ESPN, Big East Reunite: Includes MBB games

[Storrs South]

This deal, which is not a sublicense (done directly with the conference), will see 25 non-conference men’s basketball games stream on ESPN+ (ESPN’s DTC service is inclusive of ESPN+) starting with the 2025-26 school year. The tonnage within the pact, which was previously with FloSports over the last three school years (under the Big East Digital Network batter), is a minimum of 75 women’s basketball games and 200 Olympic sports events. Sources close to the situation said that a rights fee is involved, and the Big East will produce all streamed games.

I do not expect any of those will involve UConn -- I would expect that to be primarily Butler v. Bellarmine or DePaul v. UW-Green Bay or Georgetown v. American

ESPN, Big East reunite with streaming rights deal

 

[huskymedic]

-> ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference have announced a new six-year digital media rights agreement, adding hundreds of live BIG EAST events to ESPN’s robust college sports portfolio. A minimum of 75 women’s basketball and 200 Olympic sports events will stream on ESPN+ annually beginning in the 2025-26 academic season. This deal will also include a minimum of 25 non-conference games annually for BIG EAST men’s basketball.<-

 

[Hoophound]

Sounds good, I think.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

This is fine if the 25 non-conference games are like DePaul vs. SIU-Edwardsville. I don’t want to be seeing UConn/Kansas on ESPN+

 

[willie99]

As long as the conference gets a little more cash

 

[CL82]

It beats a tier 3 deal with flo sports.

One of the reasons why we left the AAC was to UConn women's basketball off of ESPN+. Now, it's on ESPN plus at a discounted rate. No one beats the mouse.

For what it's worth, this deal makes having a Hulu live subscription a better choice than YouTube TV, because you can usually get a Hulu live bundled package that includes ESPN plus at about $83 a month.

 

[jostar1]

I do not expect any of those will involve UConn -- I would expect that to be primarily Butler v. Bellarmine or DePaul v. UW-Green Bay or Georgetown v. American

What about UConn women's basketball games?

 

[Storrs South]

What about UConn women's basketball games?

I don't think so. WBB never had games on FloSports. For WBB I am interpreting this that all FloSports games are going to ESPN+. For MBB, I am interpreting this as any games that FOX did not want to cover of which there were a select few and maybe some FS2 are going to ESPN+. So maybe UConn gets one game v. Stonehill on there, but I would think they are most likely on FS2 for MBB.

EDIT: Just realized SNY is gone; I presume like MBB 1-2 games make it on there like UConn v. Robert Morris or something but in both cases would not expect it to be a high level OOC game.

 

[UConNick]

This is… actually fine? If it’s just (mostly) the content that was on FloSports, it won’t really impact MBB. I could see maybe 1-2 of our lower noncon games, and maybe 3-4 for WBB, but outside of that I think we’ll be fine. Fox will want to keep us mostly on their linear channels for maximum exposure and ad revenue.

As someone who follows the baseball team closely, this will hopefully lead to them having more games on the more-accessible ESPN+ than Flo. I have both, but Flo is clearly a step or two below.

 

[Chin Diesel]

AITA for only wanting to know how much money this brings to UConn?

 

[huskymedic]

 

[StllH8L8ner]

It beats a tier 3 deal with flo sports.

One of the reasons why we left the AAC was to UConn women's basketball off of ESPN+. Now, it's on ESPN plus at a discounted rate. No one beats the mouse.

For what it's worth, this deal makes having a Hulu live subscription a better choice than YouTube TV, because you can usually get a Hulu live bundled package that includes ESPN plus at about $83 a month.

Yeah I think that’s about what I’m paying then I add Max (HBO Max, not Skinamax) so it’s around $100. I have the Hulu Live, ESPN+, Disney app bundle. Was a little skeptical that I needed ESPN+ but I ended up watching a lot of Husky hockey plus some baseball and softball games on it.

 

[Chin Diesel]

It beats a tier 3 deal with flo sports.

One of the reasons why we left the AAC was to UConn women's basketball off of ESPN+. Now, it's on ESPN plus at a discounted rate. No one beats the mouse.

For what it's worth, this deal makes having a Hulu live subscription a better choice than YouTube TV, because you can usually get a Hulu live bundled package that includes ESPN plus at about $83 a month.

Yeah I think that’s about what I’m paying then I add Max (HBO Max, not Skinamax) so it’s around $100. I have the Hulu Live, ESPN+, Disney app bundle. Was a little skeptical that I needed ESPN+ but I ended up watching a lot of Husky hockey plus some baseball and softball games on it.

Yeah, the Hulu Live bundle is great.

 

[CTBballfan243]

AITA for only wanting to know how much money this brings to UCon ?

ESPN gets to keep UConn in purgatory for cheap in the Big East. Why pay more for them in the ACC or Big 12. ESPN has UConn right where they want them.

 

[MJ1]

ESPN gets to keep UConn in purgatory for cheap in the Big East. Why pay more for them in the ACC or Big 12. ESPN has UConn right where they want them.

Except they don’t get UConn Men’s or Women’s basketball best games, they go to FOX, Fox1, TNT, and NBC.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Great news getting our olympic sports off the drivel that is FloSports. I'd prefer to avoid MBB and WBB games on ESPN+ though I would expect at least one MBB and a couple WBB

 

[Ha Who]

What about UConn women's basketball games?

Everyone should put their teeth in. I remember when the games were on CPTV for free

 

[HooperScooper]

“We’re pleased to welcome the Big East back to ESPN,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN’s senior vice president of programming & acquisitions, in a release. “This agreement returns one of the country’s premier conferences and its tradition of excellence to ESPN platforms. We look forward to this new chapter in our relationship with the Big East.”

If we had a middle finger emoji on here this would be a perfect place to use it.

Big East announces multiyear media deal with ESPN featuring women’s basketball

The Big East announced a six-year digital media rights agreement with ESPN, which will broadcast more than 300 sporting events on ESPN+ beginning in 2025-26.

www.courant.com

Alternate access:
Big East announces multiyear media deal with ESPN featuring women’s basketball

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Bring back Big Monday!

 

[MJ1]

The best news is often times ESPN would not show Big East highlights on sports-center, because of our deal with Fox, now even if our primary game is on Fox they may be inclined to show our highlights to boost our renewed relationship with them.

 

[ec33]

Everyone should put their teeth in. I remember when the games were on CPTV for free

Now you can $11.99 per month just to see one game, while paying $7.99 for Peacock an another game. Plus the standard service to see the "broadcast" games.

 

[Flipside]

Bring back Big Monday

and Big Wednesday

 

[Ha Who]

Now you can $11.99 per month just to see one game, while paying $7.99 for Peacock an another game. Plus the standard service to see the "broadcast" games.

Not me but this isn’t 1980

 

[WrenchFan69]

Now you can $11.99 per month just to see one game, while paying $7.99 for Peacock an another game. Plus the standard service to see the "broadcast" games.

Or you can not

 

[yungdowork]

Hopefully this means good things for some of the other sports too. Watching UConn soccer away games last year was like pulling teeth.