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Big Ten Network in Planning Stages

Posted on: Thursday, 25 May 2006, 00:00 CDT

CHICAGO _ Fox network officials would have loved to add Big Ten football to its stable of Major League Baseball, the NFL, NASCAR and BCS games.

But it's not going to happen.

Sources say that barring a late snag, the ABC/ESPN family will remain the exclusive national broadcast home of the Big Ten.

The conference's current deal with ABC/ESPN doesn't expire until June 2007, but the league would like to complete its new contract in the next three to four weeks.

A report on CBS Sports Line.com indicated the contract would include a "side deal" with DirecTV that would create the Big Ten Network.

If formed that network reportedly would broadcast second-tier football games, some basketball games and competition from minor sports.

But the concept of the Big Ten forming a network to be launched on DirecTV was met with some skepticism Wednesday by industry officials.

The major issue would be DirecTV's reach. The satellite operator is currently in 15.4 million homes, compared with 90.7 million for ESPN.

Other questions: Would the Big Ten Network be available to other satellite providers, such as Dish Network, and cable systems, such as Comcast?

And how many football games would shift from ESPN Regional to the new network?

About 30 professional teams, such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians, have formed their own networks.

But only one intercollegiate conference_the Mountain West_has followed suit. The MountainWest Sports Network will make its debut in September.

Big Ten officials, meanwhile, remained tight-lipped about negotiations Wednesday, releasing a statement that the conference's goal "is to reach agreements that give Big Ten fans the widest possible access to all of our sports, while providing the greatest benefit to each institution."

The Big Ten's current deal with ABC/ESPN is said to be worth up to $50 million per year. Linking with DirecTV on a new network would add another revenue source.

Although Fox's parent company, News Corp., owns a sizable share in DirecTV, the formation of the Big Ten Network would not give Fox access to Big Ten programming.

Big Ten officials, athletic directors, coaches and faculty representatives discussed TV rights during their annual meeting last week in Chicago.

Indications are the Big Ten never seriously considered leaving the ABC/ESPN family. One source said the Big Ten extended its exclusive negotiating period with ABC/ESPN and never fielded an offer from Fox.

ESPN/ABC was equally determined to renew the relationship. In March ESPN Executive Vice President John Skipper reportedly sent a memo to employees asking them to welcome Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany to their Bristol, Conn., campus by wearing "Bristol is Big Ten Country" buttons.

Who doesn't like a little red-carpet treatment, right?

___

MUSICAL CHAIRS

College football will sound different this fall. At least if you're watching a game on ABC or ESPN.

Following the departures of Keith Jackson (retirement), Lynn Swann (politics), Aaron Taylor (philanthropy/teaching) and Gary Danielson (CBS Sports), the Disney networks have shuffled their cards.

ABC analyst Dan Fouts will switch to play-by-play and partner with Tim Brant for Saturday afternoon games.

Another ABC Saturday team will feature Brad Nessler, Paul Maguire and Bob Griese_plus sideline reporter Stacey Dales, who plays for the Chicago Sky.

ESPN studio analysts Lou Holtz and Mark May, meanwhile, will call weeknight games.

One thing that hasn't changed: the ESPN "College GameDay" crew of Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. This will be their 11th season together.

___

(c) 2006, Chicago Tribune.

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Source: Chicago Tribune

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