Cable Technology Feature Article
December 15, 2009
RCN Signs Agreement with University of Illinois at Chicago Athletics for Event Coverage
By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor
RCN (News - Alert) Corp., a provider of high-speed internet, digital cable TV with high definition and unlimited phone services, has signed a multi-year agreement with University of Illinois at Chicago, or “UIC,” Athletics for coverage on its sporting events.
According to company officials, the partnership allows UIC to gain exposure for its athletic programs through RCN's cable system. And, RCN will also have a significant presence at all UIC sporting events.
Starting Dec. 18, RCN subscribers will have access to exclusive content such as Flames men's and women's basketball games in addition to highlights and interviews from other sports through RCN's Video ON DEMAND service. RCN TV Channel 34 promoted UIC's basketball season during the month of November.
“As the hometown triple play provider, I am excited to announce our sponsorship of UIC Athletics,” said Tom McKay, senior vice president and general manager of RCN Chicago, said in a statement.
UIC is the largest university in the city of Chicago with over 25,000 students, and an estimated one in 10 Chicagoans with a college degree is a UIC alumnus.
Additionally, UIC Athletics sponsors 18 NCAA Division I intercollegiate varsity sports. The Flames have established itself as a regional and national competitor in collegiate athletics by earning 51 NCAA postseason berths and producing 17 All-American players in just 27 years as a Division I program.
“UIC Athletics is proud to partner with RCN,” Jim Schmidt, University of Illinois at Chicago's athletics director, said, adding that the university looks forward to teaming with an innovating industry leader that maintains such a strong presence in Chicago.
Recently, the International Securities Exchange and Deutsche Börse Systems signed an agreement with RCN Metro Optical Networks (News - Alert), a division of RCN, and a premier provider of fiber optic-based network solutions, to deploy RCN Metro's low latency fiber network to connect ISE's current and future data center sites.
This connection will act as a critical pathway in support of International Securities Exchange’s migration to its new options trading system, which is being developed using the expertise of International Securities Exchange and Deutsche Börse Systems and is scheduled to roll out in the fourth quarter 2010.
According to company officials, the partnership allows UIC to gain exposure for its athletic programs through RCN's cable system. And, RCN will also have a significant presence at all UIC sporting events.
Starting Dec. 18, RCN subscribers will have access to exclusive content such as Flames men's and women's basketball games in addition to highlights and interviews from other sports through RCN's Video ON DEMAND service. RCN TV Channel 34 promoted UIC's basketball season during the month of November.
“As the hometown triple play provider, I am excited to announce our sponsorship of UIC Athletics,” said Tom McKay, senior vice president and general manager of RCN Chicago, said in a statement.
UIC is the largest university in the city of Chicago with over 25,000 students, and an estimated one in 10 Chicagoans with a college degree is a UIC alumnus.
Additionally, UIC Athletics sponsors 18 NCAA Division I intercollegiate varsity sports. The Flames have established itself as a regional and national competitor in collegiate athletics by earning 51 NCAA postseason berths and producing 17 All-American players in just 27 years as a Division I program.
“UIC Athletics is proud to partner with RCN,” Jim Schmidt, University of Illinois at Chicago's athletics director, said, adding that the university looks forward to teaming with an innovating industry leader that maintains such a strong presence in Chicago.
Recently, the International Securities Exchange and Deutsche Börse Systems signed an agreement with RCN Metro Optical Networks (News - Alert), a division of RCN, and a premier provider of fiber optic-based network solutions, to deploy RCN Metro's low latency fiber network to connect ISE's current and future data center sites.
This connection will act as a critical pathway in support of International Securities Exchange’s migration to its new options trading system, which is being developed using the expertise of International Securities Exchange and Deutsche Börse Systems and is scheduled to roll out in the fourth quarter 2010.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Kelly McGuire
