In today’s college sports landscape, TV networks aren’t just broadcasting the games but shaping them. Massive broadcast deals with networks like ESPN, Fox, NBC, and CBS are now influencing everything from kickoff times to longstanding traditions. As conferences realign and streaming platforms gain ground, fans navigate a rapidly changing viewing experience driven by media money and corporate priorities.
The Power of the Networks: How Broadcast Deals Are Dictating Game Times and Changing Traditions
Broadcast deals have become a big part of collegiate sports as of late. Some of the biggest television sports networks such as CBS, ESPN, NBC, and Fox all compete against each other to try and put out the best collegiate sports.
Recently, ESPN and the SEC agreed on a ten-year, $3 billion deal in 2024. This deal allowed ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC to have the rights to any SEC football or basketball game for the next ten years.
This is a huge deal. Before this deal, the biggest was the Big Ten’s contract with CBS, Fox, and NBC worth $8 billion. Although, the Big Ten Network still has the largest dollar value, ESPN’s views have significantly skyrocketed, and the SEC has been getting the major time slots.
Also, it is the new home for many iconic rivalry games such as the infamous Florida-Georgia game that is always played on a neutral site in Jacksonville, Florida and broadcasted on CBS.
Conference realignment also played a massive role in the SEC television deal getting done. Many Division I teams across the country have switched conferences. But, Texas and Oklahoma, two historic football programs joining the SEC, made ESPN push for that deal even more.
It definitely worked out because Texas was very solid this past season and ESPN views rose. Texas and Oklahoma each contributed to that deal as each school brought in an additional $21 million dollars toward the SEC contract.
Notre Dame: League Of Their Own
As many know, for college football, Notre Dame is in an independent conference. This means that they do not belong to a conference TV deal, play a conference schedule, or even have the privilege of playing in a conference championship. However, they were still able to have tons of success as they went to the National Championship this past season.
However, Notre Dame renewed its TV contract and media rights with NBC in 2023, extending the deal through the 2029 season. The deal is strictly for football, as Notre Dame belongs to the ACC for every sport besides football and hockey. The school is expected to earn around $50 million annually from NBC and $17 million from the ACC.
In addition, streaming services have become a lot more popular as of late as well. NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, also contains Notre Dame content. Exclusively on Peacock, is a Hard Knocks themed documentary about the Notre Dame football team in the offseason called “Here Comes The Irish”.
Streaming services, combined with conference media and TV rights, are changing the way fans watch sports and what subscriptions/channels they need. For example, it was announced that Notre Dame and Boise State would match up in South Bend, Indiana, on Oct. 4th for this coming season. That game was initially scheduled to be streamed on Peacock only.
KEEP READING: ESPN Secures New ACC TV Deal Through 2036 as League Moves To Keep Clemson, FSU Happy
However, a few weeks later, they confirmed that game will be on both Peacock and NBC for folks that have cable or access to NBC. Instead, NBC Sports announced their contest with NC State a week later, will be streamed on Peacock only.
ACC Network Assortment
Conferences like the Big Ten, SEC, and an independent school like Notre Dame are always going to have there regular season games on the same channel. However, teams in the ACC could be switching from time to time and network to network.
The networks they belong to are ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, and even The CW. Since The CW is not known as a sports channel, it is probably tough to have good ratings on those games competing against other conferences and better matchups. Should there be an easier solution for streaming and tv rights?
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