CBS Sports, Big Ten Agree To Contract Extension For Basketball
CHICAGO (CBS) CBS Sports and the Big Ten conference have agreed to a multi-year contract extension for the broadcast rights to the conference's basketball games through the 2016-17 season, the two sides announced on Thursday.
"We are delighted to extend our Big Ten basketball agreement, which has been a cornerstone of our regular-season NCAA basketball coverage," Mike Aresco, Executive Vice President, Programming for CBS Sports, said in a statement. "We have an outstanding and longstanding relationship with the Big Ten and Commissioner Jim Delany, and look forward to many more seasons of broadcasting the rivalries, pageantry and high quality competition of the Big Ten."
The agreement, which starts with the 2011-12 season, calls for at least 24 appearances by Big Ten teams, including three Big Ten wildcard weekends. CBS will also continue to broadcast the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal and championship games, as well as appearances by various women's teams from the conference.
"CBS has been a great partner and has provided outstanding exposure for the Big Ten since 1991, giving our coaches and student-athletes opportunities to compete on the national stage," Delany said. "We love having CBS Sports involved in our regular-season and tournament coverage with our championship game leading into the NCAA Selection Show."
CBS Sports is the network of the Big Ten, Big East, Pac-10 and Southeastern conferences.
