Robert Goddin photo-USA TODAY Sports
Big Ten Announces Monumental Multi-Billion Dollar Media Rights Deal
After hearing for more than a year that a record-breaking television deal was upcoming for the Big Ten Conference, the announcement has finally been made.
The Big Ten announced Thursday morning that distribution agreements had been reached with CBS, FOX, NBC and NBCUniversal's Peacock. Those partners are in addition to the Big Ten Network and FS1.
As expected, ESPN and ABC are not part of the package.
“The Big Ten Conference media rights agreements are more than just dollars and deals. They are a mechanism to provide stability and maximum exposure for our student-athletes, member institutions and partners during these uncertain times in collegiate athletics,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said. “We are very grateful to our world-class media partners for recognizing the strength of the Big Ten Conference brand and providing the incredible resources we need for our student-athletes to compete at the very highest levels, and to achieve their academic and athletics goals.”
Warren and the league did not announce raw numbers, but multiple reports indicate the seven-year agreement is worth more than $7 billion. The contract is said to include an escalator clause, which could push the deal to nearly $10 billion.
The deal begins July 1, 2023.
CBS will have seven football games in 2023 but expand to 15 in 2024. That is due to the network having a deal with the SEC that runs through 2023. Beginning in 2024, CBS's coverage will include a Black Friday game in the afternoon, likely the Nebraska-Iowa matchup. CBS will also continue to broadcast the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals and final.
FOX will continue to highlight its Big Noon Saturday time slot that featured double-digit games involving a Big Ten team last season, as well as men's basketball.
NBC will produce at least 14 games each season and introduce its Big Ten Saturday Night. Games on NBC will be simul-streamed on Peacock.
Peacock will handle eight regular-season football games and dozens of men's and women's basketball games.
CBS ('24, '28), FOX ('23, '25, '27, '29), and NBC ('26) will split the seven Big Ten Football Championship Games during the term of the deal.
“The new rights agreements are an incredible achievement for our entire conference and a true testament of what can be accomplished with teamwork,” Warren stated. “I am incredibly grateful for collaborative efforts and hard work of our conference staff, specifically Laura Anderson, Anil Gollahalli, Kerry Kenny and Adam Neuman, our presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, coaches, student-athletes, and our partners at CBS, NBC and FOX Sports for solidifying unprecedented Big Ten access across transformative media companies for our fans to tune in and follow the Big Ten content they love.”
