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Big Ten Scores a New TV Contract

Posted on: Thursday, 22 June 2006, 21:00 CDT

By Steve Hinnefeld, Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind.

Jun. 22--IU sports fans will have more chances to see Hoosier teams in action with a new Big Ten television agreement and the upcoming launch of a conference cable channel, Indiana University officials said.

Rick Greenspan, the IU athletic director, said the initiatives will help with recruiting and make it possible for the university to showcase its athletic and academic strengths.

"I think all our sports will benefit significantly," he said. "Football and basketball will only grow their visibility. And our Olympic sports will have a dramatic positive impact in terms of seeing them on the channel."

Greenspan said the deals will increase IU television revenue by $7.5 million in 2007-08, their first year. That approximately doubles the athletics department's TV income, helping balance its operating budget and enabling officials to move forward with long-discussed facilities improvements.

IU's annual athletics budget is almost $40 million.

James E. Delany, the Big Ten commissioner, announced the agreements Wednesday in a conference call. They include:

-- A 10-year agreement with ABC/ESPN to televise more Big Ten football and basketball games, along with women's basketball and volleyball games on the ESPN networks.

-- A 20-year partnership with Fox Cable Networks to create and operate the Big Ten Channel, a 24/7 cable channel that will carry football, basketball, Olympic sports and university-produced features.

"It will be the destination for all things Big Ten," Delany said of the channel, for which the Big Ten will be majority owner and Fox a minority owner.

IU President Adam Herbert said the agreements are good news for the university and its alumni and fans across the country.

"More men's basketball games will be broadcast to national audiences," he said in a statement. "Our football and women's basketball teams will get frequent regional and national television exposure. Our accomplished student-athletes in Olympic sports also will receive much-deserved visibility as well."

The Big Ten has had agreements with ABC since 1966 and with ESPN since 1979. Both are part of the Walt Disney Co.

Under the new deal, as many as 41 Big Ten football games and about 60 men's basketball games will be broadcast to national audiences each year. ESPN will carry Big Ten men's basketball on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will carry 100 women's basketball and volleyball games over 10 years.

Additionally, the Big Ten Channel will carry at least 35 football games, 105 men's basketball games and 55 women's basketball games.

The cable channel also will carry 60 hours a year of programming by each of the 11 Big Ten schools.

"Whether that's the Little 500 or something from the Kelley School or the Jacobs School of Music, I just think it's good community service and good business," Greenspan said.

Potential losers are TV viewers without cable or satellite. They have been able to watch some syndicated Big Ten games on broadcast stations such as WTTV in Indianapolis. That won't happen any more, officials said.

Delany, the Big Ten commissioner, said people without cable or satellite are a shrinking market. "I think only 15 percent of the 110 million homes in the country receive their signal that way," he said.

Delany said the Big Ten Channel will protect the integrity of the conference "brand," and it won't accept advertising for alcohol or gambling. He said the Big Ten consulted with other entities that have launched channels with Fox Cable, including National Geographic.

DirecTV will include the Big Ten Channel in its Total Choice package. Officials said they are confident the channel will be included in "expanded basic" offerings by cable companies around the country.

"It's no secret the Big Ten has some of the most loyal and passionate fans of any conference," said Bob Thompson, president of Fox Sports Networks.

Delany would not reveal financial terms but said the revenue will be divided equally among the 11 member schools, in line with conference policy.

"I think it helps them maintain support for broad-based programs in ways that previously were more difficult," he said.

THE FINE PRINT:

ABC/ESPN contract:

-- Term: 10 years.

-- Football: As many as 41 games a season (17 on ABC, others on ESPN/ESPN2). Regional afternoon games on ABC will be aired in outer markets by ESPN.

-- Men's basketball: About 60 games per season, including one game every Tuesday and Thursday during conference season and six to eight Saturday conference games.

-- Women's basketball and volleyball: 100 games over 10 years on ESPN network, including women's basketball Big Ten championship.

Big Ten Channel

-- 20-year partnership with Fox Cable Networks, with Big Ten as majority owner.

-- Football: 35 games per season, including at least two for each school.

-- Men's basketball: At least 105 regular season games and three Big Ten tournament games.

-- Women's basketball: At least 55 regular season games and nine Big Ten tournament games.

-- Olympic sports: 170 events.

-- Other: 660 hours of institutional programming; broadcasts of historic sporting events, including football bowl games.

IU COACH COMMENTS

-- Kelvin Sampson, men's basketball: "Having your own channel makes you unique in this field. I think it's going to help in so many different ways. Not only exposure and fan support, but there are going to be a lot of kids who grow up watching the Big Ten Channel who are going to know a lot more about the institution or the school that they would like to play for one day."

-- Felisha Legette-Jack, women's basketball: "This will give our conference great exposure and more opportunities for our fans to follow Big Ten sports. I am thrilled to be part of the Big Ten and the huge strides we are taking to be the best in the country."

-- Terry Hoeppner, football: "The Big Ten channel gives the nation an opportunity to see both the academic and athletic excellence of the Big Ten. This provides a great opportunity for IU fans across the nation to follow the Hoosiers."

-- Mike Freitag, men's soccer: "We have been fortunate to play some regionally and nationally televised games, and the exposure for the program is incredible."

-- Stacey Phillips, softball: "We have the most competitive league in the country, and softball's increase in popularity is due in large part to having the league championship and the College World Series on television."

-- Ray Looze, men's and women's swimming: "The more you're on television, the more excitement and interest is created, and there is more of a nationwide impact. It's a great idea, and the Big Ten is the lead conference, as it should be."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind.

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Source: Herald-Times

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