Texas already has a deal for its own television network in place. Conference rival Oklahoma is on the verge of doing the same.
Now, the other members of the Big 12-ish appear to be on the verge of seeing commissioner Dan Beebe‘s vow come to fruition and hopping onto the TV money train.
According to the Sports Business Journal, the conference is closing in on a deal with FOX that would boost their current $20 million cable take to $60 million -- possibly even $70 million -- annually. When the departures of Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) for other conferences are factored in, member schools would take in at least five times the amount of money they receive from the current cable deal.
The conference’s current deal with FOX runs through the 2011-2012 school year. The new deal would have the potential to run through the year 2022.
Additionally, and in a separate negotiation from the above deal, discussions are underway with the eight schools that don’t answer to the name “Texas” or “Oklahoma” about forming their own TV network. The network would televise a handful of football games -- likely one non-conference home game for each one of the eight schools -- basketball games and Olympic sports.
All told, the Big 12 will have in the neighborhood of $155 million to split amongst 10 schools, not 12 as in the past. That number still lags slightly behind the ACC, and far behind financial behemoths the Big Ten and SEC.
Still, that’s not too shabby for a league that’s less than a year removed from being on life support and a priest giving last rites.