WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsESPN and Pac-12 Reach Wide-Ranging, 12-Year Agreement

ESPN and the Pac-12 Conference have reached a 12-year agreement for extensive conference action across multiple ESPN platforms beginning with the 2012-13 season and continuing through 2024-25, it was announced by John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content and Larry Scott, Pac-12 Commissioner.

The deal will deliver more than 80 Pac-12 events each year, highlighted by more football games than the previous agreement, including new Saturday 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT) telecasts, plus the Pac-12 Football Championship Game every other year; the addition of an extensive schedule of men's regular-season basketball games, as well as select Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament matchups and the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament Championship every other year; and for the first time rights to women's college basketball and Olympic sports content. As part of the agreement, Fox Sports will offer additional Pac-12 content on its networks.

Pac-12 content will be featured across multiple ESPN entities, including a significant schedule of game telecasts on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPNU; rights to distribute Pac-12 action on ESPN 3D, ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN3.com, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes; and extensive coverage on ESPN.com.

All Pac-12 programming on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer Beater will be available online via ESPNnetworks.com and on mobile devices via the Watch ESPN app to fans who receive their video subscription through an affiliated provider.

"Significantly enhancing premier content from a conference with the tradition, passion and excellence of the Pac-12 strengthens our networks' position as the home for college sports," said Skipper. "As we grow our longstanding relationship with the conference, fans will be able to watch ESPN's Pac-12 coverage on any screen they choose."

Scott added, "We are excited to become a more integral part of the ESPN family. Long an innovator in sports programming, ESPN has truly earned a reputation as a leader in college sports. We look forward to adding to that legacy for the benefit of Pac-12 fans everywhere, and in providing dramatically enhanced national exposure for our institutions and their outstanding programs."

Highlights of the new agreement include:

• Football: An expanded schedule of 22 regular-season games annually across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPNU, highlighted by extensive Saturday night contests, including new 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT) telecasts, and four Thursday and four Friday primetime matchups. In addition, an ESPN platform will televise the Pac-12 Football Championship Game every other year beginning in 2013.
• Men's basketball: ESPN will add men's regular-season basketball with an extensive schedule of 46 telecasts each year across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, primarily on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday nights, including in new 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. PT) windows. As part of the agreement, up to 28 games will be televised on ESPNU. ESPN receives the rights to one Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament quarterfinal and semifinal game, and the championship every other year beginning with the 2012-13 season.
• Women's basketball: For the first time, ESPN will have direct rights with the Pac-12 Conference for four women's regular-season basketball games and the addition of the conference tournament championship.
• Olympic sports: As part of the agreement, ESPN will add regular-season Olympic sports contests across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, highlighted by baseball, softball and volleyball.

ESPN, Inc.

ESPN, Inc., is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of seven 24-hour domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes and ESPN 3D). ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, ESPNU HD and ESPNEWS HD are simulcast services. Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (46 networks, syndication, radio, websites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN3.com (broadband sports network) ESPN Mobile, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV and other growing new businesses, including ESPN on Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.