Just right when the Big 12 Conference was gaining steam to push for an expansion of two to four more teams, everything is now coming to a halt as a report from the Sports Business Daily reveals the major TV partners such as ESPN and Fox Sports do not see the value in the expansion's plans.
According to the report, including schools that are not within the grasp of the core five conferences would lessen the value of the Big 12 instead of increasing it, despite the Big 12 Conference's financial motivation to push forward. The report points out that there is a specific clause with the media deals that states an expansion would guarantee a pro rata increase in for the conference's rights fees.
It is further stated that the original deal means a payout of $2.6 Billion over the stretch of 13 years or the equivalent of $20 Million per school annually. By expanding to add just two more schools, media outlets such as ESPN and Fox Sports would need to spend an additional $40 Million per year in rights fees. An addition of four schools leads to an additional payout of $80 Million per year.
Some of the colleges that are being considered for the expansion include Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston and Memphis. As of the time being, the Big 12 consists of 10 schools. Others are also in consideration but have not been listed. It is not yet final if the expansion will cover just two schools or go up to include four.
It is explained that the motivation to expand is brought upon the guarantee of generating more money for the colleges. Unfortunately, neither Fox Sports nor ESPN are exactly open to spend an additional $40 to $80 Million per year and this may lead to a long delay for the Big 12's expansion plans until some sort of middleground deal can be achieved.
