Actually, the estimates I've seen have the B1G at slightly more than $400M per season, or $4B for a 10 yr deal. Delany likes 12 yrs for some reason, so I'd say $4.8B/12yrs.
The biggest misnomer in all the TV contract stuff all thru the expansion process & now with re-negotiations is that the slower growth in the B1G footprint will eventually hurt it.
That couldn't be MORE wrong.
Only number that matters are alumni numbers, doesn't matter where they live.
And the B1G alumni numbers are huge. Iowa would be one of the larger schools in the SEC.
I could actually make a solid argument that its BETTER if B1G alumni move out of the footprint. Why? Because it will make basic carriage easier to achieve in non footprint states. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal of the BigTenNetwork is to be a NATIONAL network, carried everywhere thru every provider, much the same as ESPN, TNT, etc.
Why is that important?
Because the money per subsciber typically QUADRUPLES.
Jon is right that the B1G is gonna get PAID, but by my estimation, it is going to be significantly more, likely nearing $40M per school per year by 2020. And at that point the B1G is nearing full repayment to Fox for start up costs incurred developing/starting the BigTenNetwork. No one really knows what happens at that point, but I think a reasonable expectation would be for each B1G member to increase its take for those Tier 2 rights significantly, as well.
Bottom line is Jim Delany will be handed a blank check from ABC, I hope he takes a shorter term deal, say 8yrs, because all indications are that post recession, these TV contracts for LIVE content aren't going to slow, they're going to continue to grow.