The Big 12 and Fox have reached an agreement on a 13-year TV deal which has been confirmed by the Big 12 conference.
Details haven't yet been announced but Sports Business Journal reported previously that the deal would pay the conference $90 million per season which is a whopping $70 million per year increase over their current deal. During the conference realignment talks last summer, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe reportedly said he was expecting a new TV deal that would pay them $60-70 million per year.
The Big 12 also receives a reported $60 million peryear from ESPN/ABC so this new deal with FOX puts them closer to the deals the Big Ten and SEC have.
"This landmark agreement positions the conference with one of the best television arrangements in collegiate sports," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said in a Wednesday statement. "It exceeds the benchmarks as we move forward with our 10 members by providing significant revenue growth, increased exposure while allowing institutions to retain selected rights."
The deal will double the exposure of the football teams from 20 to 40 games aired each year. The deal also includes "comprehensive multimedia rights to allow Fox to maximize online, mobile and wireless opportunities for its Big 12 content."
This gives the conference more exposure which, in theory, should lead to better competition across the board in athletics.