ESPN, Big 12 Agree To Sweeping Media-Rights Deal

[huskymedic]

ESPN, Big 12 Agree To Sweeping Media-Rights Deal

>>ESPN signed a sweeping media-rights deal with the Big 12 that will see ABC or ESPN carry every football championship game through ’24 and will launch a Big 12-branded area on ESPN+. In the new deal, which includes three championship games and ESPN+ rights, ESPN will pay a total of around $40M. When this agreement is added to the current media-rights deal that still has six years to run, the conference will average $22M per year, sources said. A formal announcement is expected later today.<<

>>Every deal ESPN has cut recently has included a significant ESPN+ component, and this one is no different. Hundreds of events from all sports will be offered on ESPN+ under a Big 12 brand. Eight of the 10 schools will provide more than 50 exclusive events per year, including at least one football game, any spring football game and any basketball game that is not on an ESPN linear network.<<

 

[Rufus]

2024 will be the next big year for realignment, which means the schools moving will be announced in 2022 or 2023. Whoever the new Big Ten Commissioner will be on July 1, 2020 will probably be involved in heavy expansion negotiations with certain schools about a year into his new job.

 

[bobbyinaz]

No wonder FOX didn't want to pay $20MM/year for the championship game. ESPN just bought it for loose change they found in the seat cushions

 

[huskymedic]

Release: Big 12 Conference, ESPN Enhance Comprehensive Rights Agreement

 

[CL82]

In the new deal, which includes three championship games and ESPN+ rights, ESPN will pay a total of around $40M.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Ldandy]

When you see numbers like these in comparison to what current B1G Teams, including Nebraska, are pulling down, you have to believe that the presidents of OU and UT will at least pick up the phone and listen if they see a Chicago Area Code...

 

[don356]

My guess is they've already talked.

 

[B12]

Big 12's revenue distribution growth reflects national trend for P5 leagues

 

[B12]

My guess is they've already talked.

The real question is where are KU, OU, and UT going to end up.

My bet is KU goes to the B1G. ESPN gets involved and offers to take OSU along with OU. Then OU has to make a choice. That will be interesting.

UT goes to the ACC with a ND type deal that allows LHN to air more FB games and pays them over 60 million in TV money. They play 5 ACC games, ND, OU, etc...

Who knows after that, maybe the PAC takes some of the rest, or ESPN pulls all the valuable AAC schools out and moves them to the Big 12.

 

[Fishy]

The real question is where are KU, OU, and UT going to end up.

My bet is KU goes to the B1G. ESPN gets involved and offers to take OSU along with OU. Then OU has to make a choice. That will be interesting.

Why would the Big Ten pay $55,000,000 for Kansas?

There are 500,000 cable households in Kansas - the Big Ten would be lighting money on fire.

If you're going to overpay for a dreadful market, might as well pick off Oklahoma instead.

 

[don356]

Texas will never end up in the Acc. Just not a cultural fit. They're one school though that could go independent, but they won't. I'd say B10 first, Sec second.

 

[whaler11]

Nobody other than perhaps Texas generates enough cash to even feed themselves in the Big Ten.

 

[SU1968]

Texas will never end up in the Acc. Just not a cultural fit. They're one school though that could go independent, but they won't. I'd say B10 first, Sec second.

I'm curious: Why do you think that a southern/western school like Texas is a better cultural fit in the rust belt B1G over a SEC or ACC which are dominated by southern schools?

 

[billybud]

I could see Texas in the SEC with Texas A&M, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ole Miss...

 

[noeynox]

This deal may be sweeping, but it isn't landmark!

 

[Waquoit]

Anyone looking forward to the 18 part series about Les Miles? Didn't think so.

 

[upstater]

Texas will never end up in the Acc. Just not a cultural fit. They're one school though that could go independent, but they won't. I'd say B10 first, Sec second.

Can you explain about the cultures of the two? I imagine that Texas looks at Louisville, Clemson, Florida State, BC, Syracuse, North Carolina, NC State, etc., and they think, "What a cesspool. Perfect for us!'

 

[Rufus]

Texas A&M will keep Texas out of the SEC, just like Florida would keep out Florida State, Georgia would keep out Georgia Tech and South Carolina would keep out Clemson.

 

[huskyrob1]

Texas will never end up in the Acc. Just not a cultural fit. They're one school though that could go independent, but they won't. I'd say B10 first, Sec second.

Texas and Oklahoma could also end up as two of four new teams in the PAC 16. There have been persistent rumors. Something along those lines would really make the Big 12 look like the Old Football Big East did ten-eleven years ago when Swofford grabbed Miami, BC, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Pitt.

 

[SU1968]

Texas and Oklahoma could also end up as two of four new teams in the PAC 16. There have been persistent rumors. Something along those lines would really make the Big 12 look like the Old Football Big East did ten-eleven years ago when Swofford grabbed Miami, BC, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Pitt.

It's possible, but I doubt it. Texas and Oklahoma already looked at this during the realignment gold rush. They didn't like it because of the west coast desert that it the Pacific time zone, 2-3 zones away from the majority of viewers.

 

[uconnfan68]

Texas and OU have always been in the B1G eye.

 

[baggerbob]

Texas and OU have always been in the B1G eye.

After what happened with Nebraska it's a fantasy to think Texas or Oklahoma would ever go to the Big 10.

 

[Fishy]

Texas A&M will keep Texas out of the SEC, just like Florida would keep out Florida State, Georgia would keep out Georgia Tech and South Carolina would keep out Clemson.

If Texas wants to join any conference, Texas will join that conference.

There isn't a school on the planet with the juice to block Texas.

 

[Guapo]

If Texas wants to join any conference, Texas will join that conference.

There isn't a school on the planet with the juice to block Texas.

I think there are a couple schools with enough sway in their conference to keep Texas out.

That being said, there is a 0% chance they join the SEC.