Big Ten Network Celebrates 16th Anniversary with Expanded Coverage
Sixteen years ago, the Big Ten Network (BTN) made its debut as a polarizing entity in the world of collegiate sports broadcasting. Initially facing challenges with limited distribution and frustrated fans, BTN quickly turned things around and achieved near-universal availability within a year. Today, BTN is a major player in college football coverage, and its parent company Fox holds a controlling stake in the network.
This week marks another significant milestone for the Big Ten Conference, as it enters a new era of television contracts. For the first time since 1986, the conference does not have a contract with ABC or ESPN. Instead, the Big Ten will be featured on three linear networks, two cable companies, and a streaming service.
Fox and FS1 (Fox Sports 1) will continue to be the primary broadcasters of Big Ten football games. Fox will broadcast games primarily at noon ET, while FS1 will have games in multiple time slots, including four Friday night matchups. Notably, Fox has secured the rights to air the highly anticipated Ohio State-Michigan game, which is consistently the highest-rated regular-season college football game. Additionally, Fox will debut the Big Ten season with a Thursday night game between Nebraska and Minnesota. Overall, Fox and FS1 will air between 24-32 games combined.
Meanwhile, CBS is making its debut as a Big Ten rights holder after the expiration of its long-standing contract with the SEC. In this transition year, CBS will air a total of seven Big Ten games, but that number will more than double in 2024. CBS has selected a variety of intriguing matchups, including a prime-time White Out game between Iowa and Penn State and a Black Friday showdown between Iowa and Nebraska.
Another network joining the Big Ten coverage landscape is NBC, which has signed its first linear contract with a conference. With a focus on prime-time games, NBC is scheduled to broadcast 15 Big Ten matchups, with the exception of two games that overlap with Notre Dame’s schedule. NBC’s coverage includes a highly anticipated game between Penn State and West Virginia, as well as a matchup between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Finally, the Big Ten Network itself will continue to provide extensive coverage of the conference, as it has done for the past 17 seasons. Known for showcasing both high-profile matchups and up-and-coming talent in its broadcasting team, BTN will air a total of 41 games throughout the season.
In addition to these linear networks, the Big Ten has also partnered with Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, to broadcast nine games exclusively. This move has caused some frustration among fans who now need a streaming option to watch their team’s games, but it represents a growing trend in the broadcasting industry.
Overall, the new television contracts and expanded coverage reflect the changing landscape of collegiate sports broadcasting. With a variety of networks and platforms airing Big Ten games, fans will have more options than ever to follow their favorite teams. As the Big Ten enters this new chapter, it remains to be seen how viewership habits will shift and how the conference will continue to adapt to an ever-evolving media landscape.