Summit League expands partnerships with CBS Sports and Midco Sports

SIOUX FALLS – The Summit League announced expansions of its media rights agreements with CBS Sports and Midco Sports Tuesday that will keep both partners at the center of distributing the conference’s national linear and digital network content.

The expanded linear and digital agreements with CBS Sports and Midco Sports will run through the 2029-30 academic year – covering four seasons of Summit League competition – and will increase the number of games on national TV while also providing additional post-game digital rights.

"The Summit League and our members are excited to announce extensions with our global streaming partner, Midco Sports, and our national linear television partner, CBS Sports,” said Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton.

“The combination of both relationships is unique, and these expansions allow the League to broaden linear and digital distribution to a broad audience, maximize financial benefit to the membership, maintain flexibility for institutions and their local linear partners, and deliver curated fan experiences. Both partners have helped grow our brand over the past three years and we look forward to our future together."

The expanded four-year term with CBS Sports will see additional regular season games aired on CBS Sports Network, increasing from a minimum of seven to nine, which now includes a guarantee of two women’s basketball regular season contests. The Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship title games and selected semifinals will also air on CBS Sports Network.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with the Summit League," said Bess Barnes, VP, Programming, CBS Sports. "We look forward to airing more regular season games on CBS Sports Network than ever before and continuing to showcase Summit League postseason action, highlighted by the Men’s and Women’s Championship games.”

For Summit League fans, the value of the expanded partnership with Midco Sports also brings a variety of product enhancements and broader reach to the Summit League Network.

On July 16, SLN subscribers will be able to use the new My Clips feature to clip, save and share the highlights they want most. They will also benefit from international expansion that makes Summit League competition available to fans around the world, a new schedule page with sorting and favoriting capabilities, and significantly improved self-account management that makes it easier to personalize and manage their experience.
 
The partnership also positions The Summit League Network experience as a distinctive offering in the Division I landscape, allowing the League to continue building a branded network while also retaining control of content to further monetize and provide more customized fan experiences. Additional enhancements will be rolled out throughout the summer and fall to include multi-game viewing and the addition of Samsung and LG app support, giving fans even more ways to follow their favorite teams and moments.
 
“Midco Sports is proud to continue as the official streaming home of The Summit League and to keep building on a partnership that brings real value to fans,” said Midco’s SVP of Marketing & Sports Jeannie Thurston. “This extension reflects the strength of two well-established brands and our shared commitment to elevating the viewing experience through reliable streaming, meaningful innovation and more ways for fans to engage with the moments that matter most.”

The Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus is available to fans around the world, making it possible for viewers everywhere to watch The Summit League on mobile and tablet apps (iOS and Android), connected TV device apps (Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku), a web-based browser interface, TV apps using Google and Roku operating systems, and apps on Samsung and LG smart TVs coming this academic year.

The Summit League Basketball Championships men's and women's first-round games, quarterfinals and select semifinals will continue to air on Midco Sports and Midco Sports Plus.

Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) assisted the League during the media rights analysis and negotiation process over the past year.