ESPN and Big 12 Sign New Rights Agreement through 2024-25
More Football and Men’s Basketball Games on More ESPN Platforms; TCU/Texas on ESPN Thanksgiving Night
ESPN and the Big 12 Conference have reached a new, 13-year rights agreement through 2024-25 it was announced today by Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and ESPN President John Skipper. The comprehensive deal will provide more football games and basketball games across more ESPN platforms than ever before including ESPN on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Longhorn Network (LHN), ESPN 3D, ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 and WatchESPN.
Several aspects of the new deal begin with the 2012-13 season including for the first time distribution on multiple ESPN networks for football games, and more men’s basketball games, with additional terms activating in 2015-16. As part of the agreement, Fox Sports will offer additional Big 12 content on its networks.
Through the 2015 season, up to 19 conference-controlled football games will be televised on ESPN networks and platforms, including ESPN on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and LHN (for Texas games only). As a result of this increased flexibility, this year’s TCU at Texas matchup will take place on Thanksgiving at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Beginning in 2016, ESPN networks can distribute up to 23 conference-controlled football games, for an increase of four games per year.
For men’s basketball, ESPN networks will televise up to 105 games – an increase of 10 per year – with 43 contests set for ESPN or ESPN2 including a minimum of 30 intra-conference games. Up to 40 games will be televised on ESPNU and up to six contests will originate live on ESPN3. In addition, ESPN retains exclusive rights to the entire Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, while ESPN Regional Television will continue to syndicate the Big 12 Network via local over-the-air stations throughout the country. The Conference also retains its position in ESPN’s Big Monday lineup.
Skipper said, “The Big 12 combines institutions known for excellence with passionate fan bases and rich traditions. This agreement gives us long-term stability, more games and more flexibility for when and how fans can see their favorite teams.”
Bowlsby said, “The stability of the Big 12 Conference is cemented. We are positioned with one of the best media rights arrangements in collegiate sports, providing the Conference and its members unprecedented revenue growth and sports programming over two networks.”
Additional rights
ESPN will retain rights to televise a select group of exclusive games from the league’s 23 sports teams including women’s basketball per season. In addition, ESPN Regional Television will manage and administer the exclusive rights to the Big 12 Corporate Sales and Sponsorship partner program.