CAA reaches TV deal with NBC Sports Network
Mike Moore brings the ball down the court during a game against Binghamton. (Dec. 17, 2011) Credit: Joe Rogate
The Colonial Athletic Association on Monday announced a five-year television deal with the NBC Sports Network for football and basketball beginning with the 2012-13 academic year. The CAA is the first college conference to partner with NBC's new all-sports network formerly known as Versus.
Instead of just getting the basketball tournament title game on ESPN2, the CAA semifinals and finals will be nationally televised by NBC Sports Network. The deal includes five national regular-season football games and 13 on Comcast regional networks, as well as 39 regionally televised men's and women's basketball games. In addition, the NBCSports.com digital platform is available to each school for streaming video telecasts of more games.
Hofstra athletic director Jack Hayes, who was part of the negotiating committee, said, "It's going to lead to more opportunities to be on TV and, hopefully, more opportunities to be on TV in New York. We're getting in on ground level with NBC to help it grow. They have the Olympics this summer to increase visibility, so, the timing was very favorable for the CAA."
CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said the number of national exposures for basketball increases from eight to between 12 and 18 exposures on NBC Sports Network. An exception allows CAA teams to host ESPN bracketbusters games, and Yeager noted that CAA teams still will get ESPN exposure as part of that network's deals with other conferences.
No financial details were released, but Yeager said the money is "significantly enhanced" over the expiring ESPN deal. Hofstra's Hayes added, "It's better financially, but the additional appearances made the difference."
