CBS Signs Sublicense Agreement with Fox Sports for Big East Basketball Games

Catching up on a few things from earlier this week. This came as no surprise. After Fox signed a contract with the new Big East Conference earlier this year, one of the features of the deal was that the network could sublicense games to another network. That other network will be CBS which has had a presence with many of these schools dating back to the old Big East’s inception.

Under this deal that begins with the 2013-14 season and will last until the 2018-19 season, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network will carry as many as 30 games. This season only, CBS/CBS Sports Network will air a combined 20 games with CBSSN taking 18 of those. For the rest of the contract, CBS can air as many as five games with CBSSN taking the rest.

CBS’ two Big East games this season will be Butler at Georgetown on February 8 and Marquette at Villanova in March. This gives CBS Sports Network at least two women’s conference basketball games as well as various Olympic sports.

We have the press release from CBS Sports.

big east logoCBS SPORTS SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL TO BROADCAST BIG EAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL

BIG EAST Games to be Featured on CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network  via Sublicense Deal with Fox Sports
2013-14 Schedule Features Multiple Appearances by Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova and St. John’s

CBS Sports has acquired the rights to televise BIG EAST Conference college basketball games on the CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network through a sublicensing agreement with Fox Sports. The multi-year agreement begins with the 2013-14 college basketball season and continues through 2018-19.

Beginning with the 2014-15 season, the deal provides for up to 30 men’s basketball games per year combined on CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network. CBS Sports can broadcast up to five games each year, with CBS Sports Network airing the remaining contests as part of the agreement.

In the first year of the deal for the 2013-14 season, CBS Sports will broadcast two games and CBS Sports Network will air 18 match-ups. Both CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network will have access to non-conference and conference games. Also, CBS Sports Network will air a minimum of two women’s games per year, as well as select Olympic sports.

We are excited about our new agreement with Fox, which extends our 30-year relationship with the BIG EAST Conference,” said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. “Today’s announcement continues our recent string of new agreements strengthening our programming, and further solidifying CBS Sports as the leader in college basketball.”

CBS Sports’ two BIG EAST games include Butler at Georgetown on Saturday, Feb. 8 (1:00 PM, ET) and Marquette at Villanova on Sunday, March 2 (2:00 PM, ET).  CBS Sports Network’s 2013-14 slate of BIG EAST games includes multiple appearances from Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova and St. John’s. Highlights include:

  • ? Villanova at Seton Hall – Wednesday, Jan. 8
  • ? Georgetown at Xavier – Wednesday, Jan. 15
  • ? Marquette at Butler – Saturday, Jan. 18
  • ? Seton Hall at St. John’s Thursday, Jan. 23
  • ? Georgetown at Seton Hall – Thursday, Feb. 20

And here’s the 2013-14 Big East schedule for CBS and CBS Sports Network.

CBS SportsCBS Sports Network II
|CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network 2013-14 BIG EAST Conference
Basketball Schedule
(All Times Eastern)

Nov. 13 (Wed)

Mount St. Mary’s at Villanova

7:00 PM

Nov. 21 (Thurs)

New Hampshire at Marquette

8:00 PM

Dec. 17 (Tue)

Elon at Georgetown

7:00 PM

Jan. 4 (Sat)

DePaul at Marquette

2:00 PM

Jan. 8 (Wed)

Villanova at Seton Hall

7:00 PM

Jan. 12 (Sun)

Xavier at Creighton

3:00 PM

Jan. 15 (Wed)

Georgetown at Xavier

7:00 PM

Jan. 18 (Sat)

Marquette at Butler

2:00 PM

Jan. 23 (Thur)

Seton Hall at St. John’s

7:00 PM

Jan. 25 (Sat)

DePaul at Seton Hall

6:00 PM

Feb. 1 (Sat)

Seton Hall at Xavier

12:00 PM

Feb. 8 (Sat)

Butler at Georgetown (CBS)

1:00 PM

Feb. 13 (Thurs)

Creighton at Butler

7:00 PM

Feb. 19 (Wed)

DePaul at Xavier

7:00 PM

Feb. 20 (Thurs)

Georgetown at Seton Hall

9:00 PM

Feb. 22 (Sat)

Marquette at DePaul

6:00 PM

Feb. 28 (Fri)

Providence at Seton Hall

7:00 PM

March 2 (Sun)

DePaul at St. John’s

12:00 PM

March 2 (Sun)

Marquette at Villanova (CBS)

2:00 PM

March 8 (Sat)

Providence at Creighton

7:30 PM

That is all.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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