The Big Ten is reportedly close to finalizing a deal that would take its television content from sports network powerhouse ESPN to both CBS and NBC after the 2023 season. The conference would also reportedly continue its partnership with Fox.
The Big Ten and its maneuvers to strengthen their conference by snatching up some of the Pac-12's most prestigious schools has been one of the biggest stories during the college sports offseason. The reason why teams like UCLA and USC have decided to leave behind their west coast base traditions and merge with one of the deepest conferences in college athletics is largely financial.
On Tuesday, the fruits of that decision were close to coming to fruition. ESPN broke the news that the conference that is only second in might to the SEC, is closing in on a new deal that will see Big Ten action leave the network and move over to CBS and NBC. ESPN has aired Big Ten sports since the 1980s.
“According to sources, ESPN rejected the Big Ten’s final offer of a seven-year, $380 million agreement, which would have included rights to fewer marquee games than the network’s current agreement. The offer did not include a direct-to-consumer package, which ESPN valued through its growth of ESPN+.”
Big Ten set to make $700 million in deals with CBS and NBC
The report states that the conference’s TV rights deals with ESPN and Fox are set to end next year. However, representatives of Fox were reportedly a part of negotiations with the two rival networks and are expected to maintain their relationship with the conference. In the new TV deals, the conference will make $350 million each from NBC and CBS.
While disappointing, it is not a major loss for ESPN since they will begin a new 10-year agreement in 2024 that will see them air a package of SEC sports content.
“The Big Ten Conference is currently working with world-class partners to complete multifaceted media rights agreements,” a Big Ten rep told ESPN in a statement. “The overall constructs of the new rights agreements have not been finalized. The conference continues to have productive meetings with both linear and direct-to-consumer media partners. We are committed to delivering unparalleled resources and exposure opportunities for Big Ten Conference member institutions, athletic programs, student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
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