The Big Ten is on the cusp of television deals that are expected to rake in more than $1 billion and create a college football triple-header with Fox, CBS and NBC, The Post has confirmed.
If the deal goes through, ESPN will exit Big Ten football and basketball for the first time in 40 years. Deals with all three networks are ongoing. Sports Business Journal media writer John Ourand, who is also a podcast host, was the first to report the news.
The Saturday format would likely be Fox with its midday start, followed by CBS in the late afternoon and NBC in prime time. Sources told the Post that CBS is expected to pay about $350 million a year for the 3:30 p.m. game.
This will replace the SEC, which will move all of its games to ABC/ESPN in a deal that will pay the SEC about $330 million for its top soccer games beginning in 2024. ESPN and the SEC have a separate agreement covering more football and other sports that brings the SEC figure to around $700 million.
The Big 10 is about to have a massive television package. AP
If those deals go through, the Pac-12 will be next, which ESPN likes for its late night windows. The Big 12 are out there too, which could be a fight between ESPN and Fox. Amazon and Apple have also expressed interest in participating in the college football game.
There’s also the possibility of another realignment to cloud the water.
ESPN’s SEC deal was sweetened when the SEC took over Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12. Fox, which is a part owner of the Big Ten Network and is involved in all current negotiations, was helped as the Big Ten became an even more attractive TV company with the recent addition of UCLA and USC.