ST. LOUIS -- Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today that the Missouri Valley Conference has signed an agreement with Kansas City-based Niles Media Group to serve as the production company for the conference’s television package.

The partnership between the Missouri Valley Conference and Niles Media Group is for the 2010-11 academic year and features a two-year option for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

“Our television network is our most visible marketing and promotional vehicle,” said Elgin, who is in his 23rd year as the league’s commissioner.  “Cultivating a home for our telecasts – Fox Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago – is an on-going point of emphasis for our staff, but maintaining first-class productions is equally important.

“The relationship between Fox Sports Midwest, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and our production company has been a mutually beneficial one for the Missouri Valley Conference.  Fox and Comcast provide a tremendous platform for our coaches and student-athletes, while Niles Media Group will produce the story of the Missouri Valley Conference during each telecast and provide quality video and promotional avenues for our teams and institutions.”

The founders of Niles Media Group -- John Denison, John Sprugel and Neil Harwell -- have created and operated two other regional sports channels.  Niles Media Group services include television production, staffing, advertising sales and telecast distribution.

The Missouri Valley Conference, which took its television network package in-house beginning with the 1993-94 academic year, annually produces a minimum 30-telecast package, which is cleared by Fox Sports Midwest, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

The Missouri Valley Conference, in conjunction with Niles Media Group, televises regular-season men’s and women’s basketball games and league championship contests in the sports of women’s and men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball.

“Niles Media Group personnel have a long production history with the Missouri Valley Conference,” said Jack R. Watkins, associate commissioner for marketing/television.  “John Denison, Steve Kurtenbach and Kevin Shank are some of the most experienced and respected sports producers and directors in the nation, and they will all contribute to this season’s on-air productions.”

Niles Media Group coordinates all aspects of production – compliance with Fox Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago on-air guidelines, commercial reels, in-telecast graphics, satellite transmission and uplink, etc. – for each telecast.  Niles Media Group also handles production of the Missouri Valley Conference preseason basketball television show, public service announcements, commercial spots and video promotional items.