That doubles if the conference adds four teams.
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Under the original deals, the networks pay the conference $2.6 billion over 13 years. Part of the road block to a conference network has been the University of Texas’ Longhorn Network.
According to the SBD, ESPN and Fox “could negotiate smaller rights-fee increases as opposed to the pro rata increases”, or “they could simply not pay the increases and force the conference to take them to court”. Associate athletic director for external operations Shelley Binegar is coordinating the ongoing effort that began last week when Big 12 presidents directed Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to study expansion. Brown reports that Cincinnati, Houston and BYU are the top candidates with Memphis making a late push.
As reported by Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand and Michael Smith, ESPN and Fox Sports are not warm on the idea of the Big 12 adding members from outside Power Five conferences.
Pundits believe that adding schools from outside the Power 5 would water down the conference.
The Big 12 once again is left in the position of how and whether to expand.
Sports Business Daily’s John Ourand and Michael Smith report that ESPN and FOX have concerns about the Big 12’s plans for expansion.
I mean, yeah, there appears to be more money to be made if the conference expands from 10 to 12, or even 14 (more on that in a moment), but it’s been well documented that the pool of candidates does not include the kind of knock-your-socks-off schools that would turn the concept of expanding from something that makes sense and seems fairly practical into something about which people – fans, players, coaches and administrators – would get excited.
SBJ also points out that ESPN and Fox feel the Big 12 owes those networks some gratitude for helping to keep the conference from falling apart six years ago, when several schools either left or threatened to bolt to other conferences.
The Big 12’s plans to “evaluate” expansion proceedings came a day after news broke the ACC would be launching its own television network. While it’s understandable the two networks would be reluctant to shill out significant cash to the Big 12 right now, there may also be another factor at play as well.
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The Big 12 Conference is exploring the possibility of expansion, looking at perhaps adding two to four schools.
