The Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and the United Athletic Conference (UAC) have reached a long-term media rights agreement with ESPN, marking the first time multiple NCAA Division I conferences have joined together under a unified media rights deal.
Earlier this year, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) rebranded as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) and formed Unisun Sports in partnership with the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). This alliance facilitates collaborative scheduling, the leveraging of collective assets and shared operational efficiencies.
A release from Unisun Sports states: "The agreement creates a streamlined media strategy designed to maximize exposure and strengthen the long-term value of the ASUN and UAC brands. Beginning
with the 2026 academic year, ESPN will serve as the exclusive home for both the ASUN and the UAC. A comprehensive slate of ASUN and UAC regular-season and championship events will be featured across ESPN+, with meaningful exposure on ESPN's linear networks."
The agreement includes:
- Linear coverage of the ASUN Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship games.
- Linear coverage of the UAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship games.
- Linear coverage of regular season men’s basketball.
- Inclusion of a select linear event — any sport — for each conference each year. This year’s selected game features Tarleton State Football hosting Prairie View A&M in Week 0.
- Annual collaboration of additional regular season and championship opportunities across ESPN networks.
- Over 1,200 digital productions on ESPN+.
- Comprehensive live coverage of regular-season competition across multiple sports.
- Exclusive streaming of conference championship events.
- Ability to produce 188 local linear games.
- Expanded visibility for student-athletes, institutions, and conference brands.
“We’re pleased to welcome the ASUN and UAC to a new chapter with Unisun Sports on ESPN,” said Mallory Kenny, ESPN Director of Programming & Acquisitions. “By bringing a broad slate of regular-season and championship events to our networks, we can showcase the depth of competition across both conferences and connect their student-athletes and programs with fans nationwide.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: ASUN, UAC reach deal to have sports broadcast by ESPN
