CAA Football signs agreement with American Sports Network

Augmenting the existing agreements to broadcast CAA Football games on the NBC Sports Network and regional Comcast SportNet channels, the CAA conference has announced a three-year deal to show league games on the Sinclair Broadcast Group's new American Sports Network. The CAA joins four other Division I conferences in entering agreements with ASN; Conference USA, the Big South Conference, the Patriot League and the Southern Conference.

The ASN will broadcast over-the-air on local stations owned by Sinclair, launching with this Fall's football season, on primary channels -- generally CW or MyNetworkTV affiliates, or on digital subchannels of those networks.

"Broadcasters serve and are closely connected to their communities, of which the colleges and universities are an integral part," Sinclair Networks COO Doron Gorshein said. "We believe there is significant value and consumer appeal for live sporting events from these important institutions, and we can offer expanded distribution through our broadcast platforms, as well as on potential new platforms, deepening our connection to our communities."

ASN will will air an extensive slate of live, local college sporting events, with the opening of this year's college football season -- but will also cover other revenue and non-revenue sports for the five leagues. These local games will be broadcast live in different regions of the country, including where the conferences are located. Many games will also be available streaming on digital platforms, such as CAA.tv.

"Sinclair's entry into the college sports market is important, particularly given their unique connection to local communities and ability to serve customers in the CAA's markets," CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager said. "In addition, in conjunction with our Colonial Academic Alliance, Sinclair's platforms can become outlets for important content about the achievements and public service of our students and student-athletes."

The Sinclair-owned stations currently reach around 38.9% of US households -- assuming regulators approve a planned acquisition of Allbritton -- making it the largest and one of the most diversified broadcasters.