WTNH-TV, Channel 8, will pay the University of Connecticut $2.4 million over the next three years to televise men's basketball games.

The deal was announced Wednesday by UConn athletic director Lew Perkins, who said, "This agreement makes a very strong statement about the value of our men's basketball program to our division of athletics and to the entire university community."

The contract covers the 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons. Channel 8 recently completed the final season of a five-year agreement.

Although the total value of the contract is $2.4 million, not all is in cash. Some is in bonuses, revenue sharing, donations and advertising trade-offs.

In straight rights fees, the contract calls for Channel 8 to pay UConn $51,000 a game for a minimum of 11 games a season. UConn also will receive $3,000 for each of a minimum 13 coach's shows featuring UConn's Jim Calhoun.

According to some of the other stipulations, Channel 8 must:

Pay UConn a bonus based upon the team's final ranking in the USA Today poll. The bonuses are as follows: No. 1, $50,000; No. 2-5, $25,000; No. 6-10, $15,000; No. 11-20, $10,000, No. 21-25, $5,000.

Pay UConn 10 percent of all gross revenue in excess of $130,000 derived from live game telecasts. (Channel 8 has the option of rebroadcasting games within 24 hours of the original game.)

Provide UConn with about 129 free 30-second commercial spots each year of the contract in sports and news programming.

Include a two-minute "UConn Sports" segment each week in its Sunday night "Sports Extra" program.

Produce a videotape that UConn can use for promotional purposes.

Channel 8 must Join "The UConn Club" at the MVP level -- $5,000.Donate $5,000 to the UConn Club.

Provide UConn with a trip for two each year of the contract. UConn can use the trips in conjunction with a contest or promotion.

Channel 8 was determined to be the top bidder for the contract

in January. Since then, fine points of the contract have been negotiated. The deal also had to be reviewed by various state agencies. WFSB-TV, Channel 3, and WVIT-TV, Channel 30, also bid for the rights

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