Big Ten Network News

Fox Sports Net and Big Ten Network to Set New Tradition Around College Football's Spring Games:

NEW YORK, Feb. 12 PRNewswire — Manhattan-based MSL Sports and Entertainment today announced that Fox Sports Net and Big Ten Network will air two one-hour shows centered around the Gridiron Bash(TM) The Ultimate Fan Competition(TM), the largest multi-venue sports and entertainment event ever to take place on college campuses. With simultaneous live concerts at top Division I school football stadiums featuring leading music artists — such as Fergie, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Dwight Yoakam, Counting Crows, and Goo Goo Dolls among others — and a contest between schools to win a $1 million prize for having the best college football fans, the shows will be broadcast from the Big Ten Network studio in Chicago with remotes coming from all over the country, including the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame. Big Ten Network studio hosts Dave Revsine and Mike Hall will anchor coverage.

Highlights from the April 18 Gridiron Bash(TM) will air nationally Saturday, April 19th. The school with the most loyal and passionate fans — the USA Today Bash for Cash Series(TM) winner — will be announced and presented with a $1 million check during the show the following day, Sunday, April 20, from the College Football Hall of Fame. The show also will provide a Look Toward the 2008 season.

"The telecasts on FSN and Big Ten Network will enable college football fans everywhere to share in the excitement of Gridiron Bash and the heated competition that will result among schools vying for the million-dollar prize," says Ed Manetta, Partner, Executive Producer, Integrated Media at MSL Sports and Entertainment, creators of this inaugural venture and co-producers of the shows. "Finally, we have an event of this magnitude that is all about the fans and giving back to the universities."

Gridiron Bash(TM) will take place the Friday evening before spring games at about 20 schools, including Texas A&M, Kansas State, Colorado, Tennessee, Rutgers, Penn State and Iowa, among others soon to be announced. In addition to the live concerts in their football stadiums (which, at many of the schools, marks the first time that the stadium has been used for this purpose), Gridiron Bash(TM) will include a festival-like atmosphere previewing the next year's team, a pre-concert pep rally, a shortened team practice, appearances by coaches and former team legends, and interactive fan activities.

The USA Today Bash for Cash(TM) fan component gives fans the chance to earn money for their schools by combining total attendance at Gridiron Bash(TM) with the number of fans who text/call in to vote for their school. The USA Today Bash for Cash(TM) winning university will receive a $1 million contribution to their General Scholarship Fund, with 2nd and 3rd place schools receiving $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.

Traditionally, spring games draw crowds of 50,000+ at the major universities. Spring Game attendance this past year reached 92,000+ at the University of Alabama and 78,000+ at Ohio State University. Gridiron Bash(TM) events are expected to attract a combined total of about one million college football fans.

Fox Sports Net, which will promote the property over the next few months, has signed a multi-year agreement with Gridiron Bash(TM). In addition to focusing on the Gridiron Bash(TM) festivities, the shows also will preview the 2008 college football season by introducing new recruits and discussing the top teams in the year to come.

"The Gridiron Bash is an innovative concept that capitalizes on the rapid rise in popularity of spring football and harnesses the passion surrounding these games," said George Greenberg, FSN's Executive Vice President of Programming and Production. "FSN is pleased to be able to work with the Big Ten Network to televise this great event."

For more information on Gridiron Bash and the school/artist match-ups, visit www.gridironbash.com.

SOURCE MSL Sports and Entertainment

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