The American Athletic Conference, formerly known as the Big East, has contracts
with ABC for network TV, ESPN Networks for national cable and ESPN Regional Television
for regional syndication. In order of preference, ABC gets first choice, followed
by ESPN Networks, then ESPN Regional TV. ESPN's broadband service, ESPN3, is
also allowed to select games not chosen for television. This contract expires after
the 2013 football season. ABC/ESPN will guarantee the conference a minimum of 24 games to air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
One game (Norfolk St. at Rutgers) has been sublicensed to CBS Sports Network. This
was part of a deal made between ESPN and CBS Sports Network to allow ESPNU to carry
the Rutgers at Fresno St. game on 8/29.
The conference and ESPN have agreed upon a new contract starting with the 2014-15
athletic year. Per the conference, regional syndication packages and other local
telecasts will disappear in favor of increased national exposure though various
ESPN platforms. ESPN also has the ability to sublicense a limited number of American
controlled games.
