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I'm not even sure what to make of this news, but the Arena Football League has signed a two-year deal to televise its games on CBS Sports Network starting in 2013. Currently, the AFL airs on NFL Network.

Starting on Saturday, March 23rd, CBS Sports Network will air the AFL's Game of the Week every Saturday. The season-ending Arena Bowl will air on Saturday, August 17th at 1 PM on CBS.

CBS Sports Network has even less properties than the struggling NBC Sports Network, and picking up the AFL is actually a pretty solid coup for them. The AFL is probably the second-most popular sports property that CBS Sports Network has the rights to after college football and basketball. Their other "premier" properties include lacrosse and bull riding, making the AFL pretty mainstream in comparison to what else they're consistently airing once the college football and basketball seasons end.

The AFL isn't gaining much out of this, however. CBS itself doesn't exactly air many sports in the summer, and there's likely not going to be much of an attempt at cross-promotion. By leaving NFL Network, the AFL will lose the promotion that the football-focused network gave them, and also loses a built-in audience.

This is a pretty solid win for CBS Sports Network, but it may be a step back for the AFL.

[Fang's Bites]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.