ESPN Matches NBC's Offer For Big East

[PonyKai]

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Dail ... -East.aspx

"ESPN has agreed to match NBC's offer for the Big East, agreeing to pay more than $20M per year for a six-year package, according to several well-placed sources. The two sides still are trying to work out various details about how many games ESPN will carry and where they will air. Sources said the Big East will have to take ESPN's offer to conference presidents, who will have to vote to approve the deal. No formal announcement is expected today. ESPN released a statement this afternoon saying, "Discussions with the Big East are ongoing." The Big East Conference also acknowledged that discussions are continuing.

NBC late last week agreed to a deal that would put Big East football and basketball games primarily on NBC Sports Network, with the ability to move some games to NBC's broadcast network. ESPN had to decide whether to match that deal by today. It matched the rights fee but is not likely to put any games on its broadcast channel, ABC. Sources say ESPN is likely to sublicense a significant amount of games to other networks, such as Fox Sports, which is launching Fox Sports 1 this summer. "

-----Twitter Verse-------

@Mengus22: NBC remains the worst poker player ever. Another conference comes and goes without them picking up more football content.

@DanWolken: Sounds like ESPN/Fox could be teaming up on Big East same way they did with PAC 12 to keep NBC out of the mix

@Mengus22: NBC lowballed the Big East to try and get cheap programming and instead made it way too easy for ESPN to match. #GameTheory

‏@DanWolken: In this landscape of college sports it's a huge risk for a league to have no affiliation with ESPN, IMO. Even if there's more $ elsewhere

@DanWolken: @dennisdoddcbs That's pretty misleading. Big East made a "final offer" they knew wouldn't be accepted.

@Mengus22: "At least we have room for all of our hunting programming now." - NBC Sports executives.

‏@DanWolken: Fans don't like the idea of mid-week ESPN games. But the exposure of that time slot >>>>>> a Saturday NBC Sports Network game.

@Mengus22: The Big East is going to wind up aligned with the network that owns all the bowl games. Smart.

‏@DanWolken: Recruits ask coaches "How many times are we going to be on ESPN?" Not "How many times are we going to be on Fox Sports 1?"

[ponyboy]

Can NBC counter with a higher offer?

[LA_Mustang]

Great news

[ColoStang]

This is not finalized. Personally i liked the idea of going with NBC. Screw ESPN.

[East Coast Mustang]

This is not finalized. Personally i liked the idea of going with NBC. Screw ESPN.

Let's not cut off our nose to spite our face. Like Wolken's tweet said, a weekday spot on ESPN is still worth a lot more in exposure than a Sat. night NBCSN telecast.

Also, for all of the ESPN hate (some of which is warranted), they did give us a pretty cool primetime spot for that 30-for-30 a few years back

[Charleston Pony]

let's hope we don't end up on the Ocho on Wednesday nights

[East Coast Mustang]

let's hope we don't end up on the Ocho on Wednesday nights

But seriously, would an 8pm Thursday game for us on ESPN2 or even ESPNU be the worst thing? I think it'd be great. That would reach infinitely more people than we currently do on TWC Texas or CBS Sports whatever. People might get somewhat excited for a Thurs night game on an ESPN station (unlike last year's Houston game) and you're dealing with a lot less entertainment competition than on a Saturday

[Charleston Pony]

anything on ESPN2 would be good, but most basic cable packages don't include U so that would concern me. My fear is we will be looking at 360. I'm not expecting ESPN's prime slots unless the Big East puts it's best matchups in odd time slots. Thursday nights have been attracting big boy football so at best you could hope to be relegated to a slot on the Duece up against some SEC or other BCS match-up

I always thought CUSA got some good time slots from FOX

[mrydel]

Do not care what night of the week we play if it is an away game. Mid week home games knock me out of going. Of course this is just a personal desire, but I think I will still let ESPN know how I feel.

[East Coast Mustang]

Do not care what night of the week we play if it is an away game. Mid week home games knock me out of going. Of course this is just a personal desire, but I think I will still let ESPN know how I feel.

It's just for better exposure. We're obviously not going to get on ESPN or ESPN2 on a Saturday most likely.

[mrydel]

I agree. I just want ESPN to cater to my personal desires.

[Stallion]

This just says ESPN matched rights fee-it doesn't say they matched the deal. I'd tell ESPN to shove it too if we are going to be relegated to MAC (weeknite) treatment. The NBC deal may still be substantially better for prime Football exposure. if it is substantially better as represented by Big East representatives then I hope we go with NBC.

[Junior]

great, so we'll be playing games on tuesday, wednesday and thursday now?

[horsemanx]

ESPN always has BIG EAST games on in "normal" timeslots.

Plus the games rumored to be moving to Fox Sports will likely be much easier for the casual fan to find than they would be if they were on NBC Sports.

[LA_Mustang]

great, so we'll be playing games on tuesday, wednesday and thursday now?

If we warrant a Saturday game on ESPN or the deuce, I'm sure ESPN will put us there. While Fox Sports is making up ground, NBC Sports has a LONG way to go to get on the level of ESPN/CBS. Love it or hate it, ESPN is the most powerful brand in sports. Whether it is Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, I'd rather be on one of the ESPN networks.