CBS, the Paramount-owned US commercial network, has announced the expansion of its broadcast sub-license with Disney’s ESPN sports network that expands its partnership with the Big 12 collegiate sports conference.
Running through the 2026-27 college basketball season CBS will now, through its CBS Sports Network, air at least 20 more Big 12 men’s basketball games per season, expanding on the previous commitment of six to make a new minimum seasonal commitment of 26 games.
These games will be nationally televised on CBS Sports’ linear channel, and will be available across its range of platforms.
Speaking on the expanded sub-license, CBS Sports executive vice-president for programming Dan Weinberg stated: “This is a tremendous opportunity to add 20 high-quality games from a premier conference to our schedule and we are thrilled to increase the number of Big 12 basketball games across our CBS Sports platforms.
“CBS Sports continues to be the home for big-time college basketball."
Alongside Big 12 CBS Sports also holds college basketball rights for the iconic “March Madness” NCAA Championship, the landmark event on the college basketball calendar, through 2032 in a major lucrative deal coming into effect this year, having ran as the competition’s broadcaster since 2010.
This expanded sub-license has likely come into place due to the increased fixture commitment for the Big 12 teams in 2025.
The 2024-25 campaign will be the first in the conference’s history to feature 16 teams, following the addition of Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah to the 14-team 2024 conference lineup, alongside Oklahoma and Texas departing for the rival SEC conference.
Big 12 rights are primarily held by ESPN on a deal now set to run through June 2031, having been renewed in 2023.
ESPN has held Big 12 rights since 2012 on what was a 12-year contract.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark added: “Growing our presence on CBS Sports will deliver Big 12 basketball to even more fans across the country.
“The additional nationally televised games will continue to grow our brand as the best conference in college basketball and showcase the elite student-athletes and programs from our 16 institutions.”
Big 12 is one of the elite men’s basketball conference, boasting a number of NCAA National Championship winners such as the four-time winners Kansas, two-time winners Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and one-time winners Arizona, Baylor, and Utah.
