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Big Ten announces new media rights deal worth $1 billion annually

The Big Ten Conference has finally announced its much-awaited media rights deal after reaching agreements with CBS, FOX, NBC, and NBCUniversal’s Peacock for distribution. Beginning in the fall of 2023, the Big Ten will operate an unprecedented morning-to-night broadcast schedule. Starting next football season FOX will air Big Ten games at 11:00 am CT, CBS at 2:30 pm CT, and NBC in Prime Time. The media rights agreements will begin July 1, 2023, and run through the 2029-30 season.

Reports state that the conference will earn between $7-$8 billion over the length of the 7-year contract. Brett McMurphy of Action Network HQ has said that a source close to the agreement says the deal contains “contract escalators may increase value to nearly $10 billion, so B1G “is not done expanding.”

A Big Ten press release states that the three partner networks (CBS, FOX, and NBC) will broadcast the seven Big Ten Football Championship Games over the deal’s life on a rotating schedule.

CBS: 2024, 2028

FOX: 2023, 2025, 2027, 2029

NBC: 2026

 

CBS

The 2023 season in 2023 will include seven football games and both regular season and postseason men’s basketball action, along with the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament final appearing on CBS for the first time. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals and final will continue the tradition of airing on CBS, which they have done for 25 years. Every CBS Big Ten football and basketball broadcast will also be streamed on Paramount+, Paramount Global’s direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Starting in 2024, CBS will televise up to 15 regular-season football games per season, including an annual Black Friday game in the afternoon. CBS is America’s most-watched network for the past 14 years and the highest-rated college football network.

– Big Ten Press Release

FOX

The Big Ten Conference’s partnership with FOX reached its high point during the 2021-22 year, as FOX captured the #1 time slot in college football for the first time with its Big Noon Saturday platform that featured 10-14 games involving a Big Ten team, and a men’s basketball season that ended with the top three most watched games in the history of FS1 all featuring Big Ten programs.

– Big Ten Press Release

NBC

Will produce 14-to-16 games on broadcast television each season as it introduces college football fans to Big Ten Saturday Night. Each Big Ten game on NBC broadcast will also be simul-streamed on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. NBC Sports has established the most dominant primetime franchise in television history, as its Sunday Night Football has been primetime’s No. 1 show for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years – a streak that is currently active.

– Big Ten Press Release

Peacock

NBCUniversal’s direct-to-consumer streaming service will deliver exclusive Big Ten football and basketball games each season, as eight regular-season football games will appear on the platform along with as many as 47 regular-season men’s basketball games (32 conference and 15 non-conference) and 30 regular-season women’s basketball games (20 conference and 10 non-conference).

CBS, FOX and NBC will combine efforts to televise the seven Big Ten Football Championship Games during the term.

– Big Ten Press Release

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Story originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire