ESPN and WAC Reach Agreement on Seven-Year Extension for Multiplatform Rights Through 2016-17

ESPNU Obtains Exclusive Telecasts of Football, Basketball and Olympic Sports

ESPN, Inc. and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) have reached an agreement to extend their current contract for rights across multiple platforms an additional seven years beginning in 2010-11 and continuing through 2016-17, it was announced by Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president, college sports programming, and Karl Benson, WAC commissioner.

As a result of the comprehensive deal, ESPN will receive rights to distribute WAC football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and conference Championships across ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Classic. As part of the agreement, ESPNU will obtain rights to televise conference controlled games for the first time beginning with the 2008-09 season.

Some content elements under the new agreement will be incorporated into the remaining years of the current contract (this season and next).

“The WAC is a significant player on the college landscape and we are thrilled they will call ESPN home through 2016-17,” said Magnus. “You can not talk championship level teams without including WAC members in that conversation. With this agreement, college sports fans will continue to see – in a bigger and better way -- the quality and depth of the conference as well as the passion and enthusiasm of their supporters.”

Benson added, “For the past five years, WAC football has benefited greatly from the exposure it has received from ESPN. The WAC values its relationship with the ‘leader in college sports’ and is confident that this extension will allow WAC football to continue to be a prominent player in the BCS. But just as important, this deal will finally get the WAC’s men’s basketball teams the type of national exposure it deserves. And finally, for the first time ever, women’s basketball regular season games will be aired on the ESPN networks along with the championship contests for volleyball and women’s basketball.”

Details of the agreement include:


Football

Exclusive national television home of the conference:

* An annual minimum of 10 games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, including telecasts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
* An annual minimum of six games on ESPNU.
* ESPN Regional Television has the right to syndicate five games annually.
* ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV will be able to simulcast any ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC telecast.
* WAC content will also be available on ESPN Classic, ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile Properties.

Men’s Basketball

Exclusive national television home of the conference:

* An annual minimum of six regular-season games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC as well as one conference tournament semifinal game and the championship during Championship Week.
* An annual minimum of six regular-season games on ESPNU as well as one conference tournament quarterfinal game.
* Every WAC team will participate in the ESPNU BracketBuster event.
* ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV will be able to simulcast any ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC telecast.
* WAC content will also be available on ESPN Classic, ESPN.com and ESPN Mobile Properties.

Women’s Sports

* ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will provide extensive coverage of women’s basketball and Olympic sports, including six regular-season events (a combination of basketball, volleyball and softball) in 2008-09. The number of events will increase to seven in 2009-10 and to eight for the remaining years of the contract.
* ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU will televise the volleyball championship each year.
* The conference women’s basketball championship will be available on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU annually.