Things are even more rank between Professional Bull Riders and CBS Sports, following their multiyear rights renewal agreement of the deal they first reached in 2012.
Under the extension, financial terms of which were not disclosed, CBS Sports Network will continue to provide exclusive coverage of the PBR’s Built Ford Tough World Finals from Las Vegas, the culmination of 50 total telecasts airing on CBS and the cable network throughout the year. Together, CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network will air more than 100 hours of original event coverage annually, which includes 14 broadcasts on CBS Sports, the most annual network television broadcasts ever ridden by the PBR. As part of the previous contract, which was announced in December 2011, CBS was televising eight PBR events annually.
“We are very pleased with our CBS partnership and excited that we will continue to be a part of the CBS Sports family,” said PBR chairman and CEO Jim Haworth. “This new agreement represents the longest and strongest television deal in the PBR’s history. The commitment gives the PBR a solid foundation upon which to continue its growth of recent years and a home for our fans to turn to weekly for ‘the toughest sport on dirt.’”
Noted Dan Weinberg, senior vice presiden of programming at CBS Sports: “We are proud that CBS Sports will remain the exclusive television home of PBR for years to come.PBR’s fast-paced, dynamic nature makes it a strong television property with huge potential for growth. We are excited to continue delivering the sport to viewers across the country.”
In 2015, CBS Sports will debut a new customized graphics package for PBR telecasts, to be used across both broadcast and cable.
PBR Built Ford Tough Series telecasts are produced by the PBR in conjunction with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer.
CBS Sports Network’s coverage of the 2014 Built Ford Tough Series continues on Saturday, Aug. 16 from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The remaining 2014 PBR television schedule is listed below.
About CBS Sports Network:
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, airs more than 400 live games annually, showcasing an array of college and professional sports, as well as in-depth studio shows, documentaries and original programs. CBS Sports Network also provides extensive shoulder programming around CBS Sports’ Championship events, including the Super Bowl, The Masters, PGA Championship and US Open Tennis Championships. The Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers including Verizon FiOS Channel 594 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 1643 and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The world’s premier bull riding organization, the PBR, turns 21 in 2014. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon with PBR broadcasts reaching more than half a billion households in 50 nations and territories around the world, and more than 2.5 million fans attending live events each year. It features the Top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business and has paid out more than $130 million in earnings to its athletes. Twenty-seven men have earned more than $1 million, including two-time world champion Justin McBride with $5.5 million ― the most of any western sports athlete in history. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
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