Sports Media Report
The International Swimming League (ISL), the world’s first professional team swimming league, opens its second season of competition on Friday from 10 a.m. – noon ET live on CBS Sports Network, the first of 13 events and 52 hours of planned coverage across CBS Sports platforms in the coming weeks. Joining veteran play-by-play man Bernie Gunther are U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer and three-time gold medalist Rowdy Gaines and multiple world champion Mark Foster with expert commentary live from Budapest, Hungary, on the most comprehensive schedule of live professional swimming events ever presented to a U.S. audience.
On Saturday, the team-based ISL (@iswimleague), which features the world’s top swimmers, Olympic champions, and world record holders, will make its U.S. network television debut on CBS Television Network with a live broadcast from 2-4 p.m. ET, featuring Energy Standard Paris plus three of the four U.S.-based teams, Cali Condors, NY Breakers and LA Current. Coverage continues on Sunday at noon on CBS Sports Network, with the London Roar, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions, and Iron teams. In all, two hours are scheduled to be presented on CBS Television Network, 32 on CBS Sports Network and 18 across CBS Sports Digital platforms.
“The depth and breadth of this coverage across various ViacomCBS platforms gives the ISL unprecedented exposure to U.S. swimming fans,” said ISL Founder and Chairman Konstantin Grigorishin. “The live broadcasts with top-level commentators reflect the world-class quality of the league and we couldn’t be more pleased with the final schedule.”
CBS Sports Digital will also stream a show hosted by Jenny Drummond. Top U.S. and international swimming stars will also appear as part of the coverage. The full CBS Sports schedule (subject to change) is as follows:
Day, Time-ET, Network (Teams competing)
Friday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m – noon, CBS Sports Network (Energy Standard Paris, Cali Condors, NY Breakers, LA Current)
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2-4 p.m., CBS Television Network (Energy Standard Paris, Cali Condors, NY Breakers, LA Current)
Sunday, Oct. 18, noon-2 p.m., CBS Sports Network (London Roar, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions, Iron)
Monday Oct. 19, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions, Iron)
Saturday, Oct. 24, 6-8 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Aqua Centurions, Tokyo Frog Kings, LA Current, Toronto Titans)
Sunday, Oct. 25, noon-2 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Aqua Centurions, Tokyo Frog Kings, LA Current, Toronto Titans)
Monday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (DC Trident, Iron, Cali Condors, NY Breakers)
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (DC Trident, Iron, Cali Condors, NY Breakers)
Friday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, DC Trident, LA Current, Tokyo Frog Kings)
Saturday, Oct. 31, 7-9 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (London Roar, DC Trident, LA Current, Tokyo Frog Kings)
Sunday, Nov. 1, noon – 2 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Energy Standard Paris, Aqua Centurions, NY Breakers, Toronto Titans)
Monday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (Energy Standard Paris, Aqua Centurions, NY Breakers, Toronto Titans)
Thursday, Nov. 5, 4-6 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Energy Standard Paris, DC Trident, Toronto Titans)
Friday, Nov. 6, 4-6 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Energy Standard Paris, DC Trident, Toronto Titans)
Thursday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, Tokyo Frog Kings, Cali Condors, NY Breakers)
Friday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, Tokyo Frog Kings, Cali Condors, NY Breakers)
Monday, Nov. 9, 4-6 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Energy Standard Paris, Iron, Tokyo Frog Kings, Toronto Titans)
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 4-6 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Energy Standard Paris, Iron, Tokyo Frog Kings, Toronto Titans)
Monday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, Cali Condors, LA Current, Aqua Centurions)
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. – noon, CBS Sports Network (London Roar, Cali Condors, LA Current, Aqua Centurions)
Saturday, Nov. 14, 6-8 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Semifinal #1)
Sunday, Nov. 15, noon – 2 p.m. CBS Sports Network (Semifinal #1)
Sunday, Nov. 15, 6-8 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Semifinal #2)
Monday, Nov. 16, noon – 2 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Semifinal #2)
Saturday Nov. 21, 8-10 a.m., CBS Sports Digital (Finals)
Sunday, Nov. 21, noon – 2 p.m, CBS Sports Network (Finals)
The five-week ISL schedule will take place at Duna Arena in Budapest. A strict medical protocol will be in place to ensure safety for competitors and working staff.
The 2020 ISL season is the only major competition to feature the world’s best swimmers prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Athletes scheduled to appear include 2019 ISL League MVP, holder of 14 World Records and Olympic Gold Medalist, Sarah Sjöström, and 2019 ISL Finals MVP, holder of nine World Records, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Caeleb Dressel. They will be joined by highly decorated American swimmers, Lilly King (multiple Olympic gold medalist and 3x world record holder) and Ryan Murphy (multiple Olympic gold medalist and world record holder), and hundreds of international stars.
ISL features unique team-based contests showcasing the most exciting competitive format ever created in the sport of swimming where “every event is a final.” 10 clubs from around the globe will compete to be crowned 2020 ISL Champion.
