It took its sweet time, but the Big Ten has finally announced its new television deals. In other news, Major League Soccer rejected a media rights offer conditioned on adopting a promotion/relegation system, and ESPN says it would interview O.J. Simpson if the opportunity arose.
After a Year, Big Ten Announces Deal
- The Big Ten officially announced its new television deals with Fox Sports and ESPN Monday, more than a year after the news was first reported, and nearly two months after the league released its 2017 schedule. As was previously noted, the deals are set to last six years and Fox Sports will get the first pick of games each season. The conference also announced a six-year deal with CBS to continue carrying basketball games, which had also been previously reported. [The Washington Post 7.24]
MLS Rejected $400M/Year Deal Conditioned on Pro/Rel
- Major League Soccer recently rejected a ten-year, $400 million/year media rights contract offer from MP & Silva Group that was conditioned on the league adopting a promotion/relegation system, Sports Business Journal reported Monday. Under the deal, which would not have gone into effect until after the league’s current U.S. TV deals expire in 2022, MP & Silva would have purchased MLS rights globally and then sold those to networks around the world. [SBJ 7.24]
ESPN Would Interview O.J., Given the Opportunity
- ESPN would pursue an interview with former NFL RB O.J. Simpson, who will be released from prison on parole later this year, “if the opportunity presented itself,” the network told Sports Illustrated in a piece published Monday. ESPN was the only major sports media outlet contacted by SI to show interest in interviewing Simpson, the once-popular movie star and TV analyst who has been a pariah since 1994. CBS and NBC expressed no interest and Fox Sports said the topic has not been discussed. [SI.com 7.23]
