SOCON seems to be going all in on basketball

espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2026/03/espn-and-the-southern-conference-announce-multi-year-media-rights-extension/#:~:text=The%20Southern%20Conference%20(SoCon)%20and,the%202031%2D32%20academic%20year.


Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, the SoCon will feature a record number of national regular-season and conference championship events on ESPN’s linear networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU.

Men’s basketball coverage will see notable expansion under the agreement. The Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game will be telecast on ESPN for multiple years of the deal, with the semifinal contests presented across ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. For the first time, the league is also guaranteed regular-season men’s basketball games on ESPN or ESPN2 and the Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship is assured to air on ESPNU annually.

Beyond linear coverage, the agreement ensures a minimum of 750 live SoCon events annually across ESPN digital platforms. In addition to all SoCon football and basketball home games, ESPN platforms will continue to stream hundreds of contests in major Olympic sports, including championship coverage for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track and field, wrestling, softball, and baseball, as well as early rounds of the men’s and women’s basketball championships.

The extension reinforces ESPN+ as the primary digital home for SoCon regular-season and championship content, offering fans consistent, centralized access to live events throughout the academic year. The agreement aligns with ESPN’s recently launched direct-to-consumer service and enhanced ESPN App, which brings ESPN’s full suite of networks and services together in one destination.

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Southern Conference (SoCon) and CBS Sports announced a multi-year extension of their media rights agreement, significantly expanding the conference’s national men’s basketball exposure and continuing a valued partnership through the 2031-32 season.

Beginning in 2026-27, CBS Sports Network will televise 10 Southern Conference regular-season men’s basketball games annually, doubling the previous annual commitment and further elevating the league’s national linear presence. The extended agreement ensures consistent national exposure for SoCon men’s basketball across one of the country’s leading sports television platforms. As the long-time broadcast home of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, CBS brings its nationally recognized basketball platform that aligns with the SoCon’s tradition of excellence and March Madness success.

https://soconsports.com/mbb/article/59822/

ESPN+, Local TV, and CBSSN...sounds like a winner to me