It seems that TCU isn’t the biggest fan of playing on The CW Network.
TCU is traveling to Gerald J. Ford Stadium to play SMU in a Big 12-ACC crossover, and the matchup will be broadcast on The CW Network. The Horned Frogs’ social media team put out a spoof post centering around the popular “This is SportsCenter” commercial series on ESPN. But at the end, it says: This is CW unfortunately… Thanks ACC.
The ACC announced a partnership with The CW Network last July, allowing for 50 football and basketball games to be broadcast on the network through the 2026-27 season. Pitt and Cincinnati played on The CW last season.
It’s a network that is viewable for over 80% of households in the United States, far more than would be reachable by a simple ESPN+ broadcast.
The Big 12 is broadcast on ESPN+ and announced the Big 12 Studios Friday, an “original programming and content to fans as a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel across multiple major platforms, including planned launches on leading platforms early this Fall that will be announced soon, as well as major VOD platforms such as YouTube.” So, it doesn’t broadcast football or basketball games.
The ACC has a fully-fledged conference television network in the ACC Network, and The CW to supplement game coverage.
Mark Packer of ACC Network, shared a strong message on the network today:
“They would have put this game on the Big 12 Network, but you don’t have one. So arrogant TCU is, but the last time I saw them on national television they were losing by 58.”
Pitt is 2-0 against the Big 12 this season, with wins against Cincinnati and West Virginia. So, the Panthers, whether it’s on ESPN, ACC Network or The CW, have been doing pretty well against the Big 12.
As a SMU alum, crushing TCU on the field was the best revenge. Maybe TCU should focus on the on-field product, instead of social media BS. Last time they were the featured national broadcast, they got the sh$&! beat out of them. FYI – they have been 7-9 since the 2022 National Championship.