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The Big Ten is nearing a record set of media deals expected to top $1 billion annually.
Fox Sports has a deal in place to remain the college conference’s largest media partner — but how big a piece of the pie and who else will get a slice have yet to be determined, per Sports Business Journal.
- The Big Ten currently partners with Fox, Disney-owned ABC and ESPN, and CBS.
- Disney, NBC, CBS, and Amazon are all vying for a part of the conference’s next media package.
- Warner Bros. Discovery and Apple are both involved in discussions with the conference but are considered long shots for now.
A new deal would begin in the fall of next year. The conference currently distributes $54 million to each of its schools.
Conference Realignment
CBS will lose SEC football rights to Disney in Fall 2024, creating a gap it could potentially fill with the Big Ten. ESPN and ABC are hoping to retain the Big Ten but may face an overcrowded schedule.
Amazon and Apple, both of which have been seeking sports rights to bolster their streaming services, represent a new variable in the talks.
The Big Ten negotiations could set the stage for other Power 5 conferences. The Pac-12 and Big 12, both of which currently partner with Fox and ESPN, will be seeking new deals when their respective contracts expire after the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
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