ESPN Signs New Six Year Deal With BIG EAST

Disney has announced that ESPN has signed a new six-year digital media rights agreement with the Big East Conference, which will see hundreds of live events added to ESPN’s college sports portfolio.

The Big East Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments.

This deal includes a minimum of 75 women’s basketball and 200 Olympic sports events that 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.  As part of the deal, ESPN+ will stream 300+ live BIG EAST events annually. 

Nick Dawson, ESPN senior vice president, programming & acquisitions, said in a statement regarding the deal:

“We’re pleased to welcome the BIG EAST back to ESPN.  This agreement returns one of the country’s premier conferences and its tradition of excellence to ESPN platforms, and continues to strengthen the college offering on our industry leading direct-to-consumer streaming services. We look forward to this new chapter in our relationship with the BIG EAST.”

BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman added:

“This exciting relationship with ESPN reinforces our commitment to placing BIG EAST teams front and center on the leading digital sports platform.  Streaming on ESPN+ gives all 22 of our sports — especially women’s basketball and Olympic sports — the visibility they’ve earned and the access our fans expect. We look forward to delivering elevated coverage and a streamlined viewing experience to fans and family members who want to follow BIG EAST action across our wide array of sports offerings.”

ESPN and the Big East Conference have a relationship that spans more than three decades. The Big East signed its first national television deal with ESPN in 1980, beginning a partnership that ran through 2013. Since its reconfiguration that year, the BIG EAST has maintained its stature as one of the preeminent conferences in college sports, boasting four national championships in men’s basketball and additional national crowns in women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse and women’s cross country. 

Will you be checking out the “Big East Conference on ESPN?  Let me know on social media!