What Happened to CBS Sports?

CBS Sports has a long and storied history in American sports broadcasting, evolving significantly over the decades to adapt to changing media landscapes. Originally established as the sports programming division of CBS, its trajectory took a pivotal turn with the merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom in 2019, bringing it under the umbrella of ViacomCBS, later rebranded as Paramount Global. This strategic consolidation aimed to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive media market, leveraging CBS Sports' established reputation with Paramount's extensive content library and distribution channels.

A significant turning point occurred in August 2025 when Skydance Media completed an $8 billion merger with Paramount Global, making CBS Sports a division of the newly formed Paramount, a Skydance Corporation. David Ellison, Skydance's chief executive, assumed leadership of the combined entity, with sports content identified as a key driver for growth, especially for the Paramount+ streaming service. This merger also reportedly positioned the NFL to acquire a stake in CBS through its existing content partnership with Skydance.

In 2026, CBS Sports continues to hold an impressive array of broadcast rights. It remains the long-standing home for the NFL's American Football Conference (AFC) games, with its current 11-year multiplatform rights agreement extending through the 2033 season. However, the NFL is actively seeking to renegotiate these deals earlier, aiming for an increase of approximately $1 billion annually from Paramount, potentially starting with the 2026 season, leveraging a 'change of control' clause following the Skydance merger. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, or March Madness, is another cornerstone, with CBS and Turner Sports extending their joint rights through 2032 in an $8.8 billion deal. CBS Sports also celebrated its 69th consecutive year of PGA Tour coverage in January 2026, broadcasting 22 events, including The Masters and PGA Championship, with content also available on Paramount+.

The division has made substantial investments in soccer, particularly women's soccer, and its streaming platform. In August 2022, CBS renewed its UEFA Champions League rights through 2030 for $250 million annually, a 250% increase from the previous deal, with all games available on Paramount+. Further solidifying its soccer portfolio, CBS Sports acquired exclusive U.S. broadcast rights for the UEFA Women's Champions League through the 2029-2030 season, beginning with the 2025-2026 season, with all 75 matches streaming on Paramount+. In May 2026, CBS Sports secured a four-year deal for the Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) U.S. broadcasting rights through the 2029-30 season, with all 183 matches streamed on Paramount+ and one weekly game on CBS Sports Network. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) also expanded its media rights package in September 2025, continuing its agreement with CBS Sports, which includes the NWSL Championship on CBS and Paramount+. The launch of CBS Sports Golazo Network in 2023 further underscored its commitment to soccer content.

The most significant future development for CBS Sports is the announced plan on April 2, 2026, for Paramount Skydance to merge CBS Sports and TNT Sports (a division of Warner Bros. Discovery) in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval. CBS Sports president David Berson is reportedly the frontrunner to lead the combined entity. This merger would create a massive sports broadcasting conglomerate, potentially allowing CBS to broadcast TNT Sports properties like postseason MLB games. This move reflects the ongoing consolidation and strategic maneuvering within the sports media industry to maximize the value of live sports rights and compete in the evolving streaming landscape. Paramount+ continues to integrate CBS Sports content, including clips and highlights, as a competitive advantage against other streamers.