ESPN grabs BCS -- Rose Bowl’s fate undetermined

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

As reported in today’s Los Angeles Times, ESPN and the Bowl Championship Series reached a four-year deal beginning in 2011 to bring the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl and some national championship games from over-the-air Fox Sports to cable and satellite television.

Sources who wish to remain anonymous because they aren’t allowed to comment directly on contract negotiations said Monday that the deal was worth $500 million over the four years, or about $100 million more than Fox had offered.

Of the Rose Bowl, which has a separate contract with ABC through 2014, ESPN President George Bodenheimer said: ‘The Rose Bowl will remain on ABC through 2010. We have not determined all of the scheduling beyond that. The Rose Bowl will remain on ABC through 2010.’

Sources at two networks and at the BCS had said Monday that if the BCS signed a new contract with a cable network that there was an option for the Rose Bowl to be moved off of ABC and onto ESPN. Both ABC and ESPN are owned by the Walt Disney Co.

BCS Chairman John Swofford of the Atlantic Coast Conference said he didn’t feel the deal would shortchange viewers who don’t get the sports channel’s programming. According to ESPN, 98 million of 112 million households in the U.S. get ESPN channels through cable or satellite.

‘I think you’re talking about a situation where more and more sporting events are going to cable. Certainly in the college football community, people who truly love college football, are well attuned to ESPN. It’s a very natural fit.’

Swofford also mentioned the multi-platform ability of ESPN to offer several channels of programming and promotional abilities in its print product (ESPN magazine), and its on-line presence.

‘ESPN is already providing tremendous regular-season coverage of college football,’ Swofford said, ‘so this is a natural fit, a continuation of what is a tremendously healthy college football environment in every respect. While can’t focus solely on it, we also can’t overlook the financial offer.’

-- Diane Pucin