ESPN has reached a deal with their partner of 25 years - the Big East Conference - to carry both their basketball and football games.
A minimum of 75 basketball games will be shown under the agreement. ESPN will continue to show one Big East game on its "Big Monday" lineup. The entire conference tournament will continue on its ESPN and ESPN2 channels.
Beginning next year, the deal will continue on through 2013; similar to past deals. The agreement not only includes the ESPN TV channels, but is extended to its broadband, video on demand (VOD) and mobile outlets.
The football schedule that will be covered includes a minimum of 19 games, which will be include showing them on Thursday and Friday nights, along with some Sunday offerings.
Big East Conference Commissioner Michael Tranghese said, "I am so very gratified and pleased to know that we will continue our life-long association with ESPN - our television partner since our inception, in so many ways, the two of us have grown up together in the marketplace and mutually benefited from the association on numerous fronts."
"As a mainstay on ESPN for nearly three decades, the Big East has delivered many memorable moments," said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports. "We are thrilled to expand that long-standing relationship through this unprecedented collaborative effort, which will supply conference action to fans however they experience sports."
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