News: B1G, TNF, Berry and more

November 9, 2013: The Big Ten logo on the field after a football game between the Wisconsin Badger and the BYU Cougars. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the BYU Cougars by the score 27-17 at the Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI.

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]

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 1

Nate Johnson says:

4 years ago

Pretty late responding to this, but I must say that it’s a strong victory for DirecTV to simulcast TNF at sport bars that choose the option to do so. I talked about how sports bar showing UFC PPV been successful at that in years past and I learned the success of that through DirecTV package from the select sports bars. Now with them accomplishing TNF and perhaps it will snowball through the new Sunday Ticket starting 2023 season, it shows that DirecTV can maintain its relevancy in the sports realm of broadcasting for the remainder of the decade which was at question during the final hour of the 2010s and the early hours of the 2020s (DirecTV always marketed being the best sports package among cable/satellite and they’re still are, but they now could possibly still flex their muscle now with the TNF news). Also, I believe it shows how the NFL, from a PR point of view, still cares about the sports bar industry in which has helped them in a major way for the last nearly 30 years.

As at times I tend to ponder looking ahead, but the next question I assume could be how much would the sports bar industry continue and discontinue to show out of market games starting in 2023. I won’t be surprised if the price increases for the sports bar industry since it’s not an exclusive DirecTV deal meaning their subscribers or digital consumers won’t be able to get the package through them. So considering that DirecTV would want to get a great return on their investment, I believe it will bring wonders on if this will be successful. Luckily for them, Buffalo Wild Wings, Hooters, Twin Peaks, Dave & Busters, and Beef O’Brady’s (just a few examples that comes to mind) will perhaps tact on what they’ll tact in 2023 and beyond and be DirecTV’s base point/foundation on the agreements.

Last point, I know TJ from the podcast mentioned on the podcast a few times how it will be an uproar on the TNF games being exclusive on Prime starting this season. I’m now in question if that will be the case or not, because of the news. For one, I’m sure Prime paid a lot of money in advertisements to all four networks in Week 1 to remind viewers that Week 2 Chargers/Chiefs is on Prime. Week 3 to me will be a true test because the Steelers will play and they have fans from all over the country so I’m curious to see what the feedback will be from them. After that, maybe the Saints on October 20th or the Bucs the week after would bring the next test on the feedback of TNF being on a streaming platform because now we have Who Dat nation or Brady fandom each coming as a strong collect to either tune in or be very frustrated that they’re exclusively on a streaming platform and they miss a Primetime game of their attraction. We shall see though. Amazing that we’re five weeks away from the first of 24 consecutive Sundays of NFL action that matters in wins and losses before the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl wraps up the season.