CFL U.S. rights go to... CBS Sports Network

[johnnyangryfuzzball]

https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/cfl-cbs ... -2023.html

34 of the league's games will end up on CBS Sports Network, which doesn't register in the Nielsens. The other 52, as of now, will be blacked out in America as CBS still owns the rights but hasn't found a place to put them (and you know they won't be putting them on the linear network... probably Paramount+ or, if we're really lucky, CBS Sports HQ, though I doubt it).

Odd. The only thing I can think is that CBS was desperate after Fox created the USFL (which NBC also staked) and ESPN staked the XFL.

[laxtreme56]

Supposedly CBS paid $1M for the rights making it the largest US deal to date. I wonder who will cover the rest of the games and if streaming will come into play. This is a step down from ESPN2 and basically lateral to ESPN News.

[DavedaHammer]

This is great news for the CFL because it doesn't have to be buried on the Mouse network anymore. ESPN never properly promoted the CFL especially during the Summer and the Labor Day Classic games. And ESPN paid very little to the CFL that used the TSN feed on it's ESPN platform.

I expect CBS to upgrade and expand it's sport network to on US cable.

The CFL did the correct thing by separating it's broadcast with two options to maximize it monetary revenue. The other remaining CFL games could go to Scripps Network since it acquired the WNBA TV rights or to the CW since it broadcasts LIV Golf. Lots of possibilities for Genius Sports to sell CFL rights to US media platforms

[DavedaHammer]

https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/cfl-cbs ... -2023.html

34 of the league's games will end up on CBS Sports Network, which doesn't register in the Nielsens. The other 52, as of now, will be blacked out in America as CBS still owns the rights but hasn't found a place to put them (and you know they won't be putting them on the linear network... probably Paramount+ or, if we're really lucky, CBS Sports HQ, though I doubt it).

Odd. The only thing I can think is that CBS was desperate after Fox created the USFL (which NBC also staked) and ESPN staked the XFL.

Is the CBS "desperate" if it wants to build up it's sport network with a more established league than those of one and done XFL/USFL leagues with poor ratings and attendance figures. It looks like that CBS wants to buy in the CFL at a low rate when other pro leagues want billions for it's broadcast rights. There could be more cross promotion with other CBS vehicles like it's regular TV shows on Paramount +, Nickelodeon "NCIS", Young Sheldon", "The Rookie" starring Edmonton native Nathan Fillion. Not to mention support from it's NFL broadcast partner like Brown, Romo, Nantz or Calgary born Nate Burleson. It a new venture with CBS than whatever ABC/ESPN/Disney did with the CFL

[DavedaHammer]

Supposedly CBS paid $1M for the rights making it the largest US deal to date. I wonder who will cover the rest of the games and if streaming will come into play. This is a step down from ESPN2 and basically lateral to ESPN News.

It's not a step down. There is a lot of possibilities for exposure for the CFL with a broadcast partner that actually tries to promote the league instead of burying it like ESPN has done to the CFL over the years. That was a reason why the NHL left ESPN in '03 because it never properly promoted the league much to dismay by Gary Bettman. Now ESPN has actually made efforts to promote the NHL along with paying a substantial amount of money to broadcast it. ESPN will dump the XFL with it's poor ratings and attendance figures after next year if the XFL doesn't improve it capability

[MGB01]

Supposedly CBS paid $1M for the rights making it the largest US deal to date. I wonder who will cover the rest of the games and if streaming will come into play. This is a step down from ESPN2 and basically lateral to ESPN News.

It's not a step down. There is a lot of possibilities for exposure for the CFL with a broadcast partner that actually tries to promote the league instead of burying it like ESPN has done to the CFL over the years. That was a reason why the NHL left ESPN in '03 because it never properly promoted the league much to dismay by Gary Bettman. Now ESPN has actually made efforts to promote the NHL along with paying a substantial amount of money to broadcast it. ESPN will dump the XFL with it's poor ratings and attendance figures after next year if the XFL doesn't improve it capability

Oh yeah make sure to get that flag-waving shot in there, nevermind the CFL's primary U.S. outlet (if any games end on CBS main it'll be to replace their SRX series, that's it) is where alt leagues go to die. We already got one on this board, and he's totally almost in tears over how much a non-thing the USFL is through two weeks (Recognize the real )

Yes I'm sure the CFL is just going to totally triple their viewership in the states with this move (to reach those "poor ratings" of the XFL you know). Matter of fact, ten years plus and three different networks and they've sometimes barely broken 100K, yet a cable outlet that isn't even on the Nielsens is totally their salvation.......................

Oh and The Rookie is on ABC, genius.

[MGB01]

And btw, I've mentioned this on more than one occasion, but since you're so gung ho about CBS' promotion you might want a reminder:

Gene Simmons was on CSI the week that the LA Kiss debuted, mentions of the Kiss or Arena League (even a quick ten-second "Watch the AFL on CBS Sports Network" after the show): a hard NONE. So wish in one hand and, well you know the rest.

[laxtreme56]

CBSSN also just signed a deal for the IFL championship game and the possibility for several regular season games during the season. CBSSN isn't a Nielsen rated network, so it's basically a hodgepodge of random sports with the video quality of a high school AV club. If the CFL can get the rest of its games streaming on Paramount+ I'd consider this a win, if not they're just sharing the room with the IFL and most likely Arena League 3.0 if/when they supposedly return next year

[nickp1991]

all regular games on ESPN+ was just fine and a nice one stop place

[DavedaHammer]

Supposedly CBS paid $1M for the rights making it the largest US deal to date. I wonder who will cover the rest of the games and if streaming will come into play. This is a step down from ESPN2 and basically lateral to ESPN News.

It's not a step down. There is a lot of possibilities for exposure for the CFL with a broadcast partner that actually tries to promote the league instead of burying it like ESPN has done to the CFL over the years. That was a reason why the NHL left ESPN in '03 because it never properly promoted the league much to dismay by Gary Bettman. Now ESPN has actually made efforts to promote the NHL along with paying a substantial amount of money to broadcast it. ESPN will dump the XFL with it's poor ratings and attendance figures after next year if the XFL doesn't improve it capability

Oh yeah make sure to get that flag-waving shot in there, nevermind the CFL's primary U.S. outlet (if any games end on CBS main it'll be to replace their SRX series, that's it) is where alt leagues go to die. We already got one on this board, and he's totally almost in tears over how much a non-thing the USFL is through two weeks (Recognize the real )

Yes I'm sure the CFL is just going to totally triple their viewership in the states with this move (to reach those "poor ratings" of the XFL you know). Matter of fact, ten years plus and three different networks and they've sometimes barely broken 100K, yet a cable outlet that isn't even on the Nielsens is totally their salvation.......................

Oh and The Rookie is on ABC, genius.

Nothing wrong being Canadian and being proudly Canadian.

Don't worry your alt league like the XFL will die a third time. The main reason the CFL doesn't break 100,000 viewers by your numbers is because ESPN has never promoted the CFL during the summer months. With a new partnership with CBS, the CFL being properly promoted by CBS can get half a million viewers easily. Maybe CBS has decided to upgrade it's sport network and is using the CFL as an anchor league to expand it's network brand.

The CFL has never needed to depend on the three US sport networks for revenue. The CFL's motive was for exposure for the league and recruitment for US players. The CFL is fully compensated by it's TSN contract for 50 million dollars. NFL GMs, scouts and players know of and watch the CFL, so that objective has been met. It's ESPN's failure to not advertise the CFL for Fan awareness. It only used the CFL as filler content just like what they are doing with the XFL currently. The CFL realizes this and has decided to move on

The CFL is being proactive by taking their product to another network to fully utilize a true partnership with a monetary stream, league promotion and servicing current and new US fans. That is good business. The NHL did the same thing in '03 when it partnership lapsed with ESPN, several years late they are back on ESPN with a richer deal.

The CFL is exploring the concept of streaming it's remaining game into the US on it's own if a US platform can't be located. All the better when it can keep all profits generated as it broadcast it's own games and stream in to the US and UK market since the ESPN is affiliated with Britain's SKY Network and the CFL deal has ended there. Meaning CFL 2.0 is still active.

You aren't a genius to assume that if I mistakenly thought "The Rookie" was on CBS only makes it that I don't watch the TV show