Following is the latest news; CBS has announced the acquisition of CSTV:

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- CBS today announced the acquisition of CSTV Networks, Inc., the leading digital media company devoted exclusively to college athletics. The announcement was made by Leslie Moonves, Chairman of CBS and Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Viacom Inc.

For the complete story use this URL:

<a href='http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051103/nyth023.html?.v=31' target='_blank'>http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051103/nyth023.html?.v=31</a>

If CBS were to put some SEC games and NCAA Basketball games on CSTV, then I could see CSTV catching on in more homes.

Now CSTV is more attractive.

If the WAC can work out a contract with CSTV...they put pressure on ESPN to also offer a more attractive package to the WAC.

Benson wouldn't do what the MWC did and sign all of the WAC sports rights away to CSTV. Benson aint that stupid.

ESPN is still the 'BIG BOY" on the block and will definitely help the WAC grow and prosper now that there's one less conference to compete with. Playing on ABC and SportsWest are nice pluses too.

If the WAC plays their cards right...very good things could come of this.

jediwarrior Wrote:Now CSTV is more attractive.

If the WAC can work out a contract with CSTV...they put pressure on ESPN to also offer a more attractive package to the WAC.

Benson wouldn't do what the MWC did and sign all of the WAC sports rights away to CSTV. Benson aint that stupid.

ESPN is still the 'BIG BOY" on the block and will definitely help the WAC grow and prosper now that there's one less conference to compete with. Playing on ABC and SportsWest are nice pluses too.

If the WAC plays their cards right...very good things could come of this.

I think the WAC signed an exclusive deal with ESPN so no negotitions with CSTV can occur until after the ESPN contract is over. If that is true then Benson goofed up.

CUSA has contracts with both networks but neither is exclusive.

Billings - I don't think the WAC has an exclusive deal with ESPN. The WAC is also associated with SportsWest and FSN.

I don't think CSTV is great or anything. They haven't done anything so far. Most of us haven't even seen the product that they put out. And they'll never match or come close to ESPN.

What this does though is puts more pressure on ESPN to "push" ESPNU, which allows the WAC even more exposure opportunities.

...and if handled properly by Benson, this does give the WAC added negotiating power with ESPN.

...and if the WAC did sign with CSTV, along with their other contracts (like C-USA), that's good for the WAC and bad for the MWC.

Why? Because the WAC will be competing against the MWC for air time on a "limited" network (CSTV), and in-turn, the MWC "couldn't" compete with the WAC on a large network (ESPN) because ESPN and the MWC sever all ties after B-ball season.

No matter how you slice this, the WAC is in good shape.