A major development in college sports has unfurled as the Big Ten Conference secured comprehensive media rights agreements with prominent networks CBS, FOX, NBC, and NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
This strategic move ensures extensive coverage of conference football, women’s and men’s basketball, and Olympic sports, catapulting student-athletes onto the national stage. The agreements cement the Big Ten Conference’s position as a trailblazer in college sports media rights.
Dominating Saturdays with Unprecedented Coverage
Beginning in fall 2023, Big Ten Conference football will take center stage on Saturdays, with a powerhouse lineup of broadcast partners. FOX will kick off the day at Noon ET, followed by CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET, and culminating with NBC in Prime Time.
The impending addition of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC) in August 2024 will expand the conference’s reach, ensuring unparalleled coast-to-coast coverage and tapping into the nation’s top three media markets: New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
These media rights agreements will commence on July 1, 2023, and span through the 2029-30 season.
A New Era for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren emphasized that the media rights agreements represent more than financial transactions; they provide stability and unparalleled exposure for student-athletes, member institutions, and partners despite uncertainty in collegiate athletics.
A Testament to Teamwork and Collaboration
Commissioner Warren hailed the new rights agreements as an extraordinary achievement, underscoring the power of teamwork.
He acknowledged the tireless efforts of the conference staff, presidents, chancellors, athletics directors, coaches, student-athletes, and partners at CBS, NBC, and FOX Sports in securing unprecedented Big Ten access across transformative media platforms.
Media Rights Agreements: A Comprehensive Breakdown
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Big Ten Network (BTN): BTN will continue to serve as the primary destination for Big Ten fans, broadcasting an extensive slate of football, basketball, and Olympic sport competitions throughout the year.
- CBS: CBS’s inaugural season in 2023 will feature seven football games, regular-season and postseason men’s basketball action, and the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament final. The network will also broadcast the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals and final, a tradition spanning 25 years. All CBS Big Ten football and basketball broadcasts will be streamed on Paramount+.
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FOX: FOX has renewed its partnership to televise football and men’s basketball games each season, with opportunities to carry additional sports throughout the year. The network’s Big Noon Saturday platform has achieved remarkable success, capturing the #1 time slot in college football during the 2021-22 season.
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NBC: NBC will produce 14-to-16 games on broadcast television each season, introducing Big Ten Saturday Night. Each Big Ten game on NBC will be simul-streamed on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. NBC Sports boasts an impressive track record, with its Sunday Night Football franchise reigning as primetime’s No. 1 show for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years.
Conclusion
The Big Ten Conference’s landmark media rights agreements mark an outstanding milestone in the evolution of college sports broadcasting.
By partnering with leading networks CBS, FOX, NBC, and NBCUniversal’s Peacock, the conference has secured unparalleled exposure for its student-athletes, member institutions, and partners.
As the media continues to change, the Big Ten Conference is poised to remain at the forefront of innovation, providing fans with unparalleled access to premier college sports content.
