ESPN, Fox Open Discussions for Next Big 12 Deal

[tigershoops31]

Fox, ESPN to open television talks with Big 12

The Big 12 plans to engage in discussions with Fox and ESPN about the league's next television contract. The planned talks come more than a year and a half before the current deal calls for a formal negotiating window.

www.espn.com

Didn't see this posted, but I'd think this is likely a good sign...

 

[JM4CY]

 

[Cyclonepride]

That's great news, as they may be able to start throwing out some real numbers to PAC 12 teams before the PAC 12 deal is signed.

 

[I@ST1]

Why are we even talking to ESPN/Fox? I thought we were going with Netflix or Prime.

 

[Rogue52]

Part of the negotiations will be that this is OU and TX’s last season.

 

[CoachHines3]

Why are we even talking to ESPN/Fox? I thought we were going with Netflix or Prime.

I'd bet we will have a streaming partner for tier 3.

could be espn+ platform too for tier 3.. who knows.

 

[Al_4_State]

Part of the negotiations will be that this is OU and TX’s last season.

Yup.

My guess is that ESPN or Fox pushes to move some Pac 12 teams east and lets OUT go early.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Why are we even talking to ESPN/Fox? I thought we were going with Netflix or Prime.

Even if we were (which is nowhere near certain), why would you exclude two major players from negotiations? That severely undermines our position and potential.

 

[CoachHines3]

Yup.

My guess is that ESPN or Fox pushes to move some Pac 12 teams east and lets OUT go early.

give a little more money annually to get OU/TX to leave early and adding a few pac 12 schools.

 

[KnappShack]

Yup.

My guess is that ESPN or Fox pushes to move some Pac 12 teams east and lets OUT go early.

But but but....the ESPN executive said the network doesn't do that!

 

[cyman05]

Even if we were (which is nowhere near certain), why would you exclude two major players from negotiations? That severely undermines our position and potential.

Current partners get an exclusive negotiating window. Can’t open “formal” discussions with others until later. The article references Feb ‘24.

 

[BCClone]

Current partners get an exclusive negotiating window. Can’t open “formal” discussions with others until later. The article references Feb ‘24.

The one he responded to was making a smartalek response about not using ESPN and Fox and going full streaming.

 

[CascadeClone]

Why are we even talking to ESPN/Fox? I thought we were going with Netflix or Prime.

It was my understanding all games would be on TikTok - each play gets its own video, and you just click them in succession. We'll make billions.

 

[madguy30]

Even if we were (which is nowhere near certain), why would you exclude two major players from negotiations? That severely undermines our position and potential.

Yeah gotta live in the 'now' for a bit here to maybe get some good footing.

 

[LLCoolCY]

This was the move Yormark was brought in to make, secure the B12 future as the P3 conference. I was expecting B12 to open the window and not wait, this is the time to talk to Fox/ESPN and get the number for additional schools to know who to offer. It also hurts the PAC10 potential deal since they no longer are the only rights on the market to "officially" negotiate.
The worst thing would have been to not open them now and see the PAC10 schools panic into signing a GOR leaving the B12 selling the current teams with out the option of adding additional late night windows out west. We'll see if we ultimately expand (likely) but having all the options to do is a better negotiation move.

 

[tman24]

Even if we were (which is nowhere near certain), why would you exclude two major players from negotiations? That severely undermines our position and potential.

depends how long the next contract is for. streaming sports is still cutting edge for netflix/amazon. unless they really throw some money im fine with what we have now for another 5ish years, and then try again.

 

[Cyclonepride]

depends how long the next contract is for. streaming sports is still cutting edge for netflix/amazon. unless they really throw some money im fine with what we have now for another 5ish years, and then try again.

Right, but it would be colossally stupid to throw any major players out of the pool of people competing for your media rights.

 

[CascadeClone]

Yup.

My guess is that ESPN or Fox pushes to move some Pac 12 teams east and lets OUT go early.

ESPN wants OuT.
Fox wants ??? (2-4 Pac teams into the B1G??)
Big12 wants cash.

If ESPN is willing to pay "market" plus some extra to get OuT rights, and Fox is willing to pay "market" (per team) for the Big12 with 4 more Pac schools... that seems like the outline. Fox would also be in the position to know which schools they actually want in the B1G and thus which ones we would get in the Big12 too, so less guesswork there.

 

[CY9008]

 

[JohnnyFive]

Every other tweet Ive read about this this morning has a mouthbreathing Hawk fan in the comments talking about how this isnt an advantage for the Big 12.

If one of you is also on CF and reading this, Id kindly like to ask you to please go have sex with yourself.