Report: Big Ten Will Hire Tony Petitti As Next Commissioner
After a three-month search, the Big Ten reportedly has its new commissioner.
The conference is expected to hire former MLB and CBS Sports executive Tony Petitti as the next commissioner, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. The search began Jan. 12 when former commissioner Kevin Warren accepted the President and CEO position with the Chicago Bears.
Petitti was the chief operating officer taking over for Rob Manfred after he became MLB's commissioner in 2015.
He also served as the head of MLB Network.
In addition to being the president of sports and entertainment of video game company Activision Blizzard, Inc., Petitti was named the executive vice president of CBS Sports — which is soon to be involved in broadcasting Big Ten games — in 2005, focusing mainly on NFL broadcasts.
In 2008, he oversaw day-to-day operations of CSTV, which transitioned into the CBS College Sports Network.
The Big Ten agreed to a $7 billion media rights deal with CBS, NBC and FOX in August 2022, which will go into effect July 1.
This fall, CBS will be responsible for broadcasting seven football games likely in the 3:30 p.m. time slot, according to a release. The station will also show regular- and postseason men's basketball games, as well as the women's conference tournament final.
Beginning in 2024, the CBS will broadcast 15 football games with an annual Black Friday game, according to a release.
If confirmed, Petitti will also inherit a conference on the verge of expansion.
It was announced June 2022 that UCLA and USC will be joining the Big Ten as early as the 2024 season.
There are reports that the Big Ten is not done expanding, so that would likely be on Petitti's agenda if hired.
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