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CSTV to become the CBS College Sports Network
Reorganization of college sports properties will bring the CBS Sports brand to cable television
Network to feature new mix of original programming, including "College Sports Tonight," a news and information hour covering world of collegiate athletics
CBS Sports today announced a comprehensive reorganization of its college sports operations, incorporating the cable, broadcast and online activities of College Sports Television (CSTV) into its world-famous brand.
Effective March 2008, CSTV will become the CBS College Sports Network, bringing the power of the CBS SPORTS name to yet another developing, cross-platform property. In addition, CBS Sports will begin developing proprietary programming for the cable network, and incorporate the growing online activities of CSTV into its industry-leading online operations.
The announcement was made today by Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and Tony Petitti, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports, who will oversee day to day operations of the network.
As part of the reorganization, a new emphasis will be placed on developing original programming for the CBS College Sports Network, drawing on the top on-air and creative talents in the industry. Anchoring the lineup will be "College Sports Tonight", a news and information program examining the day's developments in the world of collegiate sports, and providing previews of upcoming events. The program will air twice a night. "College Sports Tonight" is just one of many new programs to be featured on the CBS College Sports Network. Additional programming will be announced shortly.
"We believe this rebranding will better position our college sports cable network in the competitive world of cable television distribution," said McManus. "It's hard to imagine a cable company going forward that will not welcome the CBS Sports branded channel to its cable systems. In this move, we further build on the value of this important new part of our company."
"The ability to bring unity to the CBS Sports brand across all media -- broadcast network, cable, online and mobile -- is something we know audiences and advertisers will continue to embrace," said Petitti. "CBS College Sports Network will now be easily recognized as an asset of an already proud brand and distributor of the highest quality sports programming."
Additionally, CSTV's existing lineup of online properties will integrate to produce incremental value to CBS' online audience. The combination of CSTV's assets, including Max Preps, the most recognized information site in the high school sports business, with the interactive resources of CBS will create the industry's most coveted collection of sports-related Web sites.
"CSTV has developed a significant online presence within the collegiate sports community, and CBSSports.com has become one of the leading destinations for professional sports coverage," said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CBSSports.com. "These are two world class operations with complementary audiences, and, taken together, will give CBS Sports the most powerful and varied user profile in all sports media."
"CBS SPORTS has the finest slate of college programming in broadcast television, and that commitment has played out to build one of the most dedicated online audiences for that aspect of our programming," said Petitti. "Adding the power of CSTV -- the CBS College Sports Network -- to the online mix can only help to build that important new audience."
The change to CBS College Sports Network, which will include the full integration of the CBS Sports on air style and graphics, follows the highly successful rebranding of the former CBS Sportsline.com to CBSSports.com last August. In the month following that change, CBSSports.com earned a 27 percent increase in users giving the site the highest growth rate among major sports sites.
CBS Corporation acquired CSTV, the leading digital media company devoted exclusively to college athletics, in January 2006, and last month announced the integration of its business and programming operations into the CBS Sports division. Its many platforms for distribution include CSTV, a national cable network, televising regular-season and championship events for 35 men's and women's college sports; CSTV.com and its network of nearly 215 official athletic sites; CSTV XXL and All Access, broadband services providing live and streaming audio and video of more than 10,000 events annually; as well as satellite television and radio, in-flight entertainment, wireless networks and more. All will now be part of the CBS College Sports Network brand.
CBS Sports, a year-round leader in television sports, broadcasts a portfolio of events on the CBS Television Network, including the NFL's American Football Conference schedule and championship games; "The NFL Today" studio show; college basketball, including regular-season games and the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; the most comprehensive golf lineup on network television, including the Masters and PGA Championship; the U.S. Open Tennis Championships; SEC college football; CBS Sports Spectacular, including auto racing, skiing, track & field and gymnastics; and NCAA Championships.
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW -- a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), in-store media (CBS Outernet) and motion pictures (CBS Films). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
