AMES, Iowa - The Iowa State Athletics Department announced today that it has agreed to a five-year partnership with Mediacom to distribute programming, currently produced and aired on Cyclones.tv, across Iowa and into several bordering states via a fully dedicated Cyclone sports channel on Mediacom's cable television network.



"This agreement allows our athletics program to become only the third institution nationally (Texas and BYU) with a fully dedicated channel for its sports teams," Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard said.



As part of the agreement Mediacom will broadcast numerous Cyclones.tv-produced events annually, including home events in women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, gymnastics and softball. In addition, Mediacom will broadcast one football game and approximately 5-10 men's basketball games, produced by Cyclones.tv per the Big 12 Conference's new television agreement.



Cyclones.tv and Mediacom will also air the Paul Rhoads Show, the Fred Hoiberg Show, the Bill Fennelly Show, the Cyclone CYdline & CourtCYd Shows at Applebee's, an Olympic Sports Spotlight, live media conferences and archived classic replays.



"The partnership with Mediacom is a game changer for our athletics program because we will be able to provide the most comprehensive coverage Cyclone sports teams have ever received," Pollard said. "The deal improves our ability to reach fans and recruits throughout the midwest, clearly strengthens the Iowa State Athletics brand and reinforces our strategic decision to launch Cyclones.tv. Mediacom's interest confirms that we are producing excellent content on Cyclones.tv, which is in great demand."



"This is a wonderful way to elevate visibility for ISU as the Cyclones strengthen their presence in the Big 12 Conference. At the same time, it's a big win for Mediacom customers who gain another option for following their favorite Cyclone teams," said Mediacom Group Vice President Steve Purcell. "Quality programming is produced by Cyclones.tv, and we know that a lot of online viewing occurs in households that use the always faster speeds of Mediacom Internet. Now, many fans will also welcome the television option that is an exclusive benefit to Mediacom subscribers."



Programming will be shown initially on MC22 beginning with a Cyclone basketball doubleheader on Dec. 9. The women's team hosts Fairfield at 1 p.m. followed by the men's club facing Nebraska-Omaha at 6 p.m. However, Mediacom will create a dedicated channel for Cyclone sports programming by early 2013.



"The Big 12 Conference has given individual schools the ability, like no other major conference in the country, to distribute their third-tier television rights and we are capitalizing on an opportunity that is unique to our conference," Pollard said. "Our relationship with Mediacom means that our Cyclones.tv content will be available to more than 500,000 additional viewers."



Cyclones.tv was launched this fall as a digital TV network available online for a nominal subscription fee. The department hired three-time state of Iowa Sportscaster of the Year John Walters to serve as its lead reporter.



The network has gotten off to a great start and Cyclones.tv is ranked No. 2 nationally for total viewers among all of NeuLion's (Iowa State's web site provider) 100-plus schools.



Production of the events to be shown on Mediacom will be handled by the Cyclones.tv staff with a simulcast of the Cyclone Radio Network feed. The programming will be branded as "Cyclones.tv powered by Mediacom."