CW Sports
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | February 25, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Parent | The CW |
CW Sports serves as the sports programming arm of The CW, overseeing the network's sports broadcast content.
Established on February 25, 2023, subsequent to The CW obtaining the broadcasting rights for LIV Golf, CW Sports also features collegiate football and basketball from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 Conference, along with coverage of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Unlike other major broadcasters, CW Sports does not generate its own original content; instead, it relies on collaborations with external partners or league media divisions (such as NASCAR Productions and Raycom Sports) to supply programming.
Inception
In August 2022, Nexstar Media Group took a controlling interest in The CW, prompting a strategic shift toward broadening its programming slate to include more sports content.
By January 2023, The CW had secured a three-year agreement to broadcast LIV Golf, marking its inaugural national sports contract. While weekday rounds were streamed via The CW’s apps, weekend rounds were televised on the network. This arrangement led to the creation of the CW Sports division. However, the partnership faced criticism from the National Press Club due to Saudi Arabia's involvement.
As of February 14, 2023, LIV Golf broadcasts reached every U.S. media market; nonetheless, certain affiliates opted out because of preexisting commitments and conflicts with CBS Sports’ PGA Tour partnership. In those markets, coverage was shifted to stations owned by Nexstar or alternative channels. The CW chose not to renew its LIV Golf rights beyond 2024, with Fox Sports subsequently acquiring them.
On February 17, 2023, The CW acquired broadcasting rights for 100 Days to Indy, a documentary chronicling events leading up to the 2023 Indianapolis 500, produced by Penske Entertainment and Vice Media. The series transitioned to the streaming platform Fox Nation in 2025.
Growth
During summer 2023, The CW notably expanded its sports offerings. On June 7, it obtained broadcast rights for Inside the NFL, relocating the show from cable and streaming platforms to over-the-air television for its 47th season. Produced by NFL Films, the program featured former Steelers safety Ryan Clark as host alongside analysts Channing Crowder, Jay Cutler, Chad Johnson, and Chris Long. The network discontinued the series following Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.
On July 13, 2023, The CW secured exclusive rights to air 50 football and basketball games annually from the Atlantic Coast Conference through the 2026–27 season. These games are produced by Raycom Sports, which has extensive experience syndicating ACC content. This package had previously been broadcast on Fox Sports Net and later Bally Sports.
On July 28, 2023, The CW and NASCAR announced an agreement for coverage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series spanning the 2025–2031 seasons. In April 2024, broadcasts were advanced to begin in September 2024 with NBC Sports handling production using its NASCAR on NBC crew.
In January 2024, the sports division rebranded as "CW Sports," removing "The" from its branding to align with broader network marketing strategies; chief marketing officer Chris Spadaccini highlighted that this change enhanced brand clarity for sports programming.
On May 14, 2024, The CW agreed to televise 11 football games featuring Pac-12 members Oregon State University and Washington State University. Following a simulcast of the 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl, CW Sports secured exclusive rights for the 2024 Arizona Bowl.
On July 22, 2024, CW Sports introduced CW Football Saturday, a college football programming block that includes a studio show hosted by Mike Yam. Both this show and OSU/WSU game broadcasts are produced by Pac-12 Enterprises with personnel formerly affiliated with Pac-12 Network.
In September 2024, The CW aired the Chicago Open beach volleyball finals under a one-time agreement with the Association of Volleyball Professionals. By December 2024, it added two ACC women’s basketball contests as Sunday doubleheaders for its 2025 schedule.
At the start of 2025, CW Sports finalized media rights deals with Grand Slam Track, the Association of Volleyball Professionals, and for the HBCU All-Star Basketball game. It also renewed its rights to Pac-12 football for that season.
In June 2025, The CW partnered with the Savannah Bananas to broadcast a Banana Ball game scheduled for July. Subsequently in July, it signed a multi-year agreement with Professional Bull Riders for weekend event coverage.
By August 2025, amid expansion of the Pac-12 to nine members beginning in 2026, the conference extended its media rights contract with CW Sports through the academic year 2030–31. This agreement encompasses coverage of 66 events each season: including thirteen football games; thirty-five regular-season men’s basketball matchups; fifteen women’s basketball games; plus semi-final and championship rounds of the Pac-12 women's basketball tournament.
Currently airing events
- College football
- Atlantic Coast Conference (2023–present)
- Seasonal schedule of 13 games
- Pac-12 Conference (starting 2024)
- Various matchups featuring Oregon State University and Washington State University
- Arizona Bowl (since 2023)
- Atlantic Coast Conference (2023–present)
- College basketball
- Atlantic Coast Conference (beginning 2023)
- 28 men's basketball contests each season
- 12 women's basketball contests each season
- HBCU All-Star Basketball Game (launching 2025)
- Atlantic Coast Conference (beginning 2023)
- NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (commencing 2024)
- AVP Beach Volleyball (starting 2024)
- Grand Slam Track (from 2025)
- PBR Camping World Team Series (from 2025)
Events scheduled for the future
- PBA Tour (beginning in 2026)
- College basketball
- Pac-12 Conference basketball (commencing 2026)
- 35 men's basketball matchups per season
- 15 women's basketball matchups per season
- Semifinal and final rounds of the Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament
- Pac-12 Conference basketball (commencing 2026)
Studio shows
- CW Football Saturday Countdown (on air since 2025)
- NASCAR Countdown Live (airing since 2024)
Former programming
- LIV Golf (aired during 2023–24)
- 100 Days to Indy (broadcast in 2023–24)
- Inside the NFL (shown from 2023 to 2025)
- One Savannah Bananas baseball game telecast (in 2025)
Sports coverage on local CW stations
Multiple CW local affiliates have presented broadcasts of collegiate sports such as basketball, football, and occasionally baseball or hockey, with production handled by syndication providers. Certain affiliates also feature broadcasts of professional teams in their markets, including Major League Baseball's New York Mets on WPIX and the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers on KTLA.
Affiliate preemptions
Seventeen CW affiliates, among them eight owned by CBS News and Stations, opted not to air the network's LIV Golf coverage, which consisted of weekend afternoon programming not compulsory under affiliation agreements at the time of LIV Golf's launch. To accommodate viewers, The CW established secondary affiliations with alternative stations within these markets. Additionally, seven new stations joined The CW on September 1, 2023; these include Nexstar-owned WPHL-TV, KRON-TV, and WTTA, Hearst-owned KQCA, Gray Television-owned WPCH-TV, along with Sinclair-owned WPNT and KUNS-TV.
Several affiliates also chose to preempt Xfinity Series broadcasts in favor of airing local sports content.