B1G Finalizing Gigantic Media Rights Deal

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

After months of questioning, speculating and hand-wringing, the B1G will remain on ESPN as the Worldwide Leader came to an agreement with the B1G to buy the second half of the league's media rights package. According to John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal, ESPN has agreed to pay an average $190 million per year over six years for nearly half of the B1G's media rights package. In April, Fox Sports surprised nearly everyone by paying an average of $240 million per year. In addition, to the deal made with Fox Sports and ESPN, CBS Sports has choses to renew its basketball-only package for $10 million per year. 

The deal is a huge win for commissioner Jim Delany and the B1G Conference. Its average media rights payout will nearly triple when the deal takes effect next fall. According to Ourand, the deal is currently being vetted by lawyers and it is expected to be finalized in time for the league to discuss it at the annual football kickoff luncheon in Chicago on July 26. 

The total deal is worth 2.64 billion dollars (an average of $440 million per year) for the league and it does not include the Big Ten Network's package of rights. 

What Does This Mean?

There are multiple reasons why this deal is a big "win" for both the B1G and for the IU athletic department as a whole. While I can certainly appreciate the importance of the massive sum of money Fox Sports plunked down to buy half of the media rights package, I felt it was critical for the conference to remain on ESPN/ABC. There is a distinct advantage in exposure (and recruiting) for schools and conferences that regularly play on ESPN and it would be quite difficult to remain nationally relevant without being on the most widely-viewed family of networks. This new deal will bring a large increase in revenue for the IU athletic department (which Fred Glass and company have shown they will reinvest into improving the programs we love). In addition, the deal is relatively short in length and the B1G will be the first major college conference to renegotiate its next deal. A deal that Delany hopes will be signed in a more robust marketplace. Exposure is a major advantage in recruiting and this should help every B1G school continue to be seen by prospects. In addition, college sports is an "arms race" and each B1G athletic program is set for a large influx of resources to stay a couple of steps ahead of the competition.

On a personal note, I am pleased that the league will continue to be on ESPN and ABC (and CBS for basketball) because I am a creature of habit. I have many problems with ESPN's opinion-driven "embrace debate" programming but I generally enjoy their college football game presentation and it feels like a big deal when our Hoosiers are on the ESPN airwaves. I'm used to watching the B1G on ESPN, it's a part of my fall Saturdays and I have a lot of memories associated with watching B1G football games with my Dad. The familiar intro music and graphics and the familiar broadcasters are things imprinted on my brain. I welcome Fox Sports into the fold and I look forward to seeing what they can bring to the party but I'm happy ESPN will still be involved. I can continue to make those same memories with my Dad and begin to make some sports memories with my two kids. I hope you, loyal reader of Hoosier Huddle, will be able to do the same with those you love watching sports with.