A new over-the-air sports channel is launching in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area, beginning its programming slate with exclusive Missouri football shows and other gridiron-centric content.
Matrix Midwest, launched by Gray Media in tandem with KMOV (Channel 4), will be freely available locally as Channel 32 — Channel 186 on Spectrum/Charter — and include a new pre- and postgame shows for Mizzou football games this season.
Called “Mizzou Live†and sponsored by Paytient, the shows will feature Justin Gage, a former two-sport star for the Tigers who was drafted by the NFL’s Chicago Bears in 2003. Matrix Midwest’s pregame show will air for the hour before kickoff and go live immediately following each game.
While the show will originate from ºüÀêÊÓƵ, it will be available across the state through partnerships with other stations: KSMO in Kansas City, KZOU in Columbia, KFVS-TOO in Cape Girardeau, KYCW in Springfield, WGEM in Hannibal and ONPN/News-Press NOW in St. Joseph.
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MU coach Eli Drinkwitz will consistently appear on the show, as will players and media personalities. The new network partnered with Mizzou athletics and Learfield to create the programming.
“This innovative partnership with KMOV-TV, Matrix Midwest and Gray Media will be fantastic for our fanbase all across our great state,†Missouri athletics director Laird Veatch said in a statement. “Having the Mizzou brand on television in such a unique way each game week during ‘Mizzou Live’ will grow our presence from ºüÀêÊÓƵ to Kansas City and everywhere in between. We appreciate KMOV’s commitment to helping us continue to grow and evolve.â€
The pre- and postgame shows will make their debuts with the Tigers’ Aug. 29 season opener against Murray State.
Matrix Midwest will also carry a new television broadcast version of “Tiger Talk,†the weekly radio show featuring Drinkwitz, assistant coaches and players. Radio play-by-play voice Mike Kelly hosts the show, which will continue to take place live at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Bud’s Classic BBQ in downtown Columbia.
The first “Tiger Talk†show of the 2024 athletics year will take place Aug. 27.
As the NFL season begins, Matrix Midwest will also carry “Good Morning Football: Overtime†from the NFL Network, which airs every weekday morning from 9 to 11 a.m.
With the Democratic National Convention airing Thursday night on KMOV, the Kansas City Chiefs’ 7:20 p.m. preseason game against the Chicago Bears will instead be available on Matrix Midwest.
Other future sports programming collaborations with the new channel include the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues, ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC, the Chiefs, HBCU Go Sports, Raycom Sports and the Harlem Globetrotters, according to a news release.
Entertainment shows such as “Extra,†“Entertainment Tonight,†“Great Day ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†“My ºüÀêÊÓƵ Live†and MyNetworkTV shows will also air on Matrix Midwest.
“There’s a hunger for more unique sports and entertainment content in the Midwest,†KMOV general manager and Vice President JD Sosnoff said in a statement. “We’re proud to provide another local platform to give our community what they want.â€