CBS secures basketball rights to ‘old’ Big East conference

The CBS Sports division of US network CBS has extended a rights deal for men’s basketball games in the soon-to-be-renamed Big East college sports conference.

The agreement will run for seven years, from 2013-14 to 2019-20.

The agreement is worth a total of between $21 million (€16.2 million) to $22 million, or about $3 million per year, and includes live rights for up to 12 games per year, according to the CBS Sports website.

“We are delighted to be extending the historic and successful relationship that we have enjoyed with CBS Sports since 1983,” Big East commissioner Mike Aresco said. “This agreement further illustrates the excitement and anticipation that surround the re-invention of our conference, and it will provide our fans across the country the opportunity to watch our games on network television.”

The conference is currently engaged in a realignment and rebranding process that will culminate in the announcement of a new name later this spring.