BALTIMORE - US Lacrosse and CSTV: College Sports Television, the nation's first 24-hour college sports network, have signed a multi-year partnership that will significantly expand coverage of men's and women's college lacrosse via CSTV's nationwide reach, as announced today by Steve Stenersen, executive director of US Lacrosse, and Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder and executive vice president of CSTV.

The partnership provides CSTV with financial support to produce and broadcast the US Lacrosse/CSTV college lacrosse "Games of the Week" package, to include a number of live telecasts, in each of the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The partnership also provides CSTV with exclusive rights to produce and broadcast a one-hour highlight show on the 2004 and 2005 US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates National Championships. CSTV broadcast live the men's and women's finals of the 2003 Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, hosted by US Lacrosse June 26-July 5 at Towson (Md.) University.

"US Lacrosse is very excited to be partnering with CSTV to create the first national television package for college lacrosse in history," said Stenersen. "These national broadcasts will give lacrosse fans throughout the country the opportunity to watch some of the best college games of the year, as well as provide invaluable promotional and marketing exposure for the sport. Our ability to help lead this initiative is a direct result of the evolution of our organization and the growing support of our members and donors."

"This partnership with US Lacrosse is consistent with our goal of providing enhanced coverage and promotion of underserved sports," said Bevilacqua. "The passionate lacrosse community responded overwhelmingly to our inaugural season of coverage this past spring, and this relationship will help expand the fan base by bringing the sport to a whole new audience."

US Lacrosse and CSTV will co-promote the events to be televised and their respective brands through various broadcast, electronic and print media. US Lacrosse also will support CSTV in the development of ancillary lacrosse programming, such as feature and educational productions, etc.

Earlier this week, CSTV announced an agreement with CBS Sports giving CSTV the rights to produce and televise live nine NCAA Championship events, including Divisions II and III men's lacrosse and Division I, II and III women's lacrosse. Last spring, CSTV televised the NCAA Divisions I and III women's lacrosse championship games and NCAA Division I men's first-round tournament games. The network also presented a full schedule of regular season games featuring the top men's and women's programs.

About CSTV

CSTV: College Sports Television televises regular season and championship event coverage in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer and other sports from the ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Sky, Big Ten, Big 12, Big West and Conference USA, as well as the Ivy League, Mountain West, Sun Belt, WAC and West Coast conferences. CSTV also presents NCAA postseason action in baseball, lacrosse, women's ice hockey, field hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's water polo, gymnastics and track & field.

College Sports Television was co-founded by President/CEO Brian Bedol, Chairman Stephen Greenberg and Executive Vice President Chris Bevilacqua. Bedol and Greenberg co-founded Classic Sports Network, which they sold to ESPN and which is now ESPN Classic. Bevilacqua is a former senior executive with Nike Inc., where he headed the company's successful foray into the college market.

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