Dan Caesar
Reporter
Tom Ackerman is set to call St. Louis University basketball games this season for FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network.
It took a while — two days after the college basketball season began — but St. Louis University finally announced its local television deal, and the Billikens are staying put.
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They’ll be back on what was Bally ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Midwest before it recently was rebranded as FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Midwest for at least 12 men’s games and one women’s game, it was announced Wednesday. The productions also will be streamed on the FanDuel ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network app and at the website.
Billikens games will be included in FanDuel’s direct-to-consumer package that also includes its Blues telecasts and does not require a subscription to another programming distributor, such as a cable or satellite service, to access. That option is priced at $19.99 monthly or $189.99 for the hockey season.
The FanDuel telecasts will also be streamed on ESPN+ via an Atlantic 10 Conference agreement.
“A robust local television package is critical to us showcasing our men’s basketball program in (coach) Josh Schertz’s first season,†SLU athletics director Chris May said in a statement. “We are also excited to televise a women’s game as they are coming off back-to-back championship-winning seasons.â€
Tom Ackerman, sports director at SLU’s basketball radio home — KMOX (1120 AM) — will handle the play-by-play duties alongside analyst and former Billiken Troy Robertson. The first game in the package is set for Sunday, when SLU faces Avila at 3 p.m. in the Bills’ home opener. The final two contests will be carried on FanDuel’s “Extra†channel, where it places games when it has overlapping events — in these instances, Blues contests.
SLU’s local TV schedule will be accompanied by four games on ESPN2, two each on CBS ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Network and USA network as well as 10 exclusively streamed contests, eight on ESPN+ and two on Peacock.
