HBCUGo Should Buy The Rights to the Truth And Service Classic

After 2023's thrilling 35-34 Hampton win over Howard, the Truth and Service Classic did not disappoint. The Pirates extended their win streak over the Bison to eight in a 27-20 win. However, one may not have realized the game occurred at all.

Monumental Sports, the television home of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, aired the game. Not even FloSports or ESPN+ had a simultaneous stream, as is customary for many FCS games on regional sports networks. Consequently, only cable/satellite subscribers within the Wizards' and Capitals' designated broadcast area had access to the game.

The minuscule scope of the Truth and Service Classic is a far cry to the game's broadcast partners in its first three years. In 2021, NBC Sports Network aired the inaugural edition. ESPN+ handled broadcast responsibilities for the following two years. Howard and Hampton are two of Black Academia's largest brands, and their clash deserves more than a regional sports network audience.

This is where HBCUGo should step in. For the past two seasons, HBCUGo has brought Black College Football even more to the mainstream with weekly games on over-the-air networks and free online streams. The syndicator/streamer aired two classics over the past two seasons, last year's ill-fated Chicago Football Classic and the prior two editions of the Southern Heritage Classic.

The Truth and Service Classic being relegated to a regional sports network is inexcusable when HBCUGo broadcasts the Southern Heritage Classic. HBCUGo likely worked with the Big South-OVC to buy out the rights for the Southern Heritage Classic and could likely do the same for the Truth & Service Classic.

The asking price is likely low. A rough estimate based on the current CAA deal places the yearly rights revenue for each school in the league at around $179,000-$200,000 per year. The rights for a single CAA-controlled game cannot be more than $10,000. HBCUGo can easily make that money back on ad revenue due to its over-the-air and streaming reach. Thus, HBCUGo airing the Truth & Service Classic should be a solution in years when Hampton hosts the game, making it a CAA-controlled property.

Hampton and Howard have alumni scattered throughout the country. A regional sports network exclusive broadcast shuts the national factions of the fanbase out of viewing this game. HBCUGo's national reach gives the Truth & Service Classic it deserves.

Furthermore, it diversifies HBCUGo's broadcast portfolio. While HBCUGo has partnerships with both Division II HBCU conferences, they only have the rights to SWAC games and a single Big South-OVC game in the Southern Heritage Classic. For both parties, HBCUGo airing the Truth & Service Classic is crucial in years when the CAA has the rights.