SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced today (September 8) that WTCI-TV in Chattanooga, Tenn., has agreed to broadcast the league's eight-game football television package this fall.  WTCI serves southeast Tennessee, northeast Alabama, north Georgia and parts of western North Carolina as a public television station.

"We at WTCI are very excited to partner with the Southern Conference to broadcast football in Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley," said WTCI President and CEO Paul Grove. "Offering viewers the opportunity to see our local team the UTC Mocs, is a perfect fit with our mission as a community PBS station. We have heard from many fans in the area who say they are thrilled that WTCI will be carrying the games."

WTCI reaches over 300,000 households and serves a population of over 700,000.  WTCI joins statewide public television systems in Georgia (Georgia Public Broadcasting), North Carolina (UNC-TV) and South Carolina (SCE TV) which will also carry the league's football package.  WAMB-TV, a MyNetworkTV affiliate, will carry the league's television package in the Birmingham, Ala., market.  The distribution platform will reach over 12.5 million homes through 34 affiliates. 

"The addition of WTCI extends the reach of our network in a key market and brings us a greater presence in Tennessee," said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. "We are still working to add more partners to the SoCon Sports Network."

The league's 2011 broadcast package begins October 1 when last year's co-champions, Appalachian State and Wofford square off in Spartanburg, S.C.  Each of the eight televised games will also be streamed live through the conference web site, on ESPN3 and on the individual public television web sites. 

2011 Southern Conference Football Telecast Schedule

Date                Teams                                                      Time
Oct. 1              Appalachian State at Wofford                     3:00 p.m.
Oct. 8              Chattanooga at Georgia Southern               3:00 p.m.
Oct. 15            Furman at Georgia Southern                       3:00 p.m.
Oct. 22            Chattanooga at Elon                                  3:00 p.m.
Oct. 29            Georgia Southern at Appalachian State       3:00 p.m.
Nov. 5             Wofford at Western Carolina                       3:00 p.m.
Nov. 12           Samford at The Citadel                               3:00 p.m.
Nov. 19           Appalachian State at Elon                          3:00 p.m.

*ALL TIMES EASTERN