Will CBS renew their TV rights to UConn games?

[UCFBfan]

We should be finding out next week if CBSSN renewed their deal with UConn or not… last week of May is typically when we get kick times from the networks for weeks 0-3 and select games throughout the remainder of the season. UConn has announced their full CBSSN kick time and tv coverage allotment during this week during the prior four years of the deal.

Gotta be honest, the fact that we haven’t heard anything on this front makes me pretty nervous

If they didn’t renew… Turner would be my first call. They’re diving back into CFB content with losing the NBA and have an existing relationship with the Big East from the hoops side (and are going to be broadcast Big 12 games sub-licensed from ESPN starting this year)

Other options include ESPN+ (yuck) or SNY (also yuck) or insert any random streaming service here

Our ability to schedule P4 home opponents is directly tied to being on linear, nationally available TV channels though - will be a requirement if we are going to keep this thing going as an independent and building quality schedules

If we don't have a deal with CBSSN, it's time to find a conference, and no I'm not saying find that magic P4 home. We can't wander around this wasteland without some sort of TV income. So if we have to join C-USA (vomit) to get some sort of revenue, we have to explore it.

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

If we don't have a deal with CBSSN, it's time to find a conference, and no I'm not saying find that magic P4 home. We can't wander around this wasteland without some sort of TV income. So if we have to join C-USA (vomit) to get some sort of revenue, we have to explore it.

I don't think we're at that point, nor do I think UConn leadership is at that point either.

 

[Fishy]

If we don't have a deal with CBSSN, it's time to find a conference, and no I'm not saying find that magic P4 home. We can't wander around this wasteland without some sort of TV income. So if we have to join C-USA (vomit) to get some sort of revenue, we have to explore it.

The revenue from the CBS deal is basically nothing.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

If we don't have a deal with CBSSN, it's time to find a conference, and no I'm not saying find that magic P4 home. We can't wander around this wasteland without some sort of TV income. So if we have to join C-USA (vomit) to get some sort of revenue, we have to explore it.

I think eventually we join the PAC12 football-only for half a share but we’ll wait as long as possible

 

[pepband99]

My gut says that they renew. AFAIK, CBSSN is losing/has lost Army and Navy, or at least some of those games, due to them moving to conferences. They need the inventory, and we don't cost much.

 

[Palatine]

According to Gemini (google AI) the contract extends through 2025.

 

[DoctorWho85]

why is ESPN+ so bad?
though it has the "ESPN" badge on it, it looks and feels like crap many times, especially for G5 games.

I will never forget that time we played at FIU in 2022 (ESPN+) and it looked like a snow game with the horrible reflection/white balance on the field. could barely see the uconn players who were dressed in white that night.

Don't forget to mention that with ESPN+ the school has to pay all production costs and provide all the equipment. ESPN just gives them a "place" to show their games. They do nothing but provide commentary and not good commentary at that.

I will take CBSSN over literally all of ESPN.

 

[UConnJim]

Because many schools on ESPN+ foot the bill for production and they go cheap. Sort of like FIU and Rice where it looked like the game was on public access cable.

It’s amazing that people take Rice so seriously.

Have you ever watched UConn+? UConn does a pretty good job of producing content. That said, the production is not as good as CBSSN or being on ESPN channels.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Which other network will pick us up if CBS doesn't?

If we go undefeated I’d say there’s lots of possibilities.

 

[Drew]

The revenue from the CBS deal is basically nothing.

There are probably a good number of people on this board who will make more this year than UConn made from CBSSN last year.

We basically make the equivalent of a PE Associate without carry from this deal

 

[Palatine]

True but the exposure is good. We can actually draw incidental audience on CBS Sports. Nobody watches ESPN+ games by accident.

 

[CL82]

True but the exposure is good. We can actually draw incidental audience on CBS Sports. Nobody watches ESPN+ games by accident.

The fact that the deal exists is probably worth more to us than the revenue we get from it.

 

[Drew]

True but the exposure is good. We can actually draw incidental audience on CBS Sports. Nobody watches ESPN+ games by accident.

The fact that the deal exists is probably worth more to us than the revenue we get from it.

100%. And I pray we keep the national linear component as it’s the primary reason we’re able to get the P4 home games we’ve gotten.

 

[Ldandy]

The revenue from the CBS deal is basically nothing.

Pretty much. The real payment is maintaining national visibility.

 

[Hoophound]

The CBS deal is a badge of honor. We make almost as much from football as CUSA schools make for everything. Given where our football program has been, it’s not bad at all. There is no significant place to be for football other than the P4.

Our deal makes us unique and provides us a shred of dignity for the time being. Don’t forget, we get to be in the Big East, where we’ve been killing it in bball, as a result of being a football Indy. We all want the P4 money and a solid football program, but we have the best alternative of any non P4 school.

 

[businesslawyer]

why is ESPN+ so bad?
though it has the "ESPN" badge on it, it looks and feels like crap many times, especially for G5 games.

I will never forget that time we played at FIU in 2022 (ESPN+) and it looked like a snow game with the horrible reflection/white balance on the field. could barely see the uconn players who were dressed in white that night.

ESPN provides the internet platform. The schools themselves produce the broadcast and decide how much money and effort they want to put into it

 

[Waquoit]

I like saying we have our own deal with a linear (not streaming) network. Us and Notre Dame.

 

[Palatine]

The deal depends on the opponents, P4 opponents net around 100k. CCSU nets less. All told it's 500k, plus or minus. Gives us the dough to buy decent opponents. If that gets us more fans in the seats, drives interest, it is a definite win.

 

[Gburyhusky]

Press release indicates CBS Sports Network will carry all home games except CCSU

 

[Drew]

 

[Drew]

Full home kickoff time list:

 

[LetsGoUC]

So with another solid year this season and as an Indy, any chance we can secure a somewhat decent media deal moving forward? We basically get 500K a year, but that was when we were absolutely terrible. Can we get maybe a few million per year after this contract expires this season?

 

[Drew]

So with another solid year this season and as an Indy, any chance we can secure a somewhat decent media deal moving forward? We basically get 500K a year, but that was when we were absolutely terrible. Can we get maybe a few million per year after this contract expires this season?

The contract states that CBSSN has to renew in 2 year increments so presumably they renewed for this year and next. They also have another 2 year extension option after that which they’ll have to let us know by Jan 2027 if they’re picking up. They also have first right of refusal if and when we go to market to find a new TV deal should they decline the initial 2 year extension option.

I’d imagine CBS will pick up the second 2 year option (its a great deal for them to pay ~$500k a year and broadcast multiple P4 games) and then UConn/CBS will come to the table to get an extension done for 2029 and beyond assuming we’re still Independent as the Navy CBSSN deal expires in 2027 and Army expires in 2028.

I’d love UConn to try to negotiate 1-2 games annually on big CBS as part of the renewal deal. Play Friday night, Saturday at Noon or Sunday of Labor Day weekend on CBS against a P4 opponent and then take the CBS spot that the current service academy games get (Air Force v Navy and Air Force v Army typically wind up on big CBS at 12pm ET before the 3:30 window).