CBS College Passes 30 Million Subs Mark With New DirecTV Deal

CBS College Sports (CBSC) has expanded its reach to more than 30 million subscribers after reaching a deal with DirecTV that will see the net move to the Choice Xtra package (CBSC). In this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, John Ourand reports the shift adds 3 million subs to CBSC's base, pushing its total to about 32 million subs. CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus has "set a goal of having the network in 40 million homes in the next 18 months." Ourand notes CBS convinced DirecTV to "increase its distribution by tying it" to its $69 Mega March Madness package. However, McManus "dismissed rumors that CBS College was considering expanding its programming lineup beyond just college sports" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/2 issue).