SHU to be Home of New Vantage Sports Network

New Haven, Conn. –  Frontier Communications and Sacred Heart University (SHU) this week celebrated the successful launch of Vantage Sports Network (VSN-CT), a new all-local channel dedicated to bringing viewers year-round coverage of Connecticut’s high school, collegiate and youth sports.

The channel, exclusive to Frontier’s Vantage TV™ customers, broadcasts live games from across the state and features a nightly live highlights show called CT Sports NOW. Content and programming is being developed by Noah Finz, former WTNH Sports Director and owner of Finz Creative Programming.

“Vantage Sports Network is a great example of Frontier Communications’ commitment to providing our customers with a superior entertainment experience,” said Paul Quick, SVP and General Manager for Frontier’s Connecticut Operations. “This channel not only allows people to catch their favorite local games, but it allows us to continue our community, athletic and academic partnerships – something that is very important to us and the customers we serve.”

Frontier and VSN-CT have also partnered with Sacred Heart University, which serves as the official home of the VSN-CT studio (located inside SHU’s state-of-the art TV studios at the Frank and Marisa Martire Business & Communications Center). This partnership also involves two full-time SHU graduate students and approximately a dozen undergraduates who work and volunteer with VSN-CT doing field producing, editing, directing and control room management. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students interested in working the sports broadcasting industry to gain valuable, hands-on involvement that will allow them to enter the job market with solid, relevant experience on their resumes,” said Noah Finz. “I’ve been working with these students day-in and day-out for the past few weeks, and I am extraordinarily impressed with their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for making VSN-CT a top-notch production.”

Wednesday’s launch event was attended by students, faculty and staff from SHU, including Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Valentine, Frontier leadership, including President & CEO Daniel McCarthy, and special guests Congressman Jim Himes, State Senator Tony Hwang, State Representative Cristin McCarthy-Vahey, State Representative Laura Devlin, State Representative Dave Rutigliano, Fairfield First Selectman Michael Tetreau and George Norfleet from the Department of Economic Development. The pep-rally style event was also supported by SHU’s cheerleading squad and the students who work at VSN-CT, who were recognized during the event and provided tours of the studio to interested guests. The crowd also included dozens of athletic directors and coaches from colleges and school systems across the state and representatives from Frontier’s many athletic-related partnerships .

“With its state-of the-art facilities, professionally trained faculty and dynamic internship possibilities, Sacred Heart University provides its sports media students with an excellent academic foundation. Building on this tradition, we are very excited about our partnership with Frontier Communications and the Vantage Sports Network,” said Andrew Miller, associate professor of communication and media studies at SHU. “It is a tremendous opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Communication and Media Arts to get hands-on experience producing a professional sports show. If you want to go into the sports media field, there isn’t a school that’s better located than Sacred Heart University.”

Current Vantage TV customers can watch VSN-CT on channels 600 or 1600 (HD). Prospective customers looking for information on Vantage TV should visit http://frontier.com/VantageTV.