{"id":40360,"date":"2022-08-09T18:08:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/espn-out-of-big-ten-negotiations-as-fox-cbs-nbc-near-deals-sources\/"},"modified":"2022-08-09T18:08:37","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:08:37","slug":"espn-out-of-big-ten-negotiations-as-fox-cbs-nbc-near-deals-sources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/espn-out-of-big-ten-negotiations-as-fox-cbs-nbc-near-deals-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN out of Big Ten negotiations as Fox, CBS, NBC near deals: Sources"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Big Ten is in the process of finalizing its media rights deals, with sources telling The Athletic<\/em> the league hopes to make an official announcement by early next week. In a stunning development, ESPN has pulled out of negotiations, sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n In addition to Fox, which had locked up Big Ten rights months ago, the conference is likely to partner with both CBS and NBC. Such deals, if finalized, could result in the following Saturday slate: a noon ET game on Fox, a 3:30 pm ET game on CBS and prime time on NBC. Multiple sources involved in the negotiations have reiterated over the past month that the Big Ten has prioritized those windows throughout the process.<\/p>\n ESPN officially pulled out of Big Ten negotiations after saying no to the conference’s final offer of a seven-year deal worth $380 million per year, a source told The Athletic<\/em> on Tuesday. Sports Business Journal first reported the developments.<\/p>\n ESPN’s rejection of the Big Ten’s offer was for only 13 of the Big Ten’s \u201cB\u201d\/\u201cC\u201d package of games; ESPN had also looked at a prime-time package. Fox has already landed the league’s \u201cA\u201d package of games, which it will carry in the noon window.<\/p>\n ESPN’s exclusive 10-year deal with the SEC, starting in 2024-25, is believed to be in the $300 million range. That deal includes both 3:30 pm ET and prime-time windows for the conference’s premiere games, which differs from what the network was in play for with the Big Ten. Clearly, the worldwide leader did not value the Big Ten’s secondary package at a higher price for fewer years than its SEC deal, especially with the network already obligated to the ACC as well.<\/p>\n The news is undoubtedly historic. ESPN has carried Big Ten football and basketball games for the last 40 years.<\/p>\n ESPN has mid-afternoon and primetime windows for its upcoming SEC deal, in addition to deals with the ACC and, perhaps, future deals with the Pac-12 (post-2024) and Big 12 (post-25).<\/p>\n However, this fall will mark the 40th and final year of ESPN broadcasting Big Ten football.<\/p>\n\n