The Big 12’s mega-TV deal, officially announced today, is a 13-year agreement with Fox Sports Media Group and ESPN/ABC that will keep league teams collecting an average of $20 million per school through 2025. Reports of the verbal agreement on terms surfaced in March, pegging the financial numbers _ not announced today _ at $2.6 billion, or $200 million annually for the 10-member league.
What does the deal mean to fans? Here are some highlights:
-- An increase in the number of guaranteed full national football telecasts to a minimum of 25 per season on a combination of FOX, FX, ABC and ESPN.
-- Allows FOX over-the-air access to Big 12 football with a minimum of six games annually on broadcast television.
-- Provides FOX with enhanced selections through 2015. ESPN and FOX share rotating game selections beginning in 2016.
-- All media, “TV everywhere” rights to FOX and ESPN.
-- Big 12 events to be carried on various FOX and ESPN platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, FOX, FX, FSN, Fox College Sports (FCS), and FOX Sports Digital Platforms.
-- Institutions have option to retain rights to one home football game and a minimum of four men's basketball games per season for distribution via permitted member institution outlets and third-party licenses including the FSN Regional Networks and FOX College Sports.
-- No exclusive telecast windows, except for ESPN men's basketball “Big Monday” and “Saturday College GameDay” telecasts featuring Big 12 teams.
-- FOX Sports Media Group platforms to carry a minimum of 40 non-football events annually.
-- Minimum of 31 women's basketball games per season on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or FSMG platforms.
-- ESPN networks retain option for up to 25 additional women's basketball and/or other sports contests per season.
-- Championship events, except men’s basketball, on Fox Sports platforms.
Below is a breakdown of annual football telecasts, with rights to all Big 12-controlled contests falling to either Fox or ESPN:
-- FOX: Approximately 38 games with minimum of six contests annually on FOX broadcast and six games on a national cable outlet.
-- ABC/ESPN: 19 games per year through 2015, increasing to 23 games annually in 2016 (minimum 13-15 full national exposures via ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or in combination with reverse mirror); maximum four-five games on ESPNU.
-- Member Retained Game: One member-retained game, which must be carried on a FOX platform if returned.
-- Television partners have a maximum four six-day picks between them per season.
-- Minimum four Thursday games each season (including Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving Day); and one Labor Day Sunday appearance.
-- Maximum of four games scheduled for 8:15 p.m. local time starts per season with the following restrictions: no program required to play more than twice; host more than once; play consecutive weekends; and six-day pick only with conference consent.
_ Jimmy Burch
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