The Summit League extends media rights with CBS Sports and Midco Sports

This extension secures a balanced distribution model for a mid-major conference by pairing linear saturation with a control-oriented digital strategy. By increasing the floor for nationally televised basketball and simultaneously upgrading its owned-and-operated (O&O) streaming features, the Summit League maintains a direct relationship with fans while maximizing broad visibility and monetization through its partners. This dual-track approach ensures stability amid broader collegiate realignment and the shift toward specialized, niche-focused streaming apps that prioritize subscriber experience through features like multi-game viewing and seamless highlight sharing. Watch for subscriber growth on Midco Sports Plus following the global expansion this fall.

The Summit League’s strategic move follows a broader industry trend where mid-major conferences are diversifying their media portfolios to bridge the revenue gap with larger entities like the Big Ten. Per S&P Global, October 2025, the financial divide in college sports has reached a record peak, intensified by multi-billion dollar deals for top-tier conferences. In response, smaller leagues are increasingly leaning on specialized advisors to unbundle and monetize high-value niche rights often overlooked by primary broadcasters. For example, the Mountain West Conference secured a similar six-year arrangement with CBS, Fox, and streaming partner Kiswe to launch a dedicated D2C subscription service in July 2026, per SportsPro, February 2026.

Simultaneously, Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) has rapidly expanded its footprint by advising smaller properties on digital-first strategies. Per CollegiateSMG, May 2026, the firm recently established a strategic alliance with Excelsior Sports & Entertainment to further leverage business intelligence and data-driven valuations for sponsorship assets like jersey patches and helmet stickers. This trend highlights a fundamental shift for conferences like the Summit League: rather than competing for the same linear slots as the 'Power Four,' they are transforming into digital media companies that use linear television primarily as a marketing funnel for their own high-margin streaming platforms.