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Big Ten Media Rights: ESPN executive weighs in on missing out on B1G’s new deal
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The new Big Ten media rights package was wrapped up last week. In that new deal, B1G broadcasts will be spread across multiple networks with FOX, CBS and NBC involved.
One key aspect of the new deal is the omission of ESPN. At the end of the day, the two sides parted ways after being unable to reach an agreement on the new media deal.
Recently, ESPN’s Burke Magnus addressed missing out on the deal with John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal. Magnus is the President of Programming and Original Content for the network.
ESPN’s Burke Magnus on the lack of a Big Ten deal.
“What we needed to get at the price that we needed to get it at, neither of those things were available to us.”
Listen here:
Apple: https://t.co/cCtJ151IJM
Spotify: https://t.co/G7BNgGCwDm
Google: https://t.co/an10IdStCs pic.twitter.com/LrtQcOx3O8— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 24, 2022
“What we needed to get at the price that we needed to get it at, neither of those things were available to us,” Magnus claimed.
“As difficult as it was to go separate directions, it was the right decision for our company, there’s no doubt about that. Nothing is forever… But it was a hard decision.”
We’ll see if the B1G and ESPN ever decide to work again in the future, especially if the B1G decides to add more programs via expansion.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.