CSTV Joins Time Warner Sports Tier

College Sports Television reached a distribution deal with Time Warner Cable for carriage primarily on the MSO’s digital sports tiers.

The network, which debuted last April, will launch on Time Warner systems in Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Waco, Texas; and Portland, Maine.

CSTV CEO Brian Bedol said the carriage pact also extended to Bright House Networks for distribution on that operator’s Detroit system. The Advance/Newhouse Communications-owned Bright House systems were previously part of Time Warner Entertainment, so Time Warner Cable still handles some programming acquisitions.

Bedol would not reveal specific subscriber counts tied to rollouts or disclose deal terms. He said the deal "provides a framework for a long-term partnership that allows us to have a terrific business if their customers like the service and gives them protection that we’re going to continue to be a good value in terms of product cost."

With 15 million subscribers, CSTV’s key affiliations have been with DirecTV Inc., Adelphia Communications Corp. and Insight Communications Co. Inc.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.