Jan. 25, 2006

NEW YORK - CSTV Networks, the CBS digital media company that operates CSTV: College Sports Television and www.CSTV.com, is expanding its arsenal of top schools and conferences with a new comprehensive partnership with the Atlantic 10 Conference [www.atlantic10.org], it was announced today.

The arrangement gives CSTV long-term media and marketing rights for all 21 men's and women's Atlantic 10 sports, including men's and women's basketball.  The partnership commences with the start of the 2006-07 school year this coming September when CSTV will begin carrying Atlantic 10 sports on television and broadband from its 14 member schools.

"This deal gives the Atlantic 10 more access to placing more games and sports across more platforms than ever before," said Linda Bruno, Commissioner, Atlantic 10.  "We are keenly aware of the value of this partnership with CSTV, which provides the best and broadest college sports programming of any company.  "The opportunities that will be available to us will impact everything from recruiting to fund-raising, from team spirit to overall outreach for our student-athletes worldwide.  No longer do geographic and schedule limitations prevent us from connecting with everyone who wants to follow Atlantic 10 sports."

"We couldn't be more excited about this new relationship with such a proven and prestigious conference as the Atlantic 10," said CSTV President and CEO Brian Bedol.  "We look forward to showcasing the Atlantic 10 schools across all of our media platforms to strengthen the connection between these teams and their fans and alumni." 

CSTV's first conference deal under its new CBS ownership further enhances its position as the leading college sports media company.   "This new partnership has great benefits, particularly to our conference and school partners and will result in more revenue, reach and visibility to the Atlantic 10 and their membership," explained Chris Bevilacqua, President of CSTV Regional Networks. 

According to Saint Joseph's University Head Coach Phil Martelli, "The programs in the Atlantic 10 have been built by outstanding players, passionate competition, and national television exposure. The opportunity to join to forces with CSTV allows our coaches to further build their programs by enabling us to continue to pursue the best young players in America."  Martelli also serves as chair of the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Coaches Committee.

The CSTV-Atlantic 10 agreement consists of all conference-related media and marketing rights including television, national over-the-air and satellite radio, video-on-demand, Internet, broadband, wireless and exclusive corporate sponsorship and licensing rights to all Atlantic 10 sports during regular season and post-season championships, including the  men's and women's basketball championships.  It also covers exclusive rights for all regular season, post-season and conference championships to Atlantic 10 baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field for men; and, for women, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.

What is now the Atlantic 10 Conference was created on March 2, 1975 as an eight-school, men's basketball-only affiliation.  It has grown into a 14-university, 21-sport league that is universally hailed as one of the best conferences in the country.  That growth and prominence is a direct result of the ideals and commitments of the member institutions of the Atlantic 10: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University, Temple University, and Xavier University.

 CSTV Networks, Inc., now part of CBS Corporation, is the leading digital and cable programming company dedicated to college sports. Connecting more fans to more college sports than any other company, its many platforms for programming distribution include CSTV:College Sports TV, televising regular-season and championship events for 35 men's and women's college sports; CSTV.com and its network of nearly 250 official athletic sites; CSTV All Access, broadband services providing live audio and video of more than 7,000 events annually; as well as satellite television and radio, in-flight entertainment, wireless networks and more.  CSTV was acquired by CBS in January 2006. Further information is available at www.CSTV.com.