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Why Amazon Prime Video Was the Right Next Step for Salem News Channel

Garrett Searight
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Why Amazon Prime Video Was the Right Next Step for Salem News Channel

Salem Media Group is expanding the reach of Salem News Channel with a new distribution agreement that brings the network to Amazon Prime Video, a move executives believe further strengthens the channel’s growing footprint in the rapidly evolving streaming television space.

For Cary Pahigian, the Vice President and General Manager of Salem News Channel, the addition represents another milestone in the channel’s effort to build a broad national presence through major streaming platforms.

“Well, it’s adding another significant layer to our distribution on Salem News Channel after three-plus years,” Pahigian said. “We have almost two dozen distribution points now, including Pluto, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Sling, and soon the Roku Channel coming up in a few weeks.”

The deal with Amazon Prime Video places Salem News Channel alongside some of the most recognizable content providers available through the platform. For Pahigian, that visibility is both a validation of the channel’s programming strategy and a sign that distributors see value in the network’s offerings.

“I’m pleased that these distributors, whose real estate is very valuable and tough to access, have viewed SNC as worthy of being added to their channels and becoming partners with us,” Pahigian stated.

The path to landing deals with major streaming distributors doesn’t happen overnight. According to Pahigian, Salem took time to ensure its programming and operational infrastructure were ready before pursuing wide-scale distribution opportunities.

“On our team, we have a point person who handles distribution,” Pahigian said. “When we felt comfortable a few years ago after launching the channel and concluding we had a product we were comfortable bringing to market, the gentleman who heads up that team began engaging with a number of distribution points.”

At the same time, he noted that the growing awareness of Salem News Channel has also led potential partners to reach out directly.

“At the same time, as we’ve grown, other companies have contacted us,” remarked Pahigian. “So it’s a little bit of both. You have to be deemed to be at a quality level they want to accept on their channel. We continue conversations — sometimes they happen quickly, and sometimes it takes time to establish a relationship and determine whether it’s the right addition to their lineup.”

While the deal with Amazon Prime Video stands out because of the platform’s global brand recognition, Pahigian said the channel’s overall growth has actually moved faster than Salem initially anticipated.

“I would say we’re far ahead of schedule,” Pahigian said. “The first six months to a year were really about building out a product we were proud of that represented the content we wanted to present, along with building out operations.”

That work included creating a nationwide production footprint capable of sustaining a continuous programming schedule.

“We have studios and offices in Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa, New York, and Washington, D.C., so we’ve built a nationwide operation for the Salem News Channel,” the Salem News Channel Vice President and General Manager said.

As the operational structure took shape, Salem News Channel also had to navigate the rapidly changing media landscape. Streaming television has grown dramatically in recent years, creating new opportunities for networks willing to adapt.

“It’s growing so fast that it has surpassed cable and satellite,” Pahigian stated of the streaming television environment. “From there, we worked to understand the distribution side — how to make connections and build partnerships. We thought it might take a long time to get there, but it moved much quicker.”

Part of that acceleration came from Salem’s existing reputation within media and talk programming circles.

“One reason is that Salem had already cultivated a good amount of product and credibility,” Pahigian said. “We had a number of proven talent, news people, personalities, and content producers already in-house and access to those people. That was helpful.”

At the same time, he said the explosion of streaming services has created significant demand for reliable programming.

“The other part was that the streaming space was growing so quickly that there was a need for quality content,” said Pahigian. “A lot of people are knocking on doors and there’s a lot of content. For every channel that goes on, a couple leave. It’s a revolving door right now as the space settles in.”

Even before joining Amazon Prime Video, Salem News Channel had already begun to see significant audience growth, particularly around major political events.

“We have millions of viewers each month on the Salem News Channel,” Pahigian said. “We carried the State of the Union address last week, where we had pre- and post-coverage from our staff, and we more than doubled our audience that night. People are coming to us for that type of analysis and content.”

In Pahigian’s view, the strategy that has helped drive that audience growth is Salem’s commitment to building programming around recognizable personalities with established followings.

But he emphasized that the network doesn’t simply view its hosts as traditional radio personalities expanding into television.

“We don’t view these people as radio personalities doing TV or video,” Pahigian said. “We’ve turned that upside down. These are truly multi-platform content providers.”

Shows hosted by Mike Gallagher, Chris Stigall, Scott Jennings, Hugh Hewitt, and Larry Elder are produced by Salem News Channel and distributed across multiple formats.

“They’re broadcast as television shows in real time while also airing as radio shows, and later as video podcasts,” Pahigian remarked. “We produce each show every day as a high-quality video presentation first, which is also heard on audio and later distributed as video and audio podcasts.”

That approach, he said, has helped position Salem News Channel as a legitimate competitor in the digital streaming ecosystem.

“These are high-profile personalities,” Pahigian said. “People see that and recognize that these personalities have followings and credibility. They’ve been around for years. This isn’t a fly-by-night organization plugging in nameless faces and voices.”

Still, operating a 24-hour streaming news network comes with challenges — particularly when it comes to maintaining consistent quality across an around-the-clock schedule.

“One of the biggest challenges is sustaining a quality 24/7 product,” Pahigian said. “The demands of operating around the clock — whether it’s responding to changes in the world or simply managing a continuous operation — are significant.”

Consistency, he added, is ultimately the key to long-term success.

“It’s one thing to have a good day or two, but it’s important that when people come to you there’s a consistent expectation level,” Pahigian stated. “I have to quarterback a quality product every day. That’s really the magic.”

The continued expansion — including the addition of Amazon Prime Video — is something Pahigian said wouldn’t be possible without strong support from Salem Media leadership.

“When Dave Santrella first interacted with me and asked if I would help lead this, I knew we would need the proper backing,” Pahigian said. “Dave and the Salem Media team have been phenomenal.”

Despite the challenges facing the broader media industry, he said that support has remained steady since the channel’s launch.

“This could not be done without the solid backing of Dave and the Salem Media Company,” Pahigian said. “They have been with us from day one and have never wavered. They’ve been supportive, invested in the product, and have set a high standard for excellence that we hope to deliver every day to our viewers, advertisers, and colleagues.”

As Salem News Channel continues to grow its distribution footprint, Pahigian said each new partnership builds additional momentum for the brand.

“As you add each distribution point, you expand credibility and awareness,” Pahigian remarked. “It all feeds off each other.”

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Rock Radio Keeps Slicing the Pie — But the Pie Isn’t Growing

Keith Cunningham
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Rock Radio Keeps Slicing the Pie — But the Pie Isn’t Growing

We know why RockTernative radio has different lanes. Eras and genres test differently; Currents and Gold serve different purposes; positioning matters; expectations and tastes vary; and let’s be honest — it gives unknowing advertisers a description of what they’re buying.

So there are labels.

  • Active/Mainstream
  • Alternative/Modern
  • Classic Rock
  • Classic Hits
  • Variety
  • Triple-A
  • AOR
  • Christian

And inside each of those lanes, we slice, dice, and hyper-segment even thinner by coding songs by sound, tempo, era, type, mood, and several more.

It makes sense. Brands striving to create the perfect segue, QH, or hour. But when the radio pie isn’t growing, does slicing thinner really help? Is optimizing or protecting micro-silos the best growth strategy?

Step outside station walls and think about the internal arguments that take place.

  • “Grunge isn’t Classic Rock.”
  • “Metallica shouldn’t be on Alternative.”
  • “Franz Ferdinand isn’t Rock.”
  • “Code Guns N’ Roses like a hair band.”
  • “The Foo Fighters aren’t Rock, they’re Alternative.”
  • “Never play two long songs in the same hour.”
  • “You can’t play Nickelback at all.”

If listeners heard these arguments, most would probably just shrug and say, “It’s all rock music.” They wouldn’t be entirely wrong.

And if Spotify, Amazon, SXM, and Apple didn’t exist, I’m probably not writing this. But they exist and thrive by offering so much niche that it equals width. Radio, on the other hand, can’t survive on niche — the business model is based on being mass and wide.

In other words, the more musically specialized or focused radio becomes, the harder it’s going to get.

While strategic boundaries and expectations matter, at what point do we end up with so much focus or strategic segmentation that it has an adverse effect and stunts growth?

For context, other formats fight outward and wide.

  • Country doesn’t fracture into as many sub-lanes as Rock.
  • CHR doesn’t apologize for blending genres.
  • Hip-Hop evolves monthly and never debates if something is “too new.”
  • JACK plays everything.
  • Some ACs now dip their toes into Green Day, GNR, Queen, etc.

Rock sometimes treats its borders like moats guarded by gators.

  • That’s too Alternative or Rock-sounding.
  • Songs buried for scoring a 3.8 instead of 3.9.
  • We won’t play anything older than 1990.
  • Rules to prevent two songs with similar “coding” from touching.

Here’s a larger rule to consider: instead of Alternative vs. Active vs. Classic, maybe it should be Rock against everything else — within reason.

This doesn’t mean St. Vincent belongs on KUPD or Godsmack fits KTCL. And no one is suggesting there shouldn’t ever be separate Alternative, Active, or Classic formats, but in some markets there doesn’t need to be. Considering the pressure radio is under, is it time for brands to consider being stylistically wider to build more bridges to a larger ocean of Rock?

And let’s not forget a few things:

  • Listeners don’t fall in line and self-identify with formats like programmers do.
  • All forms of RockTernative are more lifestyle and attitude than formats.
  • Rock, Alternative, and Classic focus groups speak similar languages.

Debating if a song from 1990 is too old is undercard stuff. And the listeners aren’t haggling over whether the Chili Peppers should be played on Classic Rock or if GNR would torpedo an Alternative brand like Live 105.

The specialized and niche battles have been decided. For radio, having vision and focus also means fighting to own the biggest venues.

CPAC Joins List Opposing FCC Lifting Local TV Ownership Caps

BNM Staff
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CPAC Joins List Opposing FCC Lifting Local TV Ownership Caps

CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp has shared that the organization is joining the list of those parties opposed to the FCC lifting the local TV ownership cap.

In a letter to Congress, the organization shared its opinion that the limit of being able to reach 39% of U.S. households shouldn’t be altered.

“CPAC strongly urges the FCC to maintain the National Television Ownership Cap and to respect
Congress’s clear statutory authority on this matter,” the letter reads. “Any change to this statutory limit must come from congressional action, not unilateral regulatory action. This issue goes to the heart of localism,
competition, and viewpoint diversity in American media … We believe strongly that the FCC must operate within the boundaries set by law and refrain from actions that would effectively weaken or circumvent the cap.”

The organization added that it supports a review of FCC broadcast ownership rules “with full transparency.”

“This is a serious matter for conservatives and for the American public. Local television remains the primary source of community news for millions of Americans, particularly as local newspapers decline,” the letter reads. “Polling consistently shows that Americans — and especially conservatives — do not want further consolidation of broadcast television power in the hands of a few national entities.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, regulatory reforms have helped reduce barriers to entry and foster greater competition,” the statement continues. “That progress demonstrates that competition and diversity can be strengthened without dismantling congressionally enacted safeguards.”

The comments come after both FCC Chair Brendan Carr and President Donald Trump have shared support for the regulatory approval of Nexstar Media Group‘s proposed acquisition of TEGNA. That deal would make Nexstar Media Group stations available in more than 80% of U.S. households, well surpassing the current 39% limit.

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UFC Announces Long Term Agreement With bet365 as Official Sports Betting Partner

BSM Staff
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UFC Announces Long Term Agreement With bet365 as Official Sports Betting Partner

The sports betting landscape around mixed martial arts continues to expand as bet365 and Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed a long-term agreement that designates the global wagering operator as the Official Sports Betting Partner of UFC throughout the United States and Canada.

Through the partnership, bet365 will maintain a presence across every UFC event moving forward, creating a deeper connection between fight broadcasts and real-time wagering opportunities while also embedding sportsbook integrations directly into the viewing experience across television, streaming platforms, and in-arena environments.

Fans watching UFC events will see several betting-focused enhancements integrated into the broadcasts. These include live odds displays, on-screen betting tickers, and fight-specific wagering options. The features provide viewers context about the matchup inside the Octagon. Same-game parlay opportunities and fighter-specific betting markets aim to boost engagement as bouts progress round by round.

Trip Stoddard, Head of Development for bet365, called the collaboration a pivotal step in the company’s global expansion strategy. He said mixed martial arts combines constant action with a highly engaged audience. That combination aligns with how modern sports fans interact with betting platforms

“This partnership with UFC marks a defining moment for bet365 as we accelerate our growth globally and deepen our commitment to sports where live action and fan engagement are inseparable,” Stoddard said. “UFC’s always-on event calendar and highly engaged global fanbase create a powerful environment for real-time betting, and our industry-leading product depth uniquely positions us to elevate how fans experience every fight.”

UFC enters the agreement with significant reach and influence in the sports marketplace. The promotion has built a global audience of hundreds of millions of fans. It also maintains one of the busiest schedules in professional sports. UFC stages more than 40 live events each year in arenas worldwide.

That steady calendar of fight cards has helped make MMA one of the most heavily wagered sports worldwide. Individual fights create clear betting moments as rounds unfold. Odds shift in real time, giving bettors constant opportunities to react.

Nicholas Smith, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships for TKO, the parent company of UFC, said the partnership aligns two organizations focused on innovation and fan engagement during a period of significant momentum for the promotion.

“bet365 brings scale, credibility, and innovation to the sports betting space, and we’re thrilled to continue to develop this long-term partnership at such a momentous time for UFC,” Smith said. “bet365 is a natural fit for UFC because they understand fight fans and how they engage with the sport in real time.”

The announcement comes as UFC entered a new media chapter in 2026. A major U.S. broadcast deal with Paramount Global will distribute marquee events and Fight Night cards on Paramount+.

Fans will first see bet365 branding integrated into UFC programming during UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 this Saturday. The event takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will air on Paramount+ and the CBS broadcast network. The telecast marks CBS’s first primetime UFC broadcast.

bet365 is replacing DraftKings, which held UFC sports betting rights since 2021.

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Paramount CEO David Ellison: We Want CNN to Be In the Truth and Trust Business

BNM Staff
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Paramount CEO David Ellison: We Want CNN to Be In the Truth and Trust Business

Paramount Skydance is set to acquire CNN as part of its deal to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. David Ellison is laying out his vision for the network.

While appearing on CNBC on Thursday morning, Ellison was asked about whether or not CNN would be changing its editorial stance. The question came from David Faber, who asked about the perception that “you will be more beholden to the Trump administration” given what’s transpired at CBS News.

Ellison balked at the suggestion.

“I’ve said this since the beginning, which is, you know, for — when it really comes to — editorial independence will absolutely be maintained. It’s maintained at CBS. It’ll be maintained at CNN,” Ellison said. “And, really, who we want to talk to is the 70 percent of Americans and really around the world that identify as center-left, at center-right? And we want to be in the truth business. We want to be in the trust business. And that’s not going to change.”

Those comments from David Ellison came after he called CNN “an incredible brand with an incredible team.”

“We absolutely believe in the independence that needs to be maintained, obviously, for those incredible journalists, and we want to support that going forward,” Ellison remarked. “CNN and CBS News are brands that we also really want to be a part of transitioning to streaming so that consumers have the choice. If they want to watch our incredible news brands on broadcast, they can do that. If they want to watch on cable, they can do that.

“But we also want to create a world to where if they want watch on streaming, they can do that, and where we can really meet consumers where they are,” the Paramount Skydance CEO continued. “We’re going to invest in the news business. And we think this is going to — this transaction will be a positive for both CBS News and CNN.”

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Dan “FishBoy” Breymeier Named Assistant Program Director And Afternoons At 92 MIX FM

BMM Staff
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Dan “FishBoy” Breymeier Named Assistant Program Director And Afternoons At 92 MIX FM

A familiar voice to radio listeners in Northeast Pennsylvania is returning to the market with a new role and a new on-air identity. Times Shamrock Media announced that Dan Breymeier, widely recognized by longtime listeners as FishBoy, will join 92 Mix FM as Assistant Program Director while also hosting the station’s afternoon drive program.

His new show debuts March 9 and will air weekdays from 3–7 p.m., positioning him in one of the most competitive dayparts in the region.

While Breymeier built his reputation under the FishBoy name, he will now return to the airwaves as “Flounder,” reviving a nickname that predates his radio career.

The personality-driven host plans to blend his familiarity with the market, music knowledge and on-air style to help grow the station’s presence during afternoons while strengthening the station’s connection to local listeners.

“Dan is exactly the kind of broadcaster we want representing Mix FM,” said Mark Hoover, operations manager and program director for Times Shamrock Media. “He understands this audience because he grew up here, he brings real passion for music, and he’s a true radio pro who knows how to create a connection with listeners. We’re excited about the creativity and energy he’ll bring to afternoons and to the programming team.”

Breymeier previously spent significant time on the air in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market, most notably at 98.5 KRZ, where he served as music director and hosted evenings for the long-running CHR outlet. A Northeast Pennsylvania native, he joined the station in 2000 and became a recognizable voice among younger audiences throughout the region.

His original nickname “Flounder” dates back to his high school years and drew inspiration from the character in the 1978 comedy film Animal House. As his career progressed, the nickname evolved into FishBoy, which eventually became the brand listeners associated with his on-air personality.

The move comes as 92 Mix FM continues to adjust its lineup in an effort to strengthen its live and local presence across the market. The station recently expanded responsibilities for several WEZX personalities, including Neil Trama in mornings and Kait in middays, while Ron Reino joined the lineup to handle evening duties.

With Breymeier now anchoring afternoons and assisting with programming strategy, station leadership believes the refreshed lineup positions Mix FM to deepen its connection with listeners throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

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‘Speakeasy’ Co-Host Kieran Hickey-Semple Blasts Stephen A. Smith For New Orleans Pelicans Popularity Comments

BSM Staff
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‘Speakeasy’ Co-Host Kieran Hickey-Semple Blasts Stephen A. Smith For New Orleans Pelicans Popularity Comments

The ongoing back-and-forth involving Stephen A. Smith and the New Orleans Pelicans continues to spark reactions across the sports media landscape, with Speakeasy co-host Kieran Hickey-Semple offering one of the more pointed responses to the ESPN personality’s recent comments.

Smith reignited debate Wednesday on First Take after addressing a viral social media video posted by the Pelicans that mocked several of his on-air moments. The segment came after Smith earlier criticized Pelicans star Zion Williamson, labeling the former top overall pick a “bona fide scrub,” which prompted the team’s digital team to fire back with the now widely circulated clip.

However, the exchange drew criticism from Hickey-Semple during the latest episode of the Speakeasy podcast, where the host challenged both Smith’s tone and the direction of his commentary.

“I’m not here to discredit Stephen A. Smith for what he’s done in his career,” Hickey-Semple said. “I’m in this business because of Stephen A. Smith. All I have seen from this man is be an absolute embarrassment. I’m ashamed to say that he’s the one that inspired me to get into this business. He is an absolute cornball.”

While Smith used his platform to question the Pelicans’ relevance and overall franchise success, Hickey-Semple argued that the commentary strayed beyond legitimate basketball criticism and instead leaned heavily into personal posturing.

“As a dude at 58 years old who always dreams of playing in the NBA. To sit there and then just be like, ‘Well, I’m more popular than y’all,’ you’re lame,” Hickey-Semple said. “You think that you are the story continuously over and over again. You sit there and you jest about players and athletes knowing good and damn well you wanted to be that.”

The Speakeasy co-host continued by questioning the tone Smith adopted when responding to the Pelicans’ social media team, suggesting the exchange represented a broader issue in how prominent commentators sometimes interact with athletes and organizations.

“There’s a level of respect that you’re supposed to have for the players that you made your career covering,” Hickey-Semple said. “Have fun in politics, bro, because I don’t want to hear s**t else you’ve got to say. You’re a 58-year-old having a popularity contest with 19, 20, 21-year-olds. You f***ing cornball”

The remarks illustrate how the debate surrounding Smith’s comments has expanded beyond basketball analysis into a broader conversation about tone and responsibility within sports media. Over the past several years, outspoken television personalities have built massive platforms through provocative commentary, while teams and players increasingly use social media channels to respond directly when criticism crosses into viral territory.

Consequently, exchanges like the one involving Smith and the Pelicans rarely remain confined to a single television segment or tweet. Instead, reactions from podcasts, digital shows and social platforms frequently extend the life of the story while introducing new voices into the discussion.

Smith has not provided further comment or response on the matter.

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Salem News Channel Now Available on Amazon Prime Video

BNM Staff
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Salem News Channel Now Available on Amazon Prime Video

Salem Media has announced that its streaming TV channel, Salem News Channel, is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

The launch officially took place earlier this week, marking an expansion to millions of viewers through one of the largest streaming platforms.

Viewers are able to access Salem News Channel from the Live TV tab in the app and streaming platform.

“Expanding Salem News Channel onto Prime Video allows us to bring our programming to one of the largest streaming audiences in the world,” said Salem News Channel VP and GM Cary Pahigian.

“As more viewers shift to streaming platforms for news and commentary, we are focused on ensuring Salem’s voices and perspectives are available wherever audiences are watching,” Pahigian concluded.

Salem News Channel offers live news coverage, interviews, and commentary from the network’s suite of conservative and Christian voices and personalities.

According to estimates, Amazon Prime Video has 240 million global subscribers and 180 million U.S. subscribers.

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Fred Toucher: Stephen A. Smith US/Iran Political Takes Not Needed, Boring

BSM Staff
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Fred Toucher: Stephen A. Smith US/Iran Political Takes Not Needed, Boring

Fred Toucher on 98.5 The Sports Hub questioned whether sports media figures should feel compelled to weigh in on complex geopolitical issues, arguing during a recent broadcast that restraint and awareness of expertise can sometimes demonstrate greater judgment than offering commentary outside one’s field.

During Thursday’s edition of Toucher & Hardy, host Fred Toucher addressed the growing trend of sports personalities sharing opinions on the United States’ military involvement in Iran, a topic that has increasingly surfaced in national media discussions and across social platforms as prominent commentators extend their commentary beyond athletics and into international affairs.

Toucher told listeners that not every public figure benefits from offering an opinion on every major story, particularly when the topic involves foreign policy and military strategy that typically requires years of study and specialized knowledge.

“A sign of intelligence is knowing when not to weigh in,” Toucher said. “When maybe you don’t know so much, maybe you should be listening.”

He suggested that audiences would be better served by hearing from subject-matter experts who have spent their careers studying geopolitical conflict and international relations rather than personalities whose primary expertise lies in sports analysis and entertainment.

“Listen to ex-generals. People that are professors of international affairs, experts in the Middle East,” Toucher said. “Listen to what they say. No one needs to know what you’re saying.”

Toucher also referenced the media approach of Stephen A. Smith as an example of commentary that, in his view, often avoids firmly defined political positions despite delivering passionate monologues on political topics across multiple platforms.

Smith, who appears regularly on First Take and has increasingly discussed national political issues during interviews and podcast appearances, has drawn both praise and criticism for his attempts to balance commentary on sports with broader cultural and political conversations.

Toucher described Smith’s political messaging style as intentionally cautious, saying the approach frequently results in commentary that avoids clear conclusions.

“I think in this environment what Stephen A. Smith is doing, which by the way is incredibly boring,” Toucher said. “His whole political thing is this fence-sitting like both sides guy that just ends up being really boring.”

Co-host Rob “Hardy” Poole added that Smith’s presentation can feel emotionally charged while still stopping short of delivering a definitive viewpoint, which he argued creates a disconnect between the tone and the substance of the message.

“It comes off as very hollow and really superficial, because it’s passionate fence sitting,” Poole said. “He’s getting all riled up and he’s speaking with great emotion, without actually landing on one side or the other.”

The discussion reflects a broader conversation within sports media as personalities with large audiences increasingly address topics that extend far beyond the playing field, prompting ongoing debate about where the boundaries between sports commentary, political discussion and audience expectations should exist.

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TNT Sports Acquires Exclusive U.S. English Language Broadcast Right to FIBA Tournaments

BSM Staff
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TNT Sports Acquires Exclusive U.S. English Language Broadcast Right to FIBA Tournaments

TNT Sports is expanding its international basketball presence after reaching a multiyear agreement with the International Basketball Federation that grants the company exclusive U.S. English-language rights to several of the sport’s most prominent global tournaments.

The new arrangement positions TNT Sports as the American television home for major men’s and women’s competitions organized by FIBA, bringing a slate of global events to TNT Sports’ linear networks and digital platforms over the next several years.

Among the highlights included in the package are the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 and FIBA EuroBasket 2029.

Although the headline tournaments remain years away, coverage under the new partnership will begin almost immediately. Later this month, TNT Sports will televise games from the qualifying tournament for the 2026 women’s global championship, which takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 11–17 and serves as the first event produced under the new rights agreement.

The opening competition is expected to showcase several prominent names connected to USA Basketball, including Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, each of whom played a role in the United States capturing gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile, the tournament could also mark the senior national team competitive debuts of several emerging stars who have helped elevate interest in the women’s game across the United States, including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.

TNT Sports plans to distribute the qualifying tournament across multiple outlets within its portfolio, including truTV and Max, while the final matchup featuring the United States and Spain will air on TNT.

Beyond live games, the company will supplement coverage through its digital and social media brands, including Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and B/R W, each of which plans to spotlight players and provide behind-the-scenes storytelling designed to expand audience engagement around the tournaments.

Consequently, the new agreement adds another significant basketball property to a rapidly growing lineup for TNT Sports. The company already distributes regular-season action from the Big East Conference and Big 12 Conference, while also sharing broadcast responsibilities for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament with CBS Sports.

In addition, TNT Sports carries the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas and recently added coverage of Unrivaled, a new professional women’s competition designed to showcase elite talent in a condensed format.

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