NBC makes TV offer official

[Lobot]

You won't like this.

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN

NBC Sports Network offers Big East $20M-$23M per year; $2M per team/year. ESPN has 1 week to match to retain rights

[RedRocker]

What a shitty offer.

[CincyEngGrad02]

I'm guessing these games won't be on channel 5, but instead some other kind of "sports network" similar to fox Sports??

[RedRocker]

I'm guessing these games won't be on channel 5, but instead some other kind of "sports network" similar to fox Sports??

Yes, likely NBC Sports Network plus a couple of others in their fold. There will probably be a few on NBC when ND is on the road.

[cmm27]

That is embarrassing.

[Lobot]

ESPN just matched NBC per Mark Blaudschein. Reputable source.

[Lobot]

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal now confirming this. RD #2 starts now NBC.

[catscratchfever]

what amount per year does uc get currently?

[Lobot]

what amount per year does uc get currently?

Currently that pathetic number stands at 2Mil per for all sports. It will go up.

[longtimefan]

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal now confirming this. RD #2 starts now NBC.

Is there a RD 2? I thought this was the case of best offer then the opportunity to match. If ESPN gets it, say so long to prime time.

[longtimefan]

Is there a RD 2? I thought this was the case of best offer then the opportunity to match. If ESPN gets it, say so long to prime time.

Perhaps I was wrong. I now understand that ESPN has to match all aspects of the deal, not just the financials, so if NBC offered so many prime time slots or other exposure opportunities, the BE can still choose NBC. Of course that would probably get the lawyers involved.

My fear is that ESPN will get the deal, and then find ways to bury us on ESPN3 or ESPNU with no chance for broad exposure. The only reason they are matching the deal is to keep NBC from getting it.

[CincyEngGrad02]

Nothing better than an all-out bidding war

[1977 BearCat]

Nothing better than an all-out bidding war

True but one is not going to occur.

[RedRocker]

Nothing better than an all-out bidding war

True but one is not going to occur.

Yep. I think the term all-out is a misnomer here. How about small bidding battle?

I hope the nBE presidents and Aresco go with NBC. The thought of having to watch games on ESPN3/ESPNU/ESPN? or midweek games on ESPN/ESPN2 just turns me off.

[cafemerald]

http://m.espn.go.com/wireless/story?storyId=8977673