SoCon, Nexstar Extend TV Partnership Through 2031
Photo courtesy NCAA | SoCon
The Southern Conference (SoCon), Nexstar Media Group and Ingles Markets have agreed to a five-year extension of the SoCon Nexstar Partnership, ensuring continued regional television coverage of conference football and basketball through the 2030-31 academic year.
The renewed agreement extends a partnership that began in 2018 and will continue delivering Southern Conference competition to fans across the Southeast while expanding promotion of the league's signature events.
Football and Basketball Coverage Continues
The first broadcasts under the new agreement will begin during the 2026 Southern Conference football season.
The television package will feature:
Select regular-season football games.
Men's and women's basketball games throughout the regular season.
Coverage of the Southern Conference Basketball Championships.
Promotion and coverage of the conference's marquee events.
The agreement marks the beginning of the partnership's second decade, reinforcing a shared commitment to showcasing SoCon athletics across regional television markets.
Regional Television Reach
Games included in the broadcast package will air on WSPA and WYCW, serving the Greenville, Spartanburg and Asheville markets, home to three Southern Conference institutions.
Last season, the regional package featured 30 televised broadcasts, providing consistent exposure for SoCon programs throughout the academic year.
Additional stations expected to carry games include:
WMYT (Charlotte)
WWCW (Roanoke)
WJHL (Tri-Cities)
WCBD (Charleston)
WGHP (Greensboro)
WBTW (Myrtle Beach)
Two non-Nexstar affiliates, EFLI in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and WMUB in Macon, Georgia, will also have the opportunity to air games during the 2026 season.
Conference Leaders Celebrate Extension
Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross said the renewed agreement strengthens the conference's ability to connect its member institutions with communities across the region.
Cross emphasized that regional television remains an important platform for highlighting the accomplishments of SoCon student-athletes while recognizing Ingles Markets and Nexstar for their continued investment in the conference.
Ingles Advertising Director Melissa Leavell said the grocery chain remains committed to supporting Southern Conference athletics and helping bring the league's traditions into fans' homes through the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week.
WSPA/WYCW General Manager Kenny Lawrence added that the extension allows Nexstar and Ingles to continue providing high-quality coverage while connecting fans with championship-caliber competition across multiple sports.
What the Extension Means for the SoCon
The renewed partnership provides long-term stability for the Southern Conference's regional television presence, ensuring football and basketball games remain widely accessible throughout the Southeast.
For fans, the agreement means continued access to regular-season matchups, conference tournament action and expanded coverage of one of the nation's oldest Division I athletic conferences.
As the SoCon prepares for the 2026 season, the extension reinforces the conference's ongoing efforts to increase visibility for its student-athletes, member institutions and championship events.
