CBS Sports Network Inks Deal with American Athletic Conference

CBS Sports Network has acquired the rights to telecast college football and basketball games from the American Athletic Conference through a sub-licensing agreement with ESPN. The multi-year agreement begins with the 2013-14 college basketball season and continues through 2019-20.

The deal provides for 30 men’s basketball games per year, except for the first year, which calls for 25 games. CBS Sports Network also will telecast a minimum of 13, and maximum of 15 football games beginning with the 2014 season.

“We are pleased and excited about this ESPN-CBS agreement, which provides our member institutions unprecedented national exposure on the industry leaders in college sports,” says American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco. “CBS Sports Network is another outstanding national platform for our schools, and we thank ESPN for its role in making this agreement possible. We look forward to giving our fans the best seat in the house as we compete on the biggest stage in college sports in this, our inaugural season as the American, and for many years to come.”

“This deal adds high quality college football and basketball games to CBS Sports Network’s already extensive line-up of live event programming,” says David Berson, President, CBS Sports. “We’re proud to extend our relationship with the American Athletic Conference and look forward to showcasing exciting action on CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network beginning this season.”

With this deal, CBS Sports Network’s 2013-14 college basketball schedule includes five games featuring defending NCAA Champion Louisville.  The agreement also includes five women’s basketball games per year with three appearances this season by defending NCAA Women’s Champion UConn.  Earlier this year, CBS Sports also signed a long-term deal to broadcast American Athletic Conference men’s basketball games.