Report: Viacom May Acquire CSTV

Updated: Viacom’s CBS Broadcasting is in talks to acquire College Sports Television Networks for as much as $500 million, according to Bloomberg. (No useful link yet.) When I first heard Viacom, I thought the interested party could be MTV Networks; after all, it’s the right demographic and it’s a cable network with 15 million subs and agreements for distribution to 65 million-plus homes. On the other hand, fledgling CSTV is a multimedia company with multiple platforms and rights that could complement and expand CBS Sportsline and CBS Digital. CBS Sports already has a widespread NCAA contract. The CSTV.com Broadband network manages 183 official athletic sites. The company also owns CSTV U Wire, an online college news service. A sale should make a nice payout for investors including George Soros, Coca Cola and Allen and Co.

Then again, as one industry exec reminds me, Comcast might make the most sense. No, I don’t see this one going to News Corp., which already has competitor Fox College Sports and Scout, but never say never.

Related:

College Sports TV and Site Gets $37 Million Funding

TiVo Users Offer CSTV Downloads

CSTV’s Online Growth

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