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ESPN executive Burke Mangus offers explanation for losing Big Ten deal: ‘It was the right decision’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Lower selection priority played a key role in the negotiations between the Big Ten and ESPN, an ESPN executive explained.
ESPN reportedly offered half of the Big 10 games it currently has, with a lower selection priority and double the price.
“What we needed to get at the price that we needed to get it at, neither of those things were available to us,” Mangus said on The Marchand and Ourand Podcast. “As difficult as it was to go separate directions, it was the right decision for our company, there’s no doubt about that. We’re going to continue to be heavily invested in college sports. Nothing is forever in the rights-buying business. So you’ve got to be somewhat dispassionate about, and stick to your process, if you will. But it was hard. It was hard decision, but I think it was the right decision for us because of what was on offer for us to buy, which was not what we were hoping for.”
The Associated Press reported that the Big Ten was looking for a seven-year deal worth $380 million per year to broadcast its football and basketball games from ESPN, and the network declined.
ESPN’s Burke Magnus on the lack of a Big Ten deal.
“What we needed to get at the price that we needed to get it at, neither of those things were available to us.”
Listen here:
Apple: https://t.co/cCtJ151IJM
Spotify: https://t.co/G7BNgGCwDm
Google: https://t.co/an10IdStCs pic.twitter.com/LrtQcOx3O8— John Ourand (@Ourand_SBJ) August 24, 2022
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
