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Message: [QUOTE="PacoSwede, post: 5123829, member: 120"] it's interesting that CPTV's early decision to broadcast nearly all games of the Husky women is not noted in all the talk about UConn's role in popularizing (changing, growing) the sport. i believe the public television station covered a few games in 1994, and added more in '95. after that undefeated season, they did almost the whole schedule, particularly home games. so what? Connecticut Public Television gambled that [I]women's basketball[/I] would attract viewers and the support of donors. this was undreamed of. cptv's bet paid off. it was unheard of at the time, and fortuitously execs at ESPN in Bristol were exposed to the local broadcast's rabid audience. the seed was planted for the proliferation of wider TV coverage that would have been scorned by the industry if local public television (!!!) had not proved it could be a source for viewers and a money stream. geno and the huskies provided the product (extremely popular locally because they[I] won a lot [/I]with a load of Northeastern players) and CPTV's gamble was a good one. before that, only some of the crown jewels of the sport (such as tennessee) had received sporadic national network coverage for the majorly significant games, and otherwise the occasional broadcasts were given only poor time slots where a 'filler' was needed. CPTV's innovation started to change that, and average viewers -- and the sport -- began benefitting. It's taken years and years to develop, sadly, but women's basketball is at last getting its due. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach