CBS Sports Network Becomes PBR’s Primary Television Partner with Multi-year Agreement

CBS Sports Network has reached a multi-year television agreement with Professional Bull Riders (PBR) beginning in 2012. The agreement makes CBS Sports Network the primary television partner of PBR with 27 live events televised throughout the year. The announcement was made by David Berson, Executive Vice President, CBS Sports, and President, CBS Sports Network, and PBR President & COO Sean Gleason.

CBS Sports Network will air over 55 hours of live event programming each year beginning on Saturday, Jan. 7 with the Madison Square Garden Invitational from New York City. On Monday, Jan. 9, the Network debuts an exclusive weekly highlight program that will continue each Monday throughout the season. As part of the deal, CBS Sports expands its PBR coverage broadcasting eight one-hour shows on the CBS Television Network.

“Our new partnership with PBR is a milestone in the evolution of CBS Sports Network,” said Berson. “Bull Riding is a rapidly growing sport and we’re thrilled to begin a new long-term relationship with PBR and its passionate fan base. This deal helps us reach a broader audience as we continue to grow the Network and significantly expand our live programming.”

“CBS Sports Network is an ideal network partner for PBR,” Gleason said.  “Our fans wanted more live programming, consistent timeslots, and continued enhancements in how the events are presented on television.  CBS Sports Network is an aggressive, growing sports network that allows PBR to deliver against all of those objectives.”

The agreement makes CBS Sports Network the official sales agent of the PBR across all television inventory available to PBR through various network agreements.  The Network will serve as sales representative to both official PBR sponsors and general advertisers, providing these partners with integrated sponsorship and media packages.

PBR will announce additional television partners for select performances from the Built Ford Tough Series in the coming days.  The full CBS Sports Network PBR programming schedule is included below.

“Beyond delivering programming to PBR fans when and how they want it, the relationship with CBS Sports Network delivers tremendous value to our corporate partners and advertisers,” said Gleason.  “We’re in a position to offer integrated sponsorship and advertising packages for the first time in our history.  We’re confident our unique relationship with CBS Sports Network will result in a higher return on investment for all of our valued partners.”

Built Ford Tough Series telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.

Returning for his sixth season as the play-by-play broadcaster is Craig Hummer, who will be joined each week by one color commentator. The color commentators will be nine-time World Champion and PBR co-founder Ty Murray, two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride, and PBR Ring of Honor member J.W. Hart. The behind-the-chutes reporters will be Leah Garcia, who has worked for the PBR since 2004, and Marty Snider, who has covered PBR events, including the Built Ford Tough World Finals, each of the last two years.