WHEELING, WV, Sept. 23, 2009 — A partnership between Wheeling Jesuit University and Comcast will provide select university programming, including athletic events, free to all Comcast digital cable subscribers through the company’s signature On Demand service beginning Oct. 1.
“I’m excited that our athletics will be viewed locally and our fans, alumni and family members will have a chance to watch and support Cardinal athletic programs,” said Athletic Director Danny Sancomb, who is also the head men’s basketball coach. "Cardinal sports fans have been begging for this."
Wheeling Jesuit will provide Comcast customers exclusive access to student features, international student programs, communication class multi-media projects, student life features, university special events – like the annual Constitution Day Celebration – and commencement programming, among other choices.
“We are happy to join Wheeling Jesuit University in making relevant local programming available to our customers in the Wheeling area while also allowing alumni and family members throughout our footprint to keep in touch with university life,” said Linda Hossinger, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Three Rivers Region.
Cardinal athletic events to be made available include the WVIAC Track and Field Finals and NCAA Division II competitions in women’s/men’s soccer, basketball, volleyball and other sports. Educational programming, including distance learning in physical therapy and nursing programs, is also planned.
Customers will be able to access the programming by going to their On Demand menu and choosing “Your Town” and “College Programming.” Since 2003, Comcast customers have surpassed 13 billion On Demand views.
This cable TV outreach is an extension of Wheeling Jesuit’s CardinalCast productions. CardinalCast is a live international Web cast of events in and around Wheeling Jesuit featuring athletic home competitions and special university events. CardinalCast is a student-based production made possible through a joint effort of the university’s Cardinal Athletic Club, the Professional Communication Department and Wheeling Jesuit students.
For more information on CardinalCast, Wheeling Jesuit’s Community Comcast Video On Demand, Wheeling Jesuit’s Professional Communication Program, or how students can get involved, contact the university at cardinalcast@wju.edu.
The newest of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, Wheeling Jesuit University offers students an exceptional education. Since 1995
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university among the top institutions in its “Best Master’s Universities in the South” category. The university ranks 180 out of 600 in the Forbes Best Colleges survey 2009. The campus is also home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies®, the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future, a Challenger Learning Center® and the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute.
For complete WJU information, please call 1-800-624-6992.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.9 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.0 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast’s Eastern Division serves approximately 5.7 million residential and business customers across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC. The Eastern Division is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania and employs more than 20,000 people.
Comcast media contact:
Bob Grove, 412-747-6001 robert_grove@cable.comcast.com
