Feb. 12, 2013

AMHERST, Mass. - With winter sports hitting their stretch runs, the University of Massachusetts athletic department has unveiled the spring 2013 schedule on CBS 3 Now. For the third straight year, UMass will produce television broadcasts of men's and women's lacrosse, softball, baseball, tennis, and track and field to air on CBS 3 Now in Western Massachusetts.

CBS 3 Now, CBS 3 Springfield's 24-hour digital subchannel, is available on Comcast channel 293, Charter channel 290, UMass Amherst campus channel 79, and over-the-air on digital channel 3.6. The broadcasts will be produced and directed through the UMass Athletic Department and will be simulcast through the CBS College Sports All-Access feed. UMass will be employing multiple cameras, graphics and replays for these broadcasts.

The four-time defending Atlantic 10 champion women's lacrosse team will open its 2013 home slate with a televised contest against LIU-Brooklyn on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. UMass tennis fans can tune in and watch the Minutewomen take on Binghamton on March 3. A pair of remaining home men's lacrosse games will be broadcast on CBS 3 Now including CAA matchups against ranked opponents Penn State (March 16) and Drexel (April 13). Fans can also tune in and catch two softball doubleheaders on back-to-back weekends (March 31 vs. St. Bonaventure and April 7 vs. La Salle) as well as a pair of baseball games vs. A-10 rivals Saint Joseph's (April 28) and Fordham (May 5). Additionally, a tape-delayed broadcast of UMass track and field's Pre-Conference Meet (April 27) will air on May 3.

Additional contests may be added to the CBS 3 Now schedule at a later date as both women's lacrosse and softball will host their respective Atlantic 10 championships later this spring.

When UMass sporting events are not airing, the station will continue to broadcast local weather updates. CBS 3 Springfield is the "Official Television Home of UMass Athletics," airing the "UMass Sports Insider" television show at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

The games broadcast on CBS 3 Now will not conflict with UMass' existing television agreements such as the Atlantic 10 with ESPN, CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Group and Hockey East with NESN.

About CBS 3 Springfield:
CBS 3 Springfield is the CBS television affiliate for the Pioneer Valley and Western Massachusetts. CBS 3 Springfield is committed to serving the cities and towns of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties with local news, weather, public service announcements and advertising opportunities. CBS 3 Springfield (WSHM) is owned and operated by Meredith Broadcasting Group, part of the Meredith Corporation. CBS 3 Springfield signed on the air in November 2003.