Sports Business Daily:
Promise Of FSN Extension, ESPN Stability Helps Big 12 Stay Intact
"But sources say FSN has told Big 12 officials that it would increase its annual payout to as much as $130-$140M per year. It currently pays $19.5M per year for the cable TV rights, a deal that ends following the '11-12 season. As part of its proposed deal, FSN has asked to take control of the conference's third-tier rights that are currently controlled by rights holders IMG, ISP and Learfield, sources said. These rights include radio, local media, third-tier TV rights, corporate sponsorships, and in-stadium and arena signage."
I'm sorry, even with all those rights, I don't see how you could go from $19.5 mil to $130-140 mil.
Maybe FOX is looking to start printing money too?
But hell, even if it did go up that much, what is there to say that ISU and the other 4 who just signed away the exit fees will see a dime more than what they're getting now? That it won't all go to Texas and Oklahoma?
Because if Texas could get them to sign away those exit fees now, they can certainly get them to do it again with a new TV deal.
Hell, let's push it to the extreme: What if with a new TV deal Texas makes ISU take even LESS money than what they're getting now, simply because they know they'll get away with it? Will you ISU fans still be happy about the Big 12 then if you get even less money and there's an even bigger exit fee to jump ship?
Texas will now set this up so there is no escape for the likes of ISU.