I apologize for not knowing the answer to this, but does anyone know the TV contract situation for the MVC? In particular, what the relationship is with CBS? It has been long-standing, but I can't find any articles related to when their contract ends.

With the announcement of Venu Sports, all of the Fox, ESPN, and Turner stations are going to be available in one service, including ESPN+. That would include every Valley game except for the ones on CBS. CBS over-the-air you could pull in using an antenna, but you have to use a full service for CBS Sports Network. If it was available with Paramount+, that'd make things easier.

I really hope that either CBS Sports Network comes with Paramount+ or the Valley cuts ties with CBS. Especially with the conference semis being on CBSSN.

The conference semis on CBSSN are worth it to get the final on CBS, IMO.

And I know some people don’t like playing Arch Madness so early, but I think playing Thursday-Sunday is way better than playing thr finale on a Tuesday on ESPN.

Midtown, drop whatever service you now have and go to YouTube.tv
It is the best and it’s $100/month less than Direct TV.
YoutubeTV has CBCSN.
Great on your phone, too. Unlimited recordings.
Take your savings and generously contribute it to DUGreatCollective.org.
Your contribution will help us compete for better players.
Thank you.
Kurt B.


hoosierbulldog

Thanks,

I am pretty cheap and YouTube TV is $73 plus another $11 or so for ESPN+. This new sports only service looks like it will cost about $40 including ESPN+. So, over $40 per month cheaper during basketball season. Paramount+ is about $10 per month, so if they add CBSSN to that, that'd help. I think a lot of leagues are going to want to avoid CBSSN if Venu is as big as I think it will be because they are out on an island and people will just live without it to save money.

He’s right. Much better

Can anyone make heads or tails of the comment that is quoted from this article? Does ESPN own the semifinals and title game now or does CBS? 

ESPN and Missouri Valley Conference, Inc. Announce Contract Extension Through 2028-29 - Missouri Valley Conference (mvc-sports.com)

"ESPN retains the rights to the State Farm Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals and title game and MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament each year. The agreement will continue to feature multiple men’s basketball and Olympic sports game telecasts across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU each year.

The Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship game will continue to be broadcast on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+. This upcoming year will be the 20th consecutive season CBS Sports has presented the Championship game.  CBS Sports Network will televise the Arch Madness semifinals – which it has aired for the past nine seasons – as well as a package of regular-season games each year."

Also, Olympic sports?

Since the next paragraph talks about CBS/Paramount, I assume they meant "the State Farm Men’s Basketball Tournament [before] the semifinals and title game". Which would be the RSN/ESPN+ games they've had for a while. 

Olympic sports are the soccer, volleyball, softball, and baseball tournament broadcasts that make ESPN+. 

The way the agreement works, ESPN technically holds all licenses and rights to the MVC. ESPN sublicenses the Arch Madness semifinals and final to CBS. 

The important thing out of this news is the Valley on ESPN is continuing through at least the 2028-29 season. If you haven't renewed your ESPN+ subscription do so with your season tickets.

I think it's still not clear if the MVC TV package with Bally Sports RSNs is still a thing or not. NBC Sports Chicago is closing down and going off the air at the end of the month.

CBS deal goes through 26-27.

https://mvc-sports.com/news/2024/9/11/arch-madness-cbs-sports-and-mvc-extend-partnership-with-multi-year-deal-for-mens-college-basketball.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawFO5wRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHetFibh8l-puhNsryIdNCW4GLAHlkkubLOM3gTRsZdfjIo_h6UX5tOMiYA_aem_n11pvoaQjIkH6guArF4qGQ

https://mvc-sports.com/news/2024/9/12/mens-basketball-mvc-gray-media-execute-multi-year-broadcasting-agreement.aspx

The MVC TV package is continuing but it will be on different channels - over the air channels. Since Gray doesn't have a station in Des Moines we don't know yet what station that will be. Regardless the games will still be available on ESPN+ blackout free.

I'm growing concerned there is not going to be a Des Moines TV station for this. The conference preview show did not get and Des Moines TV clearances. Granted games might be different than talk but I'm getting nervous.....

Given the way these things have worked in other markets, it is possible it ends up on Mediacom still OR on some sort of secondary digital signal from one of the main stations

Better late than never, KCCI confirmed today they will be the over the air partner for the MVC TV deal. Games will air on 8.3, one of their digital subchannels.

https://www.drakenation.com/FindPost185323.aspx