US sports broadcaster ESPN has renegotiated and extended a rights deal for the championships organised by the Atlantic Coast Conference group of US colleges.
The new deal covers 15 seasons, from 2012-13 to 2026-27, and is worth a total of $3.6 billion (€2.8 billion) with $17.1 million being distributed to each participating college per season. From July 1, the new agreement will replace an existing 12-year deal, from 2011-12 to 2022-23, which is worth $1.86 billion and distributes $12.9 million to each participating college per season.
The conference will expand from 12 to 14 teams this summer with the additions of Pittsburgh and Syracuse, providing an increased schedule of fixtures. ESPN said that the conference’s expanded 18-game men’s basketball schedule would allow the broadcaster to show 30 more regular-season games and two more conference tournament games per year.
In American football, 14 more games will be broadcast each year, including three Friday night games per season to complement the usual Thursday and Saturday night fixtures.
ESPN added that it would also increase its coverage of Olympic sports as well as men’s and women’s football, baseball, softball and lacrosse.
The rights can be exploited on internet and mobile devices as well as television.
Under the new deal, ESPN also acquired title sponsorship rights for all of the conference’s tournaments. The broadcaster already sponsored the conference’s American football competition.