ESPN lands rights of college football playoffs
ESPN announced Wednesday that it had reached agreement on a 12-year contract for the rights to the college football playoff starting after the 2014 season through 2026.
The deal includes the national championship game, semifinals and bowl games that will be part of the semifinal rotation. The network previously announced multiyears deals with the Rose, Sugar and Orange bowls.
As part of the agreement with the college football playoff, ESPN will have the rights to TV, radio, mobile TV, 3D, its Spanish channel and internationally.
"Because of college football's widespread popularity and the incredible passion of its fans, few events are more meaningful than these games," ESPN president John Skipper said. "We are ecstatic at the opportunity to continue to crown a college football champion on ESPN's outlets for years to come, the perfect finale to our year-round commitment to the sport."
ESPN will televise this season's BCS Championship Game on Jan. 7 and the the title game after the following season before the new playoff system begins.
"We are delighted to continue our relationship with ESPN for 12 more years," BCS executive director Bill Hancock said. "ESPN's outlets provide numerous opportunities to bring this iconic event to the fans. Folks are going to love this playoff and the attention ESPN will give to it."
