Hi there! As a sports fan, I know how important it is to easily find and watch all the games and commentary shows you love. That‘s why I put together this guide on accessing CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) specifically for DirecTV subscribers like yourself.
Whether you‘re a diehard college basketball fan, can‘t miss an MLS match, or simply enjoy opinionated takes on the latest headlines, CBSSN likely has programming for you. And it‘s now available in over 60 million households!
But first, let‘s quickly recap CBSSN‘s background…
A Sports Network With Humble Beginnings
CBS Sports Network originated in 2002 under the name College Sports Television (CSTV). As you probably guessed from the name, CSTV exclusively aired live college sporting events and related studio shows.
But the founders had a vision to eventually expand beyond just college athletics.
In 2006, media giant CBS acquired CSTV. This provided a massive boost in distribution, production quality, and rights fees budget. Two years later, it rebranded as the CBS College Sports Network.
Fast forward to 2011, and the channel dropped "College" to become simply CBS Sports Network (CBSSN). This coincided with a broader shift to carrying more mainstream professional leagues.
Today CBSSN continues to be the home for college sports while also mixing in bold, innovative programming you won‘t find on the competition.
Below are CBSSN‘s key programming areas…
Live Sports Galore
The network provides tons of live games and events across these sports:
- NCAA: Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, lacrosse
- Professional: UEFA soccer, PGA Tour golf, MLR rugby
- Women‘s Leagues: WNBA, NWSL, Athletes Unlimited
- Alternative: Bull riding, strongman, arm wrestling
Plus CBS Sports Network collaborates with CBS and CBS Sports Radio on coverage of huge events like Super Bowl, Final Four, and more.
I‘ll dive into specifics shortly!
Fresh Original Programming
In addition to airing live sports, CBSSN produces compelling studio shows covering the latest news, insider analysis, interviews, and documentaries.
Popular programs from faces you know:
- Boomer and Gio – Hosted by former NFL QB Boomer Esiason
- Reiter‘s Block – Led by senior writer Bill Reiter
- We Need To Talk – All-female cast discusses hot topics
And CBSSN takes you inside the action with behind-the-scenes series like Four Sides of the Story.
Next let‘s explore how to actually watch CBS Sports Network…
CBS Sports Network on DirecTV
I‘m excited share that CBS Sports Network is available on DirecTV channel 221 in ALL packages – Entertainment, Choice, Xtra, Ultimate, Premier.
So it doesn‘t matter what specific DirecTV plan you subscribe to, you can tune into CBSSN on channel 221 in your channel lineup!
Compare that to other major providers:
| TV Provider | CBS Sports Network Channel |
|---|---|
| DirecTV | 221 |
| Dish Network | 158 |
| Xfinity | 429 |
Now let‘s examine some of CBS Sports Network‘s best live sporting events and originals shows…
Live NCAA Action
As a leader in airing live college athletics, CBS Sports Network covers 35+ NCAA conferences and brackets across these sports:
Football
- Army vs Navy
- Mountain West
- Pac 12
Basketball
- A-10 Tournament
- Big East
- Ivy League
Lacrosse
- MCLA National Championships
Plus tennis, track & field, gymnastics, and more!
CBSSN is essentially your home for live games spanning all NCAA divisions.
Next let‘s check out their professional league offerings…
Professional Leagues & Events
In addition to college sports, CBSSN provides extensive major league coverage:
MLS Soccer
- Regular season matches
- Playoffs
- All-Star Game
International Soccer
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- FA Women‘s Super League
Golf
- 16+ annual PGA Tour tournaments
Rugby
- Major League Rugby
And the network airs professional matches for rugby, Australian Rules Football, boxing, poker, and more.
CBSSN brings fans across the pond and beyond right to their screens! Now onto popular originals…
Top CBS Sports Network Studio Shows
To complement its live sports, CBSSN produces compelling original programs covering the hottest topics and storylines:
- Boomer and Gio – Former NFL QB Boomer Esiason alongside co-host Gio provide takes on football, basketball, baseball and more weekday mornings. A must-listen for die-hard sports fans!
- Reiter‘s Block – Led by senior writer Bill Reiter, this weekday afternoon show features debates on the biggest NFL, NBA, MLB, and UFC news. Reiter‘s 25+ years of experience makes for engaging discussions.
- We Need To Talk – This all-female cast offers a fresh, much-needed perspective on trending sports headlines and issues. It tackles subjects other shows ignore.
Plus documentaries like Four Sides of the Story take viewers inside landmark moments. And many programs are simulcast or share talent with CBS Sports Radio.
Outlook for CBS Sports Network
While CBS Sports Network doesn‘t have the mainstream reach of ESPN, Fox Sports 1 or other leaders yet, internal investments combined with carriage across major cable/satellite providers has it on a nice growth trajectory.
After the 2019 CBS-Viacom merger, CBSSN now falls under the Paramount Media Networks umbrella. Industry experts anticipate this will mean:
-
Increased Production Budgets – Scaling original programming and rights fees for live events
-
Expanded Distribution – Addition to cheaper cable bundles and vMVPD lineups
-
Greater Investment – In streaming and alternate delivery to reach younger audiences
CBS Sports Network averaged over 100,000 viewers in 2022. So while niche now, expect CBS‘s sports brand and production prowess to propel CBSSN viewership higher in the years ahead!
Well, that wraps up my guide on watching CBS Sports Network through DirecTV. I hope you found it helpful and are now ready to enjoy all the live games, studio shows, and more on channel 221.
Let me know if any other questions come up about CBSSN!
