CBS got waiver from SEC to broadcast 2015 Iron Bowl

AUBURN – CBS was given a waiver for the rights to broadcast a sixth Alabama game and allowed them to select the Iron Bowl matchup for its regular season finale.

A source close to the situation confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser that CBS was given a waiver by the league so they could broadcast an SEC school one more time than the league’s contract initially calls for.

The television contract between the Southeastern Conference and CBS reworked their long-term contract in 2013. Within the agreement, CBS has the first selection to each week’s matchup but is only permitted to broadcast one school five times in a regular season not including the SEC Championship Game broadcast.

“The parameters of the agreement are flexible, as each season brings its own unique circumstances,” said Chuck Dunlap, SEC Director of Communications. “This was a mutual agreement among all parties.”

Alabama (9-1, 6-1 SEC) can clinch the Western Division championship with an Iron Bowl win next week or an Ole Miss loss to either LSU or Mississippi State in the regular season finale.

SEC officials refused to comment when contacted directly as to when and how CBS negotiated this waiver with the league office to broadcast a sixth Alabama game as details without a league contract are to remain confidential.

The prime time coverage of Alabama’s victory over Auburn last year generated television and digital audience records for ESPN. ESPN’s telecast averaged 13,529,000 viewers and a 7.4 HH US rating, making it the network’s most-viewed regular-season college football game since 1990, surpassing USC at Ohio State in 2009 (10,586,000 viewers and a 6.3 HH US rating).

This season, ESPN’s two prime time matchups are Florida State at Florida on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. CT, while the Egg Bowl rivalry matchup of Ole Miss at Mississippi State on ESPN2 at 6:15 p.m. CT.