Air National Guard Named Official Armed Services Partner of Big Ten Conference

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network (BTN) today announced the addition of Air National Guard as an official partner of the Big Ten Conference. Air National Guard becomes the Official Armed Services Partner of the Big Ten Conference, as well as the presenting sponsor of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships and On The Mat, BTN's multi-platform storytelling franchise focused on Big Ten wrestling.

"In welcoming Air National Guard as the Official Armed Services Partner of the Big Ten Conference, we are proud to associate with an organization committed to leadership and service as we work together to highlight Big Ten wrestling and basketball," said Big Ten Chief Operating Officer Kerry Kenny.

Beginning next week, the Air National Guard will present the Big Ten Men's Basketball Player of The Week and Freshman of the Week awards. In addition to their sponsorship of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships, Air National Guard will also have a significant presence at the Big Ten Football Championship Game Fan Fest and the Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, including in-arena and television visible signage, as well as media assets on BTN.

As the primary combat-ready reserve of the Air Force, the Air National Guard provides mission-ready Airmen to safeguard the homeland, serve communities and execute global operations.

"The partnership with the Big Ten Network represents a significant step in broadening the Air National Guard's recruiting outreach," said Lt. Col. Robert Fore, Air National Guard director of marketing at the Air Force Recruiting Service. "By partnering with Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Network, the ANG is positioned to connect and engaged with a loyal audience, furthering our mission of recruiting the next generation of ANG Airmen. This initiative is more than just about brand visibility; it's about building a connection with future Airmen of the Air National Guard."

"As interest and viewership in Big Ten wrestling continues to grow, as seen by audience records the past two seasons, we are looking forward to working with Air National Guard to cover the conference's attempt at a 17^th consecutive national championship," said BTN President François McGillicuddy.

About the Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men's ice hockey and men's and women's lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.

About Air National Guard

The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the United States Air Force that provides trained individuals to support national defense and disaster response efforts. Members of the ANG serve part-time, one weekend a month and two weeks a year, in addition to being available to assist their state and community during emergencies. The Air National Guard offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth, including educational benefits, on-the-job training, and leadership development. By joining the ANG, individuals have the chance to serve their country and make a positive impact on their community while also maintaining a civilian career or pursuing further education. The Air National Guard remains a key component of the nation's military readiness and a frontline responder in domestic emergencies, upholding its motto to be "Always Ready, Always There. For more information, visit www.airforce.com

About The Big Ten Network

A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 2,200 live events across all platforms, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The Fox Sports App is the digital extension of the Big Ten Network, delivering live games and on-demand programming to Big Ten Network customers via the web, smartphones, and tablets. Network events include football, men's and women's basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events, studio shows and classic games. With over 1,700 events annually, B1G+ is the subscription streaming service for thousands of live non-televised games, next day on-demand archives, 14 school channels programmed 24 hours a day and access to Big Ten Network's library of previous season classics and original programming. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments from some of the nation's finest universities, including the Emmy-nominated The Journey. The network is carried by all the major video distributors across the United States and Canada, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon Fios, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, Cox Contour TV, Mediacom, Astound Broadband and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. Big Ten Network is also available through the majority of streaming providers, including DIRECTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV. For additional information, please visit www.btn.com.