Sacramento State students now have a new outlet to stay connected with Hornet athletics. The Big Sky Conference has signed a contract with B2 Networks to function as the new distributor of Big Sky TV, and it is free.

“I think this is great, because if you are a Sacramento State fan and maybe you can not go to the game on a certain day you can watch all their games on the internet and for free,” said Big Sky Conference Media Relations Assistant John Casper.

Big Sky TV, the league’s comprehensive video-streaming package, is now approaching its fourth season of operation. Fans can watch and enjoy all volleyball, basketball and football games played in Big Sky venues.

During the first two seasons of Big Sky TV’s operations, it brought close to 1,000 events for the fans to watch; many Sac State students are excited they can follow the Hornets online.

“I was big into sports in high school. I enjoyed following the baseball, basketball, football and soccer teams,” said Kelly Sattler-Petrocchi, freshman business major. “I feel Sac State doesn’t advertise its sports enough so I never know when the games are going to be. Maybe with B2 Networks streaming our games I would know the dates and times of games and then I can follow the progression of our school’s athletic program.”

Ethan Perez, sophomore English major, said he is excited to hear that it is now easier to follow Sac State athletics.

“I was not aware our sports teams’ games are broadcast live on the Internet. Now that I know this, I will be more inclined to follow our sports teams, which I did not do at all last year,” Perez said.

Big Sky TV will air more than just live game footage this year.

“Our schools also have the opportunity to where, if they have an important press conference involving a coach or the athletic director they can broadcast that on the video stream as well. We also encourage our schools to try to use them for other things such as if they want to video stream their graduation ceremonies or a speech from the president, it is available,” Casper said.

Many of the other schools do stream the events live but most of the time fans will have to pay for the luxury.

The Big Sky’s new contract with B2 is expected to be a very beneficial move for both. B2 is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and pay-per-view broadcasting systems. B2 has worked with professional sports leagues and teams, the Big Sky Conference is gaining credibility with the new contract.

“The greatest part of our system is that it is free,” Casper said.

This new partnership between B2 and Big Sky TV provides university athletic departments, media relations, athletes’ families, fans as well as students a more reliable source for staying connected and at alert with basketball, football and volleyball for the Big Sky-affiliated teams.

“We had a basketball fan club throw parties at their alumni center when they had road games. For one game they had over 100 students there and they were able to put the game on a projector through the computer and had couches and pop and food to eat and they all sat there and watched the game like they were watching it on a big screen TV,” Casper said.

Currently, the main goal for Big Sky TV is to broadcast games, but the network plans on expanding and offering different services in the future.

“Now that I know that Sac State’s sporting events are on the Internet I can follow my team more,” said Jerome Ison, junior English major. “I was hoping to follow Sac State sports more this year anyway.”

Poetiic Reid can be reached at [email protected]