NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference and ESPN announced today a new agreement that extends the network’s relationship with the conference through the 2011-12 academic year. The agreement, which will take effect beginning in the 2009-10 academic year, will expand the conference’s national television exposure to unprecedented highs and was negotiated exclusively with ESPN, Inc.
“The Sun Belt Conference’s negotiation with ESPN, Inc. is one of the most significant events in the conference’s 33 year history,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters. “There have been many great steps taken in the history of this league including the Sun Belt becoming a member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Bowl Championship Series. I firmly believe that this new deal and our partnership with ESPN, Inc. is another important step for the success of the Sun Belt Conference.”
“We are thrilled to remain the exclusive national television home for the Sun Belt Conference,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president, college sports programming. “Through this extensive agreement, ESPN’s long relationship with the conference will continue to grow with additional coverage across our multiple platforms, including ESPNU.”
The new agreement will give the Sun Belt Conference’s rising football league a minimum of two games on either ESPN or ESPN2. Additionally, ESPN Regional Television will have the right to produced, distribute and syndicate up to five football games each year. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will also be granted additional opportunities to select games to air. This trio of networks will be granted a 12 day rolling window during the season to select additional games to televise. Games available for selection are after the third Saturday of the season. This provides the Sun Belt Conference additional opportunities for exposure previously not available.
In recent years, football teams from the Sun Belt Conference have made the most of their appearances on the ESPN family of networks. Perennial league power Troy defeated Big 12 powers Missouri and Oklahoma State in nationally televised contests. The Trojans also won the 2006 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on an ESPN nationally televised game. Florida Atlantic became the first Sun Belt Conference team to win bowl games in back-to-back years, as the Owls won the 2007 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the 2008 Motor City Bowl in ESPN nationally televised games.
ESPN and the Sun Belt Conference have a long history as partners in men’s basketball. ESPN will televise the conference’s men’s basketball championship game for the 29th consecutive season in 2009, marking its longest affiliation with any conference in the country.
ESPN will continue to air the Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball championship game and the new deal will also create additional appearances for the league’s men’s basketball programs. Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball teams will now make a minimum of four appearances annually on ESPN or ESPN2. Additionally, ESPN Regional Television maintains the right to produce, distribute and syndicate up to eight men’s basketball games annually.
“The Sun Belt agreement with ESPN will provide tremendous exposure to a league that is growing exponentially as it showcases the quality of teams that take to the field, the diamond and the courts. The agreement will also allow universities to demonstrate the educational opportunities that many Sun Belt schools offer. In a time when many universities can not afford to spend precious dollars in advertising to potential students and donors, televising games will allow for publicity at the national and international level.”
"I commend the league for moving forward and continuing to build solid television coverage for our conference. Having a chance to be on ESPN is always a big plus for any league and we feel this new deal with ESPN will only enhance the Sun Belt's reputation around the nation."
