FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 1998

NFL AND CBS AGREE TO EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT

The National Football League has reached agreement on a new eight-year television contract with CBS at rights fees guaranteed through the NFL’s 2005 season, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced today.

CBS acquired the rights to the American Football Conference package of Sunday afternoon games previously held by NBC. CBS, which first began televising NFL regular season games in 1956, had broadcast the National Football Conference package from 1970 through 1993.

The new contract also includes two Super Bowls to be carried by CBS, one during the first five years of the deal and one in the final three years.

"CBS was an important partner of the NFL for many years," Commissioner Tagliabue said. "We look forward to renewing the relationship and developing an exciting new era of the NFL on CBS."

On Monday, the NFL announced an agreement with Fox on a new eight-year contract to televise the NFC package of Sunday afternoon games it acquired in 1994.

These new agreements with Fox and CBS are firm and unconditional for the first five years (1998-2002). However, at the NFL’s option, the contracts may be reopened prior to the sixth season (2003). If the contract were reopened, the NFL is then entitled to negotiate new financial terms above the already increased and guaranteed levels for the 2003-2005 seasons.

"This reopening option would enable the NFL clubs to benefit from future positive changes in marketplace conditions, ratings, audience demographics, changes in technology and other factors," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "There is no downside for us."

No financial information was released for these new agreements that cover the 1998-2005 NFL seasons.