mexico
Odessa-Midland KOSA-DT2 MyNetworkTV
San Angelo KIDY-DT2
San Antonio KCWX
Sherman, Texas-Ada, OK KXII-DT2
Tyler KTPN-LD
Longview (Tyler) KLPN-LD Satellite of KTPN-LD/Tyler, Texas
Waco-Temple-Bryan KCEN-TV NBC affiliated from 2013 until 2014
KCEN-DT2 Azteca America Alternate Big 12 Network partner 2012–14; Now a Cozi TV affiliate
KWTX-TV CBS Original affiliate until 2012

West Virginia
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Bluefield, WVA-VA WOAY-TV ABC
Charleston-Huntington WQCW-TV The CW Big 12 Net. Affiliate 2012–2014
Clarksburg WVFX FOX
Parkersburg, WVA-Merietta, OH WTAP-TV NBC Affiliate 2013–2014
WTAP-DT3 MyNetworkTV Affiliate of Big 12 Net (2012)
Now defunct
WIYE-LD[11] MyNetworkTV Affiliate of Big 12 Net in 2013 and 2014
Wheeling, WVA-Steubenville WTOV-TV NBC
WTOV-DT2[16] Me-TV Alternate Big 12 Network partner; now a Fox affiliate

Wisconsin
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
La Crosse-Eau Claire KQEG-CA ION Television/AMGTV [11]
Milwaukee WMLW-TV Independent Affiliated 2012–2014 [11][12]

Wyoming
DMA Station Main affiliation
(at time of Big 12 Network partnership)		 Notes
Cheyenne KGWN-TV CBS
Laramie K19FX-D Translator of KGWN-TV/Cheyenne

Online platforms and Regional sports networks
Channel Main affiliation Service area via cable Notes
Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast Independent Atlanta, Georgia [14]
Cox Sports Independent Varied areas (mainly within Cox Communications service areas)
MC22 Independent Varied areas (mainly within Mediacom service areas)
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network Independent Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, eastern and central North Carolina, West Virginia, south-central Pennsylvania, and Delaware Available nationwide via Dish Network and DirecTV Satellite television
MASN2 [11] Fox Sports Networks Altetnate MASN feed
Altitude Sports and Entertainment Independent Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming Available nationwide via Dish Network and DirecTV
Altitude 2 Alternate outlet of Altitude
Cox Sports Network New Orleans, Louisiana
ESPN3 ESPN USA Nationwide (Cable and satellite subscribers only)
ESPN Full Court
Pittsburgh Cable News Channel Independent Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Time Warner Cable Sports Channel (Wisconsin) Independent Milwaukee and surrounding areas;
Green Bay (northeast Wisconsin)
AFN Sports American Forces Network United States Armed Forces

See also

References
  1. "Big 12 Men's Basketball Television Frequently Asked Questions". Big 12 Conference.
  2. “Big 12 Network syndication coverage concludes after tournament semifinals”. Clones Confidential (Fan site of the Iowa State Cyclones), March 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  3. ESPN.com – TV LISTINGS – What is ESPN Regional TV?
  4. Company History – Raycom Sports Archived 2015-03-10 at archive.today
  5. Raycom Sports – Big Eight Conference Syndication Package – Promotional Brochures (1990–1996)
  6. Raycom Sports – Southwest Conference Syndication Package – Promotional Brochures (1991–1996)
  7. “Big 12 Network to Tune Out After Conference Tournament”. Kansas City Star (March 12, 2014).
  8. Big 12 Network Station List (2008–2009). University of Kansas Athletic Department.
  9. “2013–2014 Big 12 Network Television Package”. Big 12 Network.
  10. "Big 12 Network Affiliates – SportsLine.com" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  11. February 27, 2014 Host – 2014 NCAA Men s Final Four Archived April 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Big 12 Conference, February 27, 2014.
  12. “Big 12 Network listings for Oklahoma at Baylor (Feb. 25, 2014)”. Baylor Bears. February 22, 2014.
  13. 2014 BIG 12 NETWORK BASKETBALL – Clearances for Texas Tech @ Kansas State. Big 12 Conference. January 2014.
  14. "2007–2008 Big 12/ESPN Plus Station List – Big 12 Conference – Official Athletic Site". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  15. Big 12 Network Latest Clearances (2013–2014 season). ESPN Events. January, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  16. “Texas Tech-West Virginia Game Moved to Big 12 Network, ESPN3”. Texas Tech University Athletics Department (January 2, 2014).
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