(Written by kencraw)

The internet is abuzz this morning with news that the Pac-12 media rights (TV, etc.) deal has been struck. It’s worth $3 billion over 12 years.

That’s $21 million per-school, per year, well more than double what we currently get. Hurray!

It’s also interesting that the deal is a joint FOX and ESPN deal. From Wilner:

* ESPN and Fox will be co-rightsholders.
* Games will be shown on Fox, ABC, FX, Fox Sports Net, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
* The contract includes the Pac-12 football championship game, which will be shown alternately on Fox and ABC.

A couple more links, one from Wilner, one from the NYT.

I think this is a great deal. No need to buy a game-package like “ESPN Gameday” that costs a couple hundred dollars for the season. Lot’s of channels to make sure the games are all on TV. Keeping ESPN involved ensures we get lots of airtime on sports center and all the other sports news shows that are so important for visibility.

Add in that it still leaves the Pac-12 it’s right to create a Pac-12 TV channel/network and it’s an absolute FORTUNE of money, the biggest deal ever for college sports, and one has to hand it to Larry Scott.

Congrats Larry! You’re doing great by the Pac-10/12.