THE CW NETWORK AND THE PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS ASSOCIATION STRIKE A DEAL FOR MULTI-YEAR BROADCAST AGREEMENT SET TO LAUNCH IN 2026
The CW Continues to Grow Its Sports Portfolio by Adding Ten Live Professional Bowling Events Per Year
BURBANK, CA (April 30, 2025) - The CW Network today announced it has entered into a multi-year broadcast agreement with the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). Beginning in 2026, the CW will air ten action-packed live professional bowling events annually in dedicated, two-hour windows on consecutive Sunday afternoons. The CW's national reach and consistent scheduling will amplify bowling's accessibility to both casual and devoted fans.
"We are thrilled to partner with the PBA and add live bowling to our CW Sports lineup," said Mike Perman, Senior Vice President of Sports, The CW Network. "Bowling is one of the leading participatory sports in the country, so we are eager to introduce the top players and exciting competitions its professional circuit brings to new audiences nationwide."
Since its inception in 1958, the PBA's title events have been a mainstay on American television, defining the legends of the game. Today's PBA stars, including 3-time Player of the Year EJ Tackett of Indiana, 7-time Player of the Year Jason Belmonte of Australia, and major champions Kyle Troup and Anthony Simonsen, bring electric and diverse playing styles, with personalities to match. When the best bowlers in the world face off in the most prestigious events in the sport, big strikes, seemingly impossible spare conversions and high drama are guaranteed.
"We are excited to become a part of the CW's growing commitment to sports broadcasting," said Lev Ekster, President of Lucky Strike Entertainment. "The CW's commitment to consistent, high-visibility broadcasts offers a game-changing platform to grow our fanbase, celebrate the immense talent and big personalities of our athletes, and bring a fresh energy to one of America's most beloved sports."
The PBA joins a growing roster of sports on The CW, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which has drawn over one million viewers per race for the first ten events of the 2025 season. The CW will also broadcast another season of ACC and Pac-12 college football this fall, as well as three more Grand Slam Track weekend events in 2025 and AVP professional beach volleyball on Saturdays this summer.
A full viewing schedule will be released at a later date.
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About The CW Network
The CW is America's fifth major broadcast network and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 15 hours of primetime entertainment programming per week in addition to nearly 400 hours of sports per year as the broadcast home to ACC football and basketball games, Pac-12 football games, WWE NXT and NASCAR Xfinity Series. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 100 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW's primetime programming and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.
About the Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the world's premier organization dedicated to the sport of bowling and its professional competition. The PBA has thousands of members from over 30 countries, competing in events including the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour, and PBA50 Tour. The PBA also serves casual and league bowlers through its membership programs, offering access to statistics, awards, and certified tournaments. With millions of fans worldwide, the PBA continues to grow the sport of bowling and inspire the next generation of bowlers.
About Lucky Strike Entertainment
Lucky Strike Entertainment is one of the world's premier location-based entertainment platforms. With over 360 locations across North America, Lucky Strike Entertainment provides experiential offerings in bowling, amusements, water parks, and family entertainment centers. The company also owns the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe. For more information on Lucky Strike Entertainment, please visit IR.LuckyStrikeEnt.com.
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