Seattle, WA: Basketball Travelers Inc. and University of Virgin Islands have reached an exclusive agreement with Fox College Sports to nationally televise the U.V.I. Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament, live next month.
The agreement with Basketball Travelers, Inc. calls for FCS to televise key men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball games during the U.V.I. Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament, held in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. FCS will televise the men’s championship game, as well as the consolation game, live on Nov. 22. The championship game tips at 8:00 PM ET, while the consolation game begins at 5:30 PM ET. Potential teams include Arkansas, Saint Louis, Eastern Michigan, Troy, Winthrop and Austin Peay.
Women’s televised tournament action, slated for Nov. 27 will broadcast Rutgers vs. Kentucky live at 3:30 PM ET and also the championship game live at 6:00 PM ET between potential teams of North Carolina State, Nebraska, Louisville and Hampton.
Since its inception, five years ago, the U.V.I. Paradise Jam has become one of the premier early season collegiate basketball tournaments in the nation. Tournament champions have never failed to earn berths to the NCAA postseason tournament. Several teams have made it as far as the Final Four. The 2004 U.V.I. Paradise Jam proves once again to be full of talent and competition, and with the partnership of Fox College Sports, fans from all over the nation can now watch the action from the islands.
Fox College Sports covers 500 NCAA basketball match-ups each season, nationwide. FCS’s General Manager, David Nathanson, said of the partnership, “The University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam basketball tournament is an ideal venue to launch Fox’s relationship with Basketball Travelers Inc. Elite teams, a history of intense competition, and a beautiful location are the foundations that precede this much anticipated partnership.”
Fox College Sports joins other major local and national U.V.I. Paradise Jam Tournament Sponsors, including: NIKE, Home Depot, University of the Virgin Islands, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Resort, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort, Atlantis Adventures and Avis.
“I am thrilled to announce the partnership with Fox College Sports. With a tournament as successful and competitive as the U.V.I. Paradise Jam, it was time to secure a national broadcast partner. We look forward to working with Fox College Sports, setting a precedent for the broadcast of great preseason basketball action from the Virgin Islands,” said Nels Hawkinson, CEO of Basketball Travelers Inc., the organizer of U.V.I. Paradise Jam.
About Basketball Travelers:
Established in 1985, Basketball Travelers, Inc is America’s leader in organizing exciting, memorable and unique tours and tournaments. Over the years more than 1750 teams have participated in BTI sponsored events. As Basketball’s popularity and skill level continues to grow around the world, Basketball Travelers, Inc. seeks not only to contribute to the sport’s development, but also to facilitate goodwill and understanding between nations and peoples of all backgrounds. For Paradise Jam information, see: .
