ESPN and Big 12 Sign New Rights Agreement Through 2025

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 Phillips 66 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.

About ESPN

ESPN, Inc., is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight 24-hour domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D and the regionally focused Longhorn Network) and five HD simulcast services (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (48 networks, syndication, radio, websites, mobile, apps), ESPN Radio (broadcast, satellite, online and apps, a growing category led by ScoreCenter), ESPN.com (plus a variety of sport-, college-, and market-specific sites), ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPNHS and espnW. Multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN (access to several ESPN networks online and via an app) and ESPN3 (live multi-screen network available online, on the go and via Xbox LIVE). Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

The Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 universities - Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Big 12 is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics conference that encompasses five states with over 40 million people within its geographic footprint. During its 16-year history, the Conference has produced 531 Academic All-America selections, claimed national championship team titles in 16 of its 23 sponsored sports, its student-athletes and teams have combined for 517 individual NCAA titles and 47 team national champions. More than 4,100 student-athletes from across the United States and around the world compete annually under the Big 12 banner.

To post a comment, you must register and login.