Byron Allen’s free streaming service HBCU Go has reached a statewide licensing agreement with CBS stations that will run through the 2022-2023 college football season.
As part of the distribution agreement between Allen Media Group’s digital platform, which focuses on coverage of the 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States, HBCU Go’s sports programming will be broadcast on CBS-owned and operated duopoly stations in TV markets transmitted in these tones: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Miami and Pittsburgh.
As a result of the new CBS broadcast deal, HBCU Go — which recently acquired the rights to sports events from the Air Premier’s NCAA Division 2 HBCU conference in a deal with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) — will be available in 60% of US television households and 70% of African American households. Previously, HBCU Go had carriage deals with Nexstar, Gray, Cox, Scripps, Tegna, Sinclair, Lockwood, Allen Media Broadcasting, Hearst, Circle City Broadcasting, McKinnon Broadcasting, Cowles, Graham, Block, Sun Broadcasting, Tougaloo College, Sagamore Hill and others marquee.
HBCU Go content is also available through HBCUGO.TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and the HBCU Go app.
Free streamer HBCU Go, which launched in 2012 and was acquired by Allen Media Group in 2021, will kick off the new HBCU esports season on September 3 with a pre-season show featuring “the nation’s top gridiron NFL and Black College Hall of.” Famers and HBCU Graduates,” per platform.
“The Allen Media Group is thrilled that the CBS O&O stations have joined our distinguished group of television stations to expand the reach of HBCU GO’s quality sports programming,” said Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of the Allen Media Group. “We are proud to empower these amazing athletes and HBCUs while helping fund the education of these young adults. Now sports fans across the country can access top-rated games from America’s HBCUs.”
Wendy McMahon, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations, added, “We are honored to work with our partners at Allen Media Group to bring live HBCU football games to our audiences in 12 key markets . As a native Louisiana football fan, I am personally and professionally proud to play a role in helping our stations shine a light on historically black colleges and universities and the student-athletes living their dreams both on the field and in the classroom. ”