The Big Ten is about to get, well, bigger.
According to reports CBS and NBC are expected to join FOX Sports in broadcasting live Big Ten college games, specifically football. While Fox has owned rights to Big Ten Games through it’s Big Ten Network for the “A-games” CBS and NBC are expected to get the “B-slate” of games with CBS broadcasting games at 3:30 in the afternoon, and NBC getting primetime. NBC’s streaming service Peacock will also get a number of games to carry.
According to the report on nj.com, Amazon also has a bid out for the package, but CBS and NBC are clear frontrunners.
With the addition of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten conference, the networks are lining up to pay big bucks to get their hands on Big Ten action. Reports are the conference could eclipse one-billion dollars in rights-fees, with CBS expected to pay roughly $350 million for the late afternoon slot. With CBS in the mix for the BIG Ten, it means the end is near for SEC games on CBS. It is expected the SEC would move to ESPN.
Big Ten finalizing media rights deal w/Fox Sports, CBS & NBC, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. 1st reported by @Ourand_SBJ. Unless there’s a last minute change, this will be 1st time in 40 years Big Ten football & basketball games will not be on ESPN, @Ourand_SBJ reports
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 9, 2022
You can see it now starting in 2023:
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 9, 2022
Noon: Big Ten on Fox
3:30: Big Ten on CBS
7:30: Big Ten on NBC
And starting a year later, ESPN will be able to counter-program with:
Noon: SEC on ABC/ESPN
3:30: SEC on ABC/ESPN
7:30: SEC or ACC on ABC/ESPN