Oct. 14, 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations & Communications, 816-595-8116

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today a three-year agreement with CBS College Sports Network to broadcast live NAIA football and men's and women's basketball national championship events. In addition to the title games, CBS College Sports Network will broadcast live the semifinals of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship event. The announcement was made by Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, and Tim Pernetti, Executive Vice President, Content, CBS College Sports Network.

"The NAIA is pleased to continue its relationship with CBS College Sports, a network dedicated to first-class productions that highlight the NAIA championship experience," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. "Our relationship is reflective of the Association's goal to showcase our national championships and character-driven intercollegiate athletics on a national stage."

Under this agreement CBS College Sports Network will broadcast NAIA Football, Division I and Division II Men's and Women's Basketball championship games and Division I Men's Basketball semifinal games through 2011. The network initially signed on as an official broadcast partner of the NAIA in 2003, and continues to operate www.NAIA.org, the official website for the NAIA.

"CBS College Sports has grown dramatically since our launch in 2003 but we still serve college sports at every level more than any other network," said Tim Pernetti, Executive Vice President, Content, CBS College Sports Network. "The NAIA has been our partner since day one, and we are proud to move forward and showcase the best of NAIA athletics."

In addition, fans will have the opportunity to watch live CBS College Sports Network broadcasts of NAIA events on their computers. The video stream of each CBS College Sports Network broadcast may be purchased at www.cbssports.com.

CBS College Sports Network is available in more than 80 million homes nationwide through local cable operators and via satellite on Dish Network (America's Top 200 Package - Channel 152) and DIRECTV (Premier Package and Sports Pack - Channel 613). 

The 2008-09 NAIA-CBS College Sports Network broadcast schedule includes (all games live):
53rd Annual NAIA Football National Championship (Barron Stadium, Rome, Ga.)
December 20, 2008 - Championship - 11 a.m. (CT)

18th Annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball (Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, Iowa)
March 17, 2009 - Championship - 7 p.m. (CT)

18th Annual Division II Men's Basketball (College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Mo.)
March 17, 2009 - Championship - 8:50 p.m. (CT)   

29th Annual Division I Women's Basketball (Oman Arena, Jackson, Tenn.)
March 24, 2009 - Championship - 7 p.m. (CT)

72nd Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball (Kansas City, Mo.)
March 23, 2009 - Semifinals - 7 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. (CT)
March 24, 2009 - Championship - 8:50 p.m. (CT)

About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.