Mountain West Unveils Expanded Media Rights Deal Through 2032

HSRN STAFF | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 3, 2026

The Mountain West Conference announced a sweeping new media rights package Tuesday, securing long-term partnerships with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW Network, and streaming partner Kiswe.

The agreements with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and Kiswe run six years from the 2026-27 through 2031-32 seasons, while The CW Network has committed to a five-year deal through 2030-31. Conference officials described the deal as the most expansive media distribution plan in Mountain West history, pairing national broadcast exposure with an enhanced direct-to-consumer streaming platform.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said the agreement delivers “unprecedented national linear visibility” while creating new digital opportunities that spotlight student-athletes, institutions, and conference-wide storytelling.

According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, financials of the deal were not disclosed, but Nevarez confirmed that legacy conference members will not see a decrease from the previous media rights payout of around $3.5 million per year, which was promised in the grant of rights, whether the money comes entirely from the TV deal or is drawn in part from league reserves.

Mountain West Coverage by Network

CBS Sports

15 regular-season football games annually on CBS Sports Network
At least one football game per year on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+
18 regular-season men’s basketball games on CBS Sports Network
Men’s Basketball Championship Game remains on CBS
Men’s tournament quarterfinals and semifinals on CBS Sports Network
Two regular-season women’s basketball games annually
Women’s Basketball Championship Game on CBS Sports Network

FOX Sports

Exclusive rights to the Mountain West Football Championship Game
12 regular-season football games per year across FOX, FS1, and FS2
20 regular-season men’s basketball games annually

The CW Network

13 regular-season football games annually
20 regular-season men’s basketball games
15 regular-season women’s basketball games
Represents a significant increase in national exposure for Mountain West women’s basketball

Collectively, CBS, FOX, and The CW will broadcast more than 150 live Mountain West events each year, maximizing exposure across national windows and major sports platforms.

MW App & Streaming Expansion

In partnership with Kiswe, the Mountain West will launch an upgraded MW App in July 2026, transitioning from a free model to a subscription-based service. The platform will serve as the exclusive streaming home for Mountain West events not carried on national linear television and is expected to feature more than 1,000 live regular-season and postseason events annually, on-demand replays, highlights, and original programming.

Fans will also be able to access the MW App through a subscription on Prime Video this fall, expanding availability across connected TV and mobile platforms.

University of Hawai’i

As a full Mountain West member beginning in 2026, the University of Hawai‘i stands to benefit from the conference’s expanded national footprint while continuing to pursue a separate local media partnership for Rainbow Warrior home events.

“Today’s conference media rights announcement starts an exciting new chapter for University of Hawai‘i Athletics and the Mountain West,” said UH Athletics Director Matt Elliott. “The package ensures broad conference exposure with national TV partners FOX, CBS, and The CW, while also vastly increasing the overall availability of UH competitions through the Mountain West’s direct-to-consumer platform.”

“With the national media rights finalized, securing a local media partner is the next major priority for UH,” Elliott added. “We are committed to finding a partner who recognizes the value of the UH brand and celebrates our unique identity while further amplifying our student-athletes’ successes. We will establish a partnership that drives revenue and delivers a high-quality experience for our local viewers, the broadcaster, and the University.”

National vs. Local Media Rights — What It Means

National Media Rights
The Mountain West’s national media rights deal controls games selected for broadcast on CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW Network, and streaming platforms tied to the conference. These agreements provide national exposure for Mountain West teams and ensure marquee matchups are widely available across the country.

Local Media Rights
Local media rights are negotiated individually by each school and cover games not picked up by national partners. For the University of Hawai‘i, this includes the majority of Rainbow Warrior & Rainbow Wahine home events and determines how fans across the islands can watch games on local TV, streaming platforms, and digital channels.

Together, the two structures work in tandem — national partners elevate visibility beyond Hawai‘i, while a local media partner ensures consistent, accessible coverage for fans at home.

Mountain West Conference Members (2026-27)

Football Members (Competing in Mountain West Football)

These schools will field Mountain West football teams beginning in the 2026 season:

United States Air Force Academy
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (upgrading from football-only to full member)
University of Nevada, Reno
University of New Mexico
Northern Illinois University (football-only member)
San José State University
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Texas at El Paso
University of Wyoming

This group will compete for the Mountain West Football Championship and follow an eight-game conference schedule.

Full Members (All Sports Except Football Where Not Listed Above)

These schools compete across most Mountain West championship sports, including basketball and Olympic sports:

University of California, Davis — All MW sports except football*
Grand Canyon University — All MW sports except football (already competing beginning 2025-26)

*UC Davis football currently competes in the Big Sky Conference (FCS)