Atlantic 10 signs new 8-year deal with NBC, CBS, ESPN

The Atlantic 10 Conference has signed an eight-year media right deal with three major sports television companies including ESPN, Sports Business Journal's John Ourand is reporting. The amount of the contract has yet to be revealed, but it will start during the 2013-14 season and also involves the CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network.

The league, which had four men's basketball programs make the NCAA Tournament in 2012, is seemingly taking advantage of the additions of the Va. Commonwealth Rams and Butler Bulldogs. The Rams were a member of the Colonial Athletic Conference, while the Bulldogs played in the Horizon League.

The conference also is home to successful mid-major hoops programs such as the Xavier Musketeers, Dayton Flyersand St. Bonaventure Bonnies. Xavier has made the NCAA Tournament 11 out of the past 12 seasons, while VCU and Butler made the Final Four in '11.

Overall, the A-10 has 17 members and has its headquarters in Newport News, Va.

This story originally appeared at SB Nation.