Posted on 08/18/2022 10:04:46 AM PDT by FLNittany
After much anticipation, the Big Ten has finalized a blockbuster media rights partnership that is the largest in all of college sports.
The deal is at least $7 billion total, sources confirmed to Front Office Sports. The rights will be shared between FOX, CBS, NBC, and NBC’s Peacock, and include not only football and basketball but all olympic sports. They’ll run from July 1, 2023 to the end of the 2029-30 season.
In total, the deal will reach the mid-$7 billion range, a source told FOS. But it will slowly increase throughout the seven years. The first year, before USC and UCLA join the conference, each existing school will receive about the same amount as it does in the final year of its current deal. Then, with the additions of the Bruins and Trojans, the value will go up to the $90 million a year range.
It’s a major coup for Commissioner Kevin Warren, whose initial tenure with the Big Ten began with controversy over the handling of college football during COVID-19.
“The Big Ten Conference media rights agreements are more than just dollars and deals,” Warren said in a statement. “They are a mechanism to provide stability and maximum exposure for our student-athletes, member institutions and partners during these uncertain times in collegiate athletics.”
The Big Ten says it will “dominate” Saturday football. It will include marquee games at noon ET on Fox, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS, and primetime on NBC. NBC will attempt to make the Big Ten the “NFL” of college football, using the Saturday night window as a complement to Sunday night football, as FOS previously reported. NBC games will be “simul-streamed” on Peacock. The Big Ten football championships will be split between the networks.
The Big Ten Network, owned by Fox, appears to hold the majority of olympic sports content. CBS will host men’s and women’s basketball, and broadcast the women’s basketball championship for the first time. Fox will also carry men’s basketball.
The deal also marks the first time in four decades that ESPN will not be part of the Big Ten’s media rights. The Worldwide Leader in Sports will now look to renew NCAA championships including women’s basketball and the College Football Playoff, sources previously told FOS. It’s also looking at Big 12 and Pac-12 media rights.
I, for one, am glad that ESPN is not in this. The only reason I have watched ESPN in the last few years is to watch my team in football and basketball. That was it. Now I won’t have to listen to Dickie V or any of the other obnoxious announcers. But the almighty dollar is ruining college athletics. It’s a shame.
Not sure what leverage the SEC has over ESPN/Disney, and I’m really not sure if they can (or will) match the BIG media rights agreement. And I agree with those who believe the SEC is a better conference, but I’m not sure that went into their thinking
Whenever there is a potential for significant profit there will be significant money involved. Which of course is why most woman's sports suffer, no fan base to sell it to.
This basically kills the concept of Conferences. There are only going to be two conferences for all intents and purposes: The Big Ten and the SEC. All the other schools will end up joining one or the other.
Agree. It seems like years ago when the NCAA meant something. Long gone.
Wow. That’s a lot of money for a 2nd or 3rd rated football conference.
Since 2010 even the ACC has 3 times (Clemson 2018, 2016, FSU 2013) the number of national champions than the B1G (Ohio State 2014). Not to mention the SEC.
There are 4 major college programs within 90 miles: UNT, TCU, SMU, and Baylor...5 if you include UT-Arlington, a school with over 40,000 students, and a decent hoops program.
There are 4 other professional sports represented: MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS. The Rangers share "flagship" station status with the Cowboys, and are rarely heard from...except when the manager and GM are fired within two days of each other.
High school sports are competitive with the rest of the nation, but they're a mere blip on the media radar screen.
Yet despite being less than competitive for 25+ years, the media focus remains on the Dallas Cowboys...will probably remain that way until Jerry kicks the bucket.
I predict the ACC and SEC will merge, and the rest of the PAC-12 will merge with the Big Ten.
I’m not surprised it has nothing to do with education and everything to do with entertainment and making money. Same for the players that’s all most care about. Its now a very slick money making machine and people will lap it up due to emotional attachments to schools.
Have to keep up with the Joneses on coaching salaries.
And FC Dallas, forget it. They could win the MLS title and nobody here would even notice.
About damn time they fired Daniels. Never should have gotten rid of Nolan Ryan. Haven't been to a Rangers game since they got rid of Ryan.
“I predict the ACC and SEC will merge, and the rest of the PAC-12 will merge with the Big Ten.”
I could go with Clemson, maybe the North Carolina schools + Virginia Tech. But, Free Shoes U had their chance and thumbed its nose. And, well Miami is Miami is Miami...no thanks/
My soon to be 12 YO grandson is into sports, plays baseball and flag football...he's too slight of stature to play tackle.
He's not into soccer, but follows the Cowboys, Stars, and Mavericks, though his favorite team is now the Washington Wizards. His favorite player is former Zag, Corey Kispert. When Corey was drafted by the Wizards, my grandson dumped all of his Luka/Mavs gear...lol.
Under normal circumstances, we'd be going to the Gonzaga-Texas game in Austin in a few months. Turns out the game is on a Wednesday, so we'll instead have a watch party.
We cut the cable, if the Zags are on ESPN, I'll head over to Twin Peaks in Valley Ranch and catch the game there.
But on any given Fall Saturday, in Bryant-Denney, Ben Hill Griffin, Sanford, or Jordan-Hare stadiums, the crowds still cheer, the girls are still cute and pretty, the bands play not forgotten old tunes, and the air is crisp. That goes for Baton Rouge Tiger stands, Neyland and Kyle field, too.
These stadiums are God's country, where FJB started, and all the folk still love America!
I love the charming SEC spirit we still have in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas!
(I hear old ESPN put her down,
Well, I hope ESPN will remember,
A Southern man don't need them around anyhow!)
I live close to the FCD stadium, so I’ve gone to a few games, it’s relatively cheap and parking is free.
But Frisco is not the best place to have the team, it’s too far away from the rest of the Metroplex.
I’ve actually gone to an Atlanta United game in Atlanta, they get huge crowds there, and it’s a great atmosphere. FCD’s is nothing like that.
There is one stat that demonstrates how fundamentally unsound the Rangers are this year: 7-24 in one run games. Lots of reasons: bad bullpen, lack of plate discipline, lousy baserunning, carelessness in the field, etc.
I was in HS and college in the Bay Area when the A's hit their peak, with 3 WS titles from 72-74. Their forte was winning the close games, even though they weren't an offensive juggernaut. Great pitching combined with a high baseball IQ is what led to those titles.
it will be strange not having the B10 on ABC/ESPN.
How much college football is NBC going to show, i wonder.
I haven’t even paid attention to baseball this year. Mainly because between the Tigers and Rangers, well, I don’t need to tell you.
Although I kind of jumped on the Orioles bandwagon, I’d love to see them make the playoffs.
Doesn’t matter- they have huge followings as does Penn State, Mich State, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin.
Don’t conflate national titles versus TV audience
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