Los Angeles, CA - September 12, 2023 - Byron Allen’s
Allen Media Group (
AMG) free-streaming digital platform,
HBCU GO -- the leading media provider for the nation’s 107
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (
HBCUs) – is proud to announce a
10-year media rights partnership with the
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference(
CIAA) that grants
HBCU GO cable, linear, streaming, broadcast, VOD, and pay-per-view rights coverage of all CIAA team sports through June 30, 2032. Those sports include regular season contests for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, Olympic sports and the football championship game.
The deal kicks off with
HBCU GO’s broadcast of five
CIAA football games televised live on
TheGrio Cable Television Network, including the 2023
CIAA Football Championship on
HBCU GO and on broadcast television stations throughout the U.S. -- including the
CBS owned-and-operated duopoly stations in key television markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Sacramento, Miami, Tampa, and Pittsburgh. In addition, the
CIAA will continue to stream the other team sporting events throughout the season live through the
CIAA Network and provide first right to
HBCU GO for their video on demand platform. The long-term goal is to broadcast all CIAA team sports on
HBCU GO and
Allen Media Group platforms.
As part of
HBCU GO’s partnership with the
CIAA, a portion of the funds will be invested to upgrade the
CIAA’s 13 member schools' campus-wide sports and broadcast equipment to ensure everyone has equitable resources and to assure quality broadcasts across the conference. The
CIAA utilized the summer months to visit each of the campuses to assess equipment, internet, and technology needs.
“We’re proud to celebrate our 10-year partnership with the
CIAA to amplify all of their team sports to our audiences. The rich heritage and legacy of the
CIAA and the phenomenal athletes that have participated in the conference since its inception are a natural fit for
HBCU GO,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of
Allen Media Group.
“This media deal with
AMG is a game changer for the
CIAA and unprecedented in Division II. We will expand the
CIAA Sports Network platform through
HBCU GO to give greater exposure for our 13 member schools and their student athletes,” said
CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker. She added, “I am excited about the jobs being created, the talent identified, and the stories to be told through a platform developed to give HBCUs well deserved and long overdue exposure. This is a great day for
CIAA, and we appreciate Byron Allen and his team seeing the value and importance of HBCU sports contributions to the world and how we can continue to work together to provide exposure and economic stability in our communities through sports.”
For more information about
HBCU GO, visit
HBCUGO.tv or follow the streaming network on
Facebook,
Twitter,
YouTube,
Instagram. Find out where to watch and download the FREE app at
HBCUGO.tv/how to watch
ABOUT HBCU GO
HBCU GO is a cultural lifestyle destination and leading sports media provider that embraces and represents the voice of Black Excellence every day of the year through an all-new platform that captures the rich history, diversity, perspectives, and cultural experiences at
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (
HBCUs).
HBCU GO also provides a platform for emerging creatives in media production, branding, and broadcasting. We offer our viewers the best in live sports, original series, documentaries, films, comedy, and edutainment programming produced by African American leading producers, directors, and students from select
HBCUs.
Launched in 2012, the free-streaming service
?HBCU GO was purchased by Byron Allen in 2021 and is part of Byron Allen’s
Allen Media Group (
AMG).
AMG is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Charleston, SC.
AMG owns 27
ABC-
NBC-
CBS-
FOX network affiliate broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets and twelve 24-hour HD television networks serving nearly 300 million subscribers:
THE WEATHER CHANNEL,
THE WEATHER CHANNEL EN ESPAÑOL,
THEGRIO TELEVISION NETWORK, PETS.TV,
COMEDY.TV,
RECIPE.TV,
CARS.TV,
ES.TV,
MYDESTINATION.TV, JUSTICECENTRAL.TV,
THIS TV, and
PATTRN.
AMG also owns the streaming platforms
HBCU GO,
THE GRIO STREAMING APP,
SPORTS.TV,
THE WEATHER CHANNEL STREAMING APP, and
LOCAL NOW -- the free-streaming AVOD service powered by
THE WEATHER CHANNEL and content partners, which delivers real-time, hyper-local news, weather, traffic, sports, and lifestyle information. For more information, visit
www.allenmedia.tv
About the CIAA
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded and incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1912 and adopted its current name in December of 1950. The conference is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is governed by a Board of thirteen (13) Presidents and Chancellors representing institutions from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. It has both private and public colleges and universities with enrollments ranging from 750 to over 8,000 students. The CIAA is committed to excellence in everything they do in DII to support the total student-athlete well-being and experience on and off the court through meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships to make the world a better place.
Learn more.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
FOR AMG: Eric Peterkofsky,
eric@es.tv, 310-277-3500 ext. 124
FOR AMG / CIAA: Martine Charles,
Martine@marcglobalcommunications.com, 206-295-9114
FOR AMG / CIAA: Jenny McIntosh,
jenny@marcglobalcommunications.com, 480-202-7112