Division II and CSTV have announced a six-game men’s and women’s basketball package for the 2008 season.

The schedule begins with Drury University’s women’s team visiting the University of Indianapolis January 26 at noon Eastern time.

The other women’s games are Bridgeport University at the University of New Haven February 2 at noon and Johnson C. Smith at Shaw University February 16, also at noon.

The three men’s games (all at noon Eastern) are Holy Family University at Philadelphia University on February 9, Henderson State University at Harding University on February 23 and Mount Olive College at defending Division II champion Barton College on March 1.

CSTV also will televise the semifinals of the 2008 Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships March 26 and 27, respectively.

This is the second year of the Division II/CSTV regular-season and broadband package. In addition to the six regular-season basketball games and national semifinals, the package includes four regular-season football games and several Division II championship finals in men’s and women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, softball, and baseball.

Tim Pernetti, CSTV executive vice president, said the collaboration with Division II has exceeded expectations.

“It’s given Division II a solid national platform to take advantage of that they haven’t had in the past,” he said.

For basketball — as with football — Pernetti said, the NCAA worked closely with CSTV to showcase some of the best matchups and atmospheres in Division II basketball.

As was the case with the football package, CSTV will supplement its basketball coverage with a number of broadband games still to be determined.

“The broadband element is a significant part of connecting with the Division II community on a more personal level by allowing fans to consume even more games than are televised on TV,” Pernetti said. “We built our company around the fact that with technology, fans will connect to their teams and consume their content differently than before. In providing the content on different platforms of media, we give the fans the option to consume it in the way that makes the most sense for them and on the schedule that makes the most sense for them.”

Division II Vice President Mike Racy praised the partnership with CSTV because it provides the division with a national platform to help tell the story about Division II member institutions and conferences.

“There are many positive initiatives in Division II right now, all centered on our division’s strategic-positioning platform,” Racy said. “The broadcasts with CSTV are the perfect stage to shine the light on Division II attributes and success stories.”