October 7, 2021
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Annual award to recognize aspiring female student broadcaster on BTN Student U

INDIANAPOLIS — During his opening address at 2021 Big Ten Basketball Media Days, Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren announced the conference, in collaboration with the Big Ten Network, has created an award named for broadcasting trailblazer Lisa Byington. The award will be presented annually to the most outstanding female student broadcaster working on BTN Student U through BTN’s digital platform, B1G+.

“We are incredibly grateful for all that Lisa has given us at the Big Ten Conference and through the Big Ten Network,” Warren said. “She is a pioneer in the field of sports broadcasting and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, passion and dedication. Lisa has inspired countless young women and it is our hope this award will serve as a stepping stone for the next generation of talented broadcasters.”

“I’m a broadcaster and I make my living on saying words, and I’m a little speechless right now,” Byington said. “It starts with small beginnings, and it starts with people believing in you and giving you opportunities. This award means the world and I look forward to meeting with the recipient each year and getting to know her.”

Byington, a 1997 Northwestern graduate, was a two-sport student-athlete for the Wildcats in basketball and soccer. She has been at BTN since the network’s inception in 2007 and has broadcast numerous Big Ten sports for BTN in that time. Byington also became the first female play-by-play broadcaster for Big Ten football in 2017 and the first female play-by-play voice for an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament game in 2021. In September 2021, she was chosen as the first female play-by-play television broadcaster for an NBA franchise, having joined the broadcast team for the NBA world champion Milwaukee Bucks.

“Since day one at the Big Ten Network, Lisa’s work as a broadcaster and an ambassador for the Big Ten Conference has been outstanding,” said Big Ten Network President François McGillicuddy. “Along with her accomplishments and the relationships developed over nearly 15 years, this award will ensure Lisa’s impact is felt at our network and across the industry for years to come.”

The recipient of the Lisa Byington Award will receive a one-week professional immersion at the Big Ten Network studios in Chicago and will have the opportunity to work with BTN talent and producers to develop and record segments for a broadcast reel.

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About the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference (bigten.org) 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, 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 $240 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. 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.

About 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 1,700 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. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of 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 State and Canada, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Xfinity, Altice USA, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. Big Ten Network is also available through the majority of streaming providers, including AT&T TV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, TVision, Vidgo and YouTube TV. For additional information, please visit www.btn.com.

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