For the third time in 48 hours, a major college sports conference has announced a new television deal. In other news, the NFL Hall of Fame Game is heading back to broadcast TV for the first time in three years, and NBC’s coverage of the 2012 Olympics led the way in Sports Emmy nominations.
ESPN Reaches Agreement With Mountain West
- ESPN has reached a seven-year media rights agreement with the Mountain West Conference, the parties announced Wednesday. Under the deal, which runs through the 2019-20 academic year, an ESPN platform will televise every Boise State home football game, up to sixteen other football contests, and up to 31 men’s basketball games. CBS Sports, which has an existing deal with the Mountain West through at least 2016, remains the conference’s primary broadcast partner. (ESPN Media Zone)
Hall of Fame Game to Air on NBC For First Time in Three Years
- NBC will air the 2013 NFL Hall of Fame Game, marking the first time the network has televised the preseason opener since 2010. Last year’s game aired on NFL Network due to the Olympics; the 2011 game was canceled due to the NFL owners’ lockout. This year’s game will pit the Dolphins against the Cowboys. (cantonrep.com)
NBC’s Olympic Coverage Leads Sports Emmy Noms
- NBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics earned fourteen Sports Emmy nominations, the most of any sports program. In second place were the NBA on TNT and HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” with six each. Overall, the NBC Sports Group had the most nominations of any sports division (58), ranking comfortably ahead of second-place ESPN (43). (emmyonline.tv)
