AMES, Iowa ñ The Big 12 Conference announced today that it has reached a landmark 13-year cable rights agreement with Fox Sports Media Group to televise a minimum of 40 football games annually beginning in 2012. |AMES, Iowa ñ The Big 12 Conference announced today that it has reached a landmark 13-year cable rights agreement with Fox Sports Media Group to televise a minimum of 40 football games annually beginning in 2012.
The Fox agreement, along with the Conference’s current television contract with ABC/ESPN for over-the-air football games and cable men’s basketball games, now provides the Big 12 with the most comprehensive and lucrative television arrangement in all of college sports.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of last summer’s talks in which I joined with my fellow presidents and chancellors to chart a strong future for the Big 12 Conference,” said Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy. “All 10 schools will benefit significantly from this contract, which further strengthens the long-term commitment that our member institutions made to one another last summer.”
“The finalization of this contract provides our athletics program much-needed long-term financial security,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “Additionally, there is tremendous potential for additional revenue growth when the Big 12’s over-the-air football and cable men’s basketball rights are negotiated in 2016.”
The new deal also guarantees that every Big 12 football game and all of Iowa State’s home non-conference football games ñ starting in 2012 – will be televised live. That is unprecedented in Cyclone history.
“The fact that every Iowa State football game will be shown on TV is a huge boost to our recruiting pitch,” Head Coach Paul Rhoads said. “This exposure becomes a significant selling point to our prospects and their families. It’s another major benefit of playing at Iowa State and in the Big 12.”
