US cable-television channel the CBS Sports Network, which is operated by the CBS network, has acquired rights for the Arena Football League, the US indoor American football league.
The deal will run for two seasons, 2013 and 2014.
CBS Sports Network will show 19 regular-season games during the 2013 season, including the league’s Saturday night ‘game of the week’ in primetime, as well as two playoff games.
The main CBS network channel will also broadcast the ArenaBowl XXVI championship game on August 17, 2013.
CBS will replace NFL Network, the pay-television broadcaster owned by the NFL American football league, as the Arena Football League’s national broadcast partner in the US.
“One of the many noteworthy aspects of this partnership is that we will have an increased ability to showcase our west coast teams,” the league’s commissioner, Jerry Kurz, said. “In addition, closing the season with ArenaBowl XXVI on CBS is something that our millions of fans can look forward to with great anticipation.”