Bob Bowlsby shares status of relationship with ESPN after cease-and-desist letter
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby spoke with members of the Texas State Senate on Monday afternoon, and gave an update regarding the conference’s relationship with ESPN.
Last week, Bowlsby issued a “cease and desist” letter to the World Wide Leader and accused them of manipulating Big 12 programs into moving conferences.
It seems Bowlsby and ESPN have agreed to a public truce — at least for now.
“We have agreed to not escalate this publicly,” Bowlsby said Monday. “It’s in neither party’s best interest to do so.”
Bob Bowlsby was asked about his cease and desist letter at today's Texas Senate hearing.
"We have agreed to not escalate this publicly. It's in neither party's best interest to do so."
— Max Olson (@max_olson) August 2, 2021
ESPN is the Big 12’s largest media partner, so it makes sense that the two parties have come to some sort of agreement with the 2021 season slated to start in just a few weeks.
ESPN quickly denied the allegations from Bowlsby and the Big 12.
This is all on the heels of Texas and Oklahoma announcing their pending move to the SEC. When those programs do leave for the SEC, the Big 12 will lose upwards of 50 percent of their media rights value, per Bowlsby.
Bowlsby says Texas and Oklahoma account for about 50 percent of the Big 12's media rights value.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 2, 2021
Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC no later than July of 2025.