Ole Miss Extends Contract with TeleSouth; New Media Rights Agreement Worth $27 Million Minimum Over 10 Years

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Athletics Department and TeleSouth Communications have agreed to an extension and expansion of multi-media rights for the next 10 years. The new contract, which has a guaranteed investment by TeleSouth of $27 million over the 10-year period, runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2017.

“After communicating with several media rights vendors, I believe this TeleSouth relationship is in the best interest for Rebel athletics,” Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone said.

The new contract represents a significant increase in revenues to Ole Miss Athletics from TeleSouth for marketing and broadcast fees.

“I have been pleased with the aggressive revenue generation TeleSouth has exhibited,” Boone said.  “In 2002 Ole Miss Athletics received $325,000 and in 2007 we received $810,000.  The first year of this contract the athletic department will receive a minimum of $1,050,000.  I’m confident in the continued strong growth of the revenue figure over the life of the contract.” 

TeleSouth is providing an additional $2.8 million in capital improvements, and additional financial considerations are based upon revenue generated by TeleSouth.  TeleSouth has also invested $2.25 million to procure the rights for the existing video board at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to further increase revenues to the University.

As the exclusive producer and distributor of Ole Miss sports programming, TeleSouth coordinates and distributes football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball radio broadcasts, weekly coaches’ call-in shows and weekly television shows for football and men’s basketball. TeleSouth oversees and employs Rebel Sports Marketing and is responsible for gameday experience at every Ole Miss athletics event. Official Ole Miss gameday publications are also published and distributed by TeleSouth.

“Additionally, TeleSouth provides the best radio coverage for athletics in Mississippi, assuring Ole Miss fans access to our sports programming,” Boone added.

TeleSouth will oversee management and advertising on the official athletics department web site, OleMissSports.com,  will provide production and operation of all video boards at each athletics venue and will coordinate broadcasts on XM Satellite Radio.  TeleSouth will also continue its responsibility for pay-per-view television production, gameday corporate promotions and hospitality functions.

“We are excited and honored to extend this long-standing relationship with Ole Miss Athletics,” said TeleSouth Vice-President Walker Jones.  “As a Mississippi company, we feel our expertise in managing multi-media rights and experience in marketing Ole Miss Athletics enhances our opportunity for continued success.”

According to Jones, TeleSouth will also be investing in several capital improvements at the University over the life of the contract, including the addition of LED ribbon boards at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and Tad Smith Coliseum, and additional funding for upgrades to the existing video board at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

TeleSouth Communications, Inc., is a multimillion dollar Mississippi corporation which owns and operates 15 radio stations in Mississippi, the Mississippi News Network made up of 62 radio stations, the Mississippi Agriculture Network that includes 25 stations, the top-rated talk radio network, SuperTalk Mississippi and the South Carolina News Network.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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