ATTN:OTA Sports Lovers-BCS games moving to ESPN

smokyhousers · 11-19-2008, 10:59 AM

For those of us who have OTA only and who enjoy watching football, bad news today, ESPN has bought the rights to broadcast all of the BCS games on ESPN starting 2011. If this thread is in the wrong place, feel free to move it.

Here is the story

ESPN, BCS agree to four-year deal for television, radio, digital rights
ESPN.com

The Bowl Championship Series is coming to ESPN starting in January 2011 (following the 2010 regular season).

ESPN and the BCS announced the deal on Tuesday. It includes exclusive television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights for the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls from 2011-2014 and the BCS title game from 2011 to 2013.

The Rose Bowl will continue to be televised on ABC through 2014 under a separate, previous contract. The Rose Bowl is also slated to host the 2014 title game.

ESPN is currently available in 98 million American homes. The current BCS deal with Fox Sports expires after the 2010 games.

This means the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, plus the BCS Championship Game, will be televised in prime time each January. The schedule has not been released. There will also be a BCS show on ESPN every Sunday to unveil the current rankings.

The games will also be carried on ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Digital Media rights include operation of the official BCS Web site and the opportunity to simulcast the games online at ESPN360.com and on ESPN Mobile TV for mobile devices.

ESPN International will distribute and televise the BCS matchups around the world through networks and syndication, including on the re-branded ESPN America in Europe (known as NASN until Feb. 2009). In addition, ESPN has the right to televise BCS games on ESPN Deportes, the U.S. Spanish-language sports network.

"The BCS will thrive on ESPN," ESPN president George Bodenheimer said. "Our slogan is 'College Football Lives Here' and the BCS will now top college football's best regular-season and studio coverage, the sport's top awards shows, Bowl Week and other national championships all carried on our family of networks. This is a proud day for ESPN and an exceptional day for this great sport and its passionate fans."

"We are tremendously pleased to reach an agreement with ESPN and feel that the BCS games from 2011 to '14 will be in good hands," said BCS commissioner John Swofford, who is also the commissioner of the ACC. "With the continued growth of technology and the depth of coverage that ESPN gives to the college football fan on all its platforms during the regular season, this postseason partnership is a natural fit."

ESPN is available in just over 98 million U.S. homes, which is 86 percent of all households with televisions, according to Nielsen. Swofford expects that number to grow by 2011. Of the people who watched the BCS title game on Fox last season, 95 percent had cable or satellite, ESPN said.

teddymines · 11-19-2008, 11:21 AM

Translation: "In an attempt to make even more money, ESPN has effectively walled off broadcasts of BCS football games from those who do not pay for their service. College football, which at one time was relatively free from the grips of capitalism and enjoyed generations of loyal fans, has stooped to a new low by selling out their morals to the Almighty Dollar."

Bigloww · 11-19-2008, 12:20 PM

The BCS ia a complete joke and has been for years. A bunch of teams have gotten screwed outta the chance at a national title due to this joke of a system. So this looks to keep this crappy system in place until at least 2015...

I figured as much. Show me the $$$$$$$$.

Now if only TT and Alabama can win out rite so the BCS can't fuck things up again we will be O.K.. Bottom line, the SEC and Big12 champs best be playing for the title. Thank heavens Penn St. lost. Another Big10 schellacking again in the champ game this year and I would have to reach for a barf bag..

smdp1 · 11-20-2008, 06:14 PM

our only choice for espn hd is sat. and I don't like sat. so I really hate it.....I love the FREE hd ota......if it wasn't for my wife I wouldn't even have a sat. at all much less consider paying that "premium" for HD....as far as I'm concerned if I have to watch advertisements I shouldn't have to pay, its already paid for.....

11-19-2008, 10:59 AM	#1
smokyhousers A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 10	ATTN:OTA Sports Lovers-BCS games moving to ESPN For those of us who have OTA only and who enjoy watching football, bad news today, ESPN has bought the rights to broadcast all of the BCS games on ESPN starting 2011. If this thread is in the wrong place, feel free to move it. Here is the story *ESPN, BCS agree to four-year deal for television, radio, digital rights* ESPN.com The Bowl Championship Series is coming to ESPN starting in January 2011 (following the 2010 regular season). ESPN and the BCS announced the deal on Tuesday. It includes exclusive television, radio, digital, international and marketing rights for the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls from 2011-2014 and the BCS title game from 2011 to 2013. The Rose Bowl will continue to be televised on ABC through 2014 under a separate, previous contract. The Rose Bowl is also slated to host the 2014 title game. ESPN is currently available in 98 million American homes. The current BCS deal with Fox Sports expires after the 2010 games. This means the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls, plus the BCS Championship Game, will be televised in prime time each January. The schedule has not been released. There will also be a BCS show on ESPN every Sunday to unveil the current rankings. The games will also be carried on ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Digital Media rights include operation of the official BCS Web site and the opportunity to simulcast the games online at ESPN360.com and on ESPN Mobile TV for mobile devices. ESPN International will distribute and televise the BCS matchups around the world through networks and syndication, including on the re-branded ESPN America in Europe (known as NASN until Feb. 2009). In addition, ESPN has the right to televise BCS games on ESPN Deportes, the U.S. Spanish-language sports network. "The BCS will thrive on ESPN," ESPN president George Bodenheimer said. "Our slogan is 'College Football Lives Here' and the BCS will now top college football's best regular-season and studio coverage, the sport's top awards shows, Bowl Week and other national championships all carried on our family of networks. This is a proud day for ESPN and an exceptional day for this great sport and its passionate fans." "We are tremendously pleased to reach an agreement with ESPN and feel that the BCS games from 2011 to '14 will be in good hands," said BCS commissioner John Swofford, who is also the commissioner of the ACC. "With the continued growth of technology and the depth of coverage that ESPN gives to the college football fan on all its platforms during the regular season, this postseason partnership is a natural fit." ESPN is available in just over 98 million U.S. homes, which is 86 percent of all households with televisions, according to Nielsen. Swofford expects that number to grow by 2011. Of the people who watched the BCS title game on Fox last season, 95 percent had cable or satellite, ESPN said.

11-19-2008, 12:20 PM	#3
Bigloww Chi Town Baby.. Da Bears. Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In a van, down by the river. Posts: 5,100	The BCS ia a complete joke and has been for years. A bunch of teams have gotten screwed outta the chance at a national title due to this joke of a system. So this looks to keep this crappy system in place until at least 2015... I figured as much. Show me the $$$$$$$$. Now if only TT and Alabama can win out rite so the BCS can't fuck things up again we will be O.K.. Bottom line, the SEC and Big12 champs best be playing for the title. Thank heavens Penn St. lost. Another Big10 schellacking again in the champ game this year and I would have to reach for a barf bag.. __________________ Commit to the Indian.. *In Loving Memory of Junkie, The Rizz, Eagle and the Boys.. They are gone (wasted in fact) but not forgotten..*

11-20-2008, 06:14 PM	#4
smdp1 digital DX'n is alive Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Greenhill, AL. Posts: 654	our only choice for espn hd is sat. and I don't like sat. so I really hate it.....I love the FREE hd ota......if it wasn't for my wife I wouldn't even have a sat. at all much less consider paying that "premium" for HD....as far as I'm concerned if I have to watch advertisements I shouldn't have to pay, its already paid for..... __________________ my antenna is bigger than yours...lol couldn't resist

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11-19-2008, 11:21 AM	#2
teddymines High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 51	Translation: "In an attempt to make even more money, ESPN has effectively walled off broadcasts of BCS football games from those who do not pay for their service. College football, which at one time was relatively free from the grips of capitalism and enjoyed generations of loyal fans, has stooped to a new low by selling out their morals to the Almighty Dollar."