The World Sports Union is a collection of multiple sporting championships that happen every year.
Announcing seasons[]
For the first ten seasons, seasons were announced in January of the year before. From 2002 until 2013, they were announced the month before, but now, recently they were announced in February the year before.
Years[]
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
Broadcasting rights[]
1992-1994[]
In the United States, the events were recorded and aired months later as a syndicated highlights package shown on local affiliates called World Sports Challenge.
1995-1998[]
In 1995, ESPN Productions and WSUIP (World Sports Union International Pictures) signed a 3-year contract worth $600k to air all events on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN.com, and ESPNews. Most coverage was tape delayed and shown in the early morning in a 2 hour package, but the basketball final, hockey gold game, and the final two games of the baseball tournament were shown live on ESPN2 and/or ESPNews.
In 1998, WSUIP and Sky Sports signed a 2-year contract worth 450k pounds to produce a weekly show all year round.
1998-2003[]
In 1997, it was announced that CBS Sports and Turner Sports will broadcast the WSU for 6 years worth $1.1 million dollars. About 30% coverage are tape delayed and shown on TBS and TNT, and most live coverage was shown on CBS or Showtime.
2004[]
In early 2003, it was announced that due to lower ratings, the sports series will have a hard time getting an American broadcaster. But alas, in November of 2003, it was announced that HDNet and Freeview (US) will be providing tape delayed and live coverage of the games.
2005-2011[]
In 2004, it was announced that FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and WSUIP signed a 6-year contract worth $2.4 million. NBC Sports and FOX Sports sublicensed the broadcasts to their regional sports channels, while they also broadcast on FOX, FX, NBC, and Versus.
2012-2016[]
In 2011, it was announced that WSUIP, CBS Sports, and Turner Sports have signed a 6-year contract worth $2.1 million dollars to air all events on channels across CBS and Turner Sports. CBS and Turner previously hosted the World Sports Union from 1998-2003.
2017-present[]
In 2015, it was announced that RaGE Media Group has signed a 2-year contract with a 3-year extension worth $2.6 million dollars. In 2017, it was announced that Axiom Entertainment and RaGE Media will broadcast the events on their channel under Axiom-RaGE Sports.