ESPN, BIG EAST Extend Digital Deal to Elevate Basketball and Olympic Sports Streaming
Sportsgrid Staff
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New Era of BIG EAST on ESPN+
ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference have signed a new six-year digital media rights extension that will bring hundreds of live events back under ESPN’s expansive college sports umbrella starting in the 2025–26 season. Under this deal, ESPN+ will stream at least 75 women’s basketball games and 200 Olympic sports events every year, along with a minimum of 25 non-conference men’s basketball matchups. “We’re pleased to welcome the BIG EAST back to ESPN,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN’s senior vice president of programming & acquisitions. “This agreement returns one of the country’s premier conferences and its tradition of excellence to ESPN platforms. We look forward to this new chapter in our relationship with the BIG EAST.”
Leaders Emphasize Reach and Tradition
BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman called the partnership “an exciting step that reinforces our commitment to placing BIG EAST teams front and center on the leading digital sports platform.” She added that ESPN+ “gives all 22 of our sports — especially women’s basketball and Olympic sports — the visibility they’ve earned and the access our fans expect.” The agreement aims to deliver broader coverage and a smoother viewing experience for supporters and families eager to follow BIG EAST action across the conference’s wide range of sports.
Digital Direct-to-Consumer Push
The new deal arrives as ESPN prepares to roll out its enhanced direct-to-consumer service, including ESPN+, this fall. The BIG EAST’s return to ESPN renews a relationship dating back over 30 years. The conference first struck a national TV partnership with ESPN in 1980, a deal that lasted until 2013. Since its reconfiguration, the BIG EAST has remained a powerhouse in college athletics, tallying multiple national titles across men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, men’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, and women’s cross country.
Proskauer’s Benjamin Freeman represented the BIG EAST during the negotiations.
About the BIG EAST
Headquartered in New York City and founded in 1979, the BIG EAST Conference brings together 11 prominent universities that blend elite athletics with academic excellence. More than 3,800 student-athletes compete across 22 sports on over 200 teams, representing schools in key U.S. media markets: Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, and Xavier.
About ESPN and ESPN+
ESPN remains a global leader in sports entertainment, spanning multiple TV networks, digital platforms, streaming services, and international ventures. Its ESPN+ service delivers exclusive live games — more than 32,000 annually — alongside a deep library of on-demand replays, premium articles, and original programming. Fans can access ESPN+ via ESPN.com or the ESPN App.
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