Report: New Big 12 Media Rights Deal Possible 'in Matter of Weeks'

Commissioner Brett Yormark is forging a fresh image for the league.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Oct 20, 2022 7:24 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — A new Big 12 media rights deal could get hammered out long before UC officially enters the league.

According to CBS Sports, The league is "aggressively pursuing a new deal" and could have a new one "in a matter of weeks."

"The league has been aggressively pursuing a new deal ahead of the conference's formal negotiating window in 2024," Dennis Dodd wrote. "The Big 12's current contract with ESPN and Fox expires after the 2024-25 academic year. While a new deal this far ahead of the expiration of the current contract is not assured, it could position the Big 12 ahead of the Pac-12 in terms of securing more lucrative broadcast windows. The Pac-12 is currently on the open market for a new contract as its current deal expires in 2024."

While a deal isn't guaranteed, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is confident each school will get more than the current $43 million yearly allocation. All of this despite losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, with the value of live sports having a lot to do with it.

"There is nothing more valuable than live sports right now. Generally speaking, there is a huge appetite for what we sell. That in itself gets us to a higher place," Yormark said.

The innovative leader is ready to pull out all the stops to push this league forward.

"I don't believe in flat," Yormark said about Big 12 growth in all areas. "We've got to go up. We've made a very compelling case. We're also selling a future vision. If you buy into my vision of where we're going to take this conference, how we nationalize, how we build our brands -- in partnership -- then you'll hopefully get to a point where you rationalize the number that I need in order to do this deal."

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