Legitimacy: WSL Signs With CBS Sports Network!

Mainstream America, here comes the pro surfing juggernaut!

Did you know that ABC was broadcasting hour long wrap ups of WSL events as part of their World of X-Games series? Neither did I, which I shameful since I’m sure I could have found a way to make fun of it.

Lucky for me, our surf table comp tour has recently managed to reach a deal with CBS television, and together they plan to air a bunch of stuff:

“The programming, which begins today, Tuesday, July 28 with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast Men’s and Women’s double-header, continues through January and includes 20 two-hour episodes featuring coverage of the Semifinals and Finals from each Championship Tour event, as well as a special presentation of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, a nine-day event recognized as the largest professional sports competition and action sports festival in the world, on Saturday, Aug. 1 (9:00 PM, ET) and Sunday, Aug. 2 (9:00 PM, ET).”

But we won’t be seeing surfing on network TV anytime soon, not unless shark attacks become a trend. The WSL scored airtime on CBS Sports Network, formally the National College Sports Network, a channel I didn’t know existed until this morning.

(As an aside, here’s a collection of mainstream sports meltdowns)

Meltdown Of The Year

Watch this video on YouTube

I haven’t owned a TV in years, though, so it’s not like I’m really keyed in to all the goings on in the televised world.

In fact, I’m always a little surprised to see that people still have cable subscriptions at all. I originally let mine lapse after my move to Hawaii, where it quickly became apparent that I wouldn’t be able to afford those types of luxuries until I got my act together.

Over the ensuing years internet piracy technology got so good that cable became unnecessary. Why pay money for something I can steal for free?

But God bless the kind hearted chumps who do. Someone has to shell out for content.

Anyway… good for the WSL! This is a type of legitimacy. Maybe they can negotiate a lucrative AM radio contract to round out the whole media blitz.

Program here!

Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour on CBS Sports Network schedule:

– Tuesday, July 28, 10 p.m ET – Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Gold Coast, Australia)
– Tuesday, July 28, 12 midnight ET – Roxy Pro Gold Coast (Gold Coast, Australia)
– Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 9 p.m. ET – Vans U.S. Open of Surfing (Huntington Beach, California, USA)
– Tuesday, August 4, 11 p.m. ET – Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Bells Beach, Australia)
– Tuesday, August 11, 11 p.m. ET – Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach (Bells Beach, Australia)
– Tuesday, August 18, 11 p.m. ET – Drug Aware Margaret River Pro (Margaret River, Australia)
– Tuesday, August 25, 10 p.m. ET – Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro (Margaret River, Australia)
– Tuesday, August 25, 12 midnight ET – Oi Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
– Tuesday, September 1, 11 p.m. ET – Oi Rio Women’s Pro (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
– Thursday, September 10, 9 p.m. ET – Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji)
– Thursday, September 17, 9 p.m. ET – Fiji Women’s Pro (Tavarua/Nomotu, Fiji)
– Thursday, September 24, 9 p.m. ET – J-Bay Open (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa)
– Thursday, October 1, 9 p.m. ET – Billabong Pro Tahiti (Teahupoo, Taiarapu, Tahiti)
– Thursday, October 8, 9 p.m. ET – Hurley Pro at Trestles (Trestles, California, USA)
– Thursday, November 12, 9 p.m. ET – Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles (Trestles, California, USA)
– Thursday, November 19, 9 p.m. ET – Cascais Women’s Pro (Cascais, Portugal)
– Thursday, November 26, 9 p.m. ET – Quiksilver Pro France (Landes, South West France)
– Thursday, December 3, 7:30 p.m. ET – Roxy Pro France (Landes, South West France)
– Thursday, December 10, 8 p.m. ET – Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche/Cascais, Portugal)
– TBD – Maui Women’s Pro (Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii)
– TBD – Billabong Pipe Masters (Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii)