The Big Ten expects its looming TV windfall to be even bigger than initially hoped. Plus: Amazon is close to a deal to let DirecTV distribute Thursday Night Football to bars and restaurants; Matthew Berry has joined NBC; and more.
Big Ten sets sights on even higher rights fee
Buoyed by the pending arrivals of USC and UCLA, the Big Ten now hopes to generate at least $1.5 billion per year from its new media rights deals — up from the $1.0 billion per year the conference was initially on track for, Front Office Sports reported Thursday. The Big Ten currently generates $440 million in annual rights fees.
Fox Sports has already locked up its portion of Big Ten rights, but there is considerable interest in the remaining inventory. Contenders are said to include NBC, CBS, ESPN and Amazon. Per another Front Office Sports report, NBC is pushing for a primetime package of Saturday night Big Ten games that it would pair with its existing Notre Dame rights. [Front Office Sports 8.3, 8.4]
Amazon set to allow DirecTV to air TNF in bars, restaurants
Amazon has tentatively agreed to allow DirecTV to distribute “Thursday Night Football” games to bars and restaurants, Sports Business Journal reported this week. Per the report, a number of major establishments are not set up to handle streaming video. No deal has yet been signed.
As has been previously reported, DirecTV is also expected to continue distributing NFL Sunday Ticket to commercial establishments once that package goes streaming-only in its next deal. [SBJ 8.1]
Fantasy sports analyst Berry joins NBC Sports
NBC Sports on Thursday announced the hiring of former ESPN fantasy sports analyst Matthew Berry, who made his debut on “Football Night in America” prior to the Hall of Fame Game. Berry, who previously worked for NBC Sports from 1999-04, will be a regular on “Football Night” this season and also appear on the Peacock-exclusive “Sunday Night Football Final” postgame show.
Berry will also have a Sunday morning show on Peacock throughout the NFL season. [NBC Sports]
Plus: Rooks, Sims, Darke
Amazon announced Thursday that it has hired Turner Sports’ Taylor Rooks as a feature reporter for its Thursday Night Football coverage. … ESPN has hired fitness instructor Jess Sims as a contributor to College Gameday, the network announced. … Fox Sports announced last month that it is borrowing ESPN play-by-play voice Ian Darke for its World Cup coverage this fall. [Amazon PR 8.4, ESPN PR, Fox Sports PR 7.26]
