NCHC, CBS Reach Multi-Year TV Deal

CHN Staff Report

CBS Sports Network and the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference have agreed on a multi-year television package, beginning in the 2013-14 season, when the NCHC begins play.

CBS Sports Network will be the exclusive national television partner for the conference. Some of the member teams, like North Dakota and Denver, already have local television deals, which would presumably remain in place as well.

The agreement calls for a minimum of 18 conference games, including the conference tournament semifinal and championship. CBSSN currently has agreements with all of the conferences. This new deal will limit games with the other conferences, and make the NCHC the focal point. The new-look WCHA teams could still have games on the network.

"With top teams and passionate fan bases, the National is poised to be an elite college hockey conference, and we're thrilled to be the national television partner," said Dan Weinberg, CBSSN vice president of programming. "College hockey has been a staple of our programming and we're pleased to expand our coverage and further serve fans with compelling and competitive conference action."

"We are delighted to be associated with the preeminent national broadcaster of college hockey," said NCHC commissioner Jim Scherr. "It is our goal to be the premier single-sport conference in intercollegiate athletics and the unmatched exposure and production quality that will be provided by CBS Sports Network will contribute significantly to realizing that vision."

Hockey East recently inked a deal with NBC Sports Network, and has a deal with regional sports network NESN as well. The CCHA has a deal with Fox Sports Detroit, with some games on CBSSN.