As reported by Nicole Auerbach with theathletic.com, The Big 10 Network is set to announce record-setting television deals in the coming days.
The Big Ten is poised to deliver a stunner when it finalizes its media rights negotiations at some point in the coming days. Barring a last-minute surprise, ESPN is not expected to land one of the Big Ten’s packages, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to The Athletic.
In addition to Fox, which had locked up Big Ten rights months ago, the conference is likely to partner with both CBS and NBC. Such deals, if finalized, could result in the following Saturday slate: a noon ET game on Fox, a 3:30 p.m. ET game on CBS and primetime on NBC. Multiple sources involved in the negotiations have reiterated over the past month that the Big Ten has prioritized exclusive windows throughout the process.
Sports Business Journal first reported the developments and noted that ESPN is still negotiating with the Big Ten, so there is still a chance the network will end up with a package. If ESPN does not end up with any Big Ten football and basketball games in this round of negotiations, it will be historic. ESPN has carried Big Ten games for the last 40 years; it has shared rights with Fox in the current deal, which is set to expire in 2023.
The Big Ten is also expected to add a streaming package, though it is not yet clear if that will go to Amazon or Apple, a source told The Athletic. Both companies have significantly increased their investment in live sports programming in the past year.
Read more about the Big 10 media rights negotiations HERE
*************************************************
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach or difference maker we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, adminstration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
