USL Signs Landmark Broadcast Deal With CBS Sports
The United Soccer League (USL) and CBS Sports have announced a landmark multi-year rights agreement for CBS Sports to air 100 USL matches annually through the 2027 USL Championship and USL League One seasons.
CBS Sports’ extensive multiplatform USL match coverage will air across the CBS Television Network and Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Through the deal, CBS Sports will broadcast select USL matches, including the USL Championship Final, on the CBS Television Network– the first time USL competition will be featured on network television in league history.
Matches on the CBS Television Network will also simulcast live on Paramount+. CBS Sports will also televise more than 20 USL matches on CBS Sports Network annually and 75 USL matches each season on CBS Sports Golazo Network, the 24/7 soccer streaming network available across multiple platforms, including Paramount+.
Commenting on the deal, USL CEO, Alec Papadakis, said: “CBS Sports has become a destination for soccer fans in America, and we are thrilled to bring to their platforms the unique soccer experience that only the USL provides.”
“This partnership is a clear indication of the USL’s growth and impact on domestic soccer, providing us with more national TV exposure and platforms to tell stories about our players, clubs, and fans than ever before.
“We are entering a new, exciting phase, both on and off the field, and we look forward to working with CBS Sports over the next four years to take our leagues and our game to new heights.”
“The United Soccer League – with its expansive and growing presence across the country – is an excellent addition to CBS Sports’ premium soccer portfolio,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports.
“We look forward to making the exciting action of the USL more easily available to fans than ever before and elevating the league with coverage across our CBS Sports platforms.
“With the USL’s addition to our wide array of soccer properties and robust year-round match coverage, CBS Sports continues to be the premier destination for soccer fans in this country.”
The United Soccer League is the longest-running professional soccer organisation in the United States, originally founded in 1991. The USL Championship and USL League One are the highest men’s professional tiers in the USL ecosystem.
In 2024, with the addition of Rhode Island FC and North Carolina FC, 25 teams will compete in the USL Championship. USL League One will see 12 teams in 2024, including its newest club Spokane Velocity.
