• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 30, 2025

CBS Sports Chief on Paramount Owners: ‘They Value Sports’

With the UFC rights deal newly struck, another NFL season about to start, and potentially more rights forthcoming, CBS Sports sees big things happening.

Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; CBS Sports field reporter Tracy Wolfson interviews Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) following a win over the Denver Broncos in an AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium.
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Sports will remain a key priority for CBS and parent company Paramount in their new Skydance-led ownership structure, network officials insisted. 

Less than a week after the closing of the $8 billion, hotly debated merger between Skydance and Paramount, signs have been clear both internally and externally of the critical role that CBS Sports will play going forward in the combined operation. 

“They love sports. They value sports. They’ve been very public about that from the day they announced this deal,” CBS Sports president and CEO David Berson said during a Tuesday event to preview the network’s 2025 NFL coverage. “It’s continued to be very clear, and you saw that with our UFC announcement [Monday]. I don’t think that you could have made a bigger, bolder move right out of the gate.”

That seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with TKO Group Holdings for the U.S. rights to UFC could soon be joined by other rights deals. While the market for major, long-term sports rights is now quickly winnowing, there are some notable pieces still available. Among them:

  • MLB: The league is marketing a short-term package of rights being abandoned by ESPN. “There are a lot of baseball fans around here, including some of our new management,” Berson said.
  • Zuffa Boxing: Paramount has been directly linked to the new boxing venture backed by UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings and Saudi entities. Berson did not confirm a pending deal there but said, “We’re excited to see where they go with that. They’re getting close to finalizing something there. We have a great relationship, and I anticipate that, too, being quite successful for them.”

Big NFL Plans

CBS, meanwhile, is eyeing a bounceback year of sorts for its NFL viewership in 2025. High hopes last year ultimately did not materialize as regular-season ratings fell 1%. Average game viewership of 19.2 million, however, was still the network’s second-best figure since 1998, trailing only the record-setting 2023 campaign

Helping lift those network hopes are two blockbuster games on its schedule: a Nov. 2 clash between the Chiefs and Bills, now arguably the NFL’s top rivalry, and a Thanksgiving game between Kansas City and Dallas, the league’s top two viewership draws. CBS will also have up to nine Chiefs games overall.

“We’re about big things that matter, and this is further testament of that,” Berson said. 

Part of the ratings recovery could derive from a new relationship with measurement agency Nielsen, which is in the midst of rolling out an enhanced methodology to track viewership that includes both linear and streaming audiences.

“These are the metrics that they’re using, we’re using, everybody’s using,” Berson said. “Let’s just hope it reflects [viewership] accurately, and that we keep setting records.”

You Are Looking Live

The network’s 2025 NFL plans also include two notable pieces surrounding its The NFL Today pregame show. The stalwart programming will be expanded with a supplemental, digital show, The NFL Today+, that will air weekly from 10 a.m. ET to noon and particularly target younger viewers. 

On Sept. 21, meanwhile, CBS will also have a throwback version of The NFL Today to honor the show’s 50th anniversary and its trailblazing role as a live lead-in to NFL game action. Original host and sports broadcasting icon Brent Musburger, now 86, will make a special appearance on the show, which will also feature vintage graphics.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Packers-Cowboys Draws 26.9M Viewers, NFL’s No. 3 Game of ’25

The Packers-Cowboys clash was the NFL’s third-most-watched game of 2025.
Brian Flores

Brian Flores Asks Court to Halt NFL Arbitration

The war between Flores’s lawyers and an NFL arbitrator has heated up.

MLB’s Managerial Carousel Spins Early As MLB Playoffs Begin

The Giants, Rangers, and Twins fired their managers, with other moves expected.
opinion

Troy Aikman Keeps Showing Why He’s NFL’s Best Analyst

Aikman’s blunt honesty stands out against many of his peers.

Featured Today

Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe hits out of the rough on the first hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.
September 25, 2025

Ryder Cup in New York: Record-Setting Hopes and Fan Concerns

Organizers anticipate record attendance and revenue, but worry remains about fan behavior.
FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Cameron Young of Team USA hits his tee shot on the third hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup Practice Round at Bethpage State Park on Monday, September 22, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.
September 23, 2025

U.S. Ryder Cup Players Will Be Paid. Not Everyone Is Pleased

Americans are receiving a $200,000 stipend, and not everyone is pleased.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.
September 17, 2025

Fever Ratings Fall Without Clark, but Rest of WNBA Game 1s Surge

The Indiana Fever game drew 47% fewer viewers this year.
Sep 18, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts as the Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream during game three of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
September 19, 2025

Fever Upset of Dream Brings Ratings Boost to WNBA Semis

The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.
Sponsored

How Soccer Star Jozy Altidore Became a Buffalo Bills Owner

Jozy Altidore discusses building a business legacy off the field.
Sep 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) makes a reception defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 16, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Sets Early NFL TV Ratings Mark

Several new milestones are established with the big early-season matchup.
exclusive
September 16, 2025

ESPN, Fox One Added 1M Sign-Ups in First 10 Days After Launch

The two high-profile streaming services have strong starts with consumers.
Greg Olsen
September 16, 2025

Greg Olsen on Tom Brady’s Raiders Role: ‘More Power to Him’

This season, the NFL has relaxed the special Brady broadcasting rules.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.
September 15, 2025

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.