Basketball Blackouts Explained
Feb 15, 2005 | Men's Basketball
February 15, 2005
An explanation of men's college basketball blackouts in the Big 12....... Under the Big 12 television agreement with ESPN and ESPN Regional Television (ERT, also known as ESPN Plus), approximately 90 games per year are telecast on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, CBS and ERT. (Note: The ERT games are typically the Saturday afternoon double-header package.) ESPN/ERT has purchased the exclusive rights to those games and games in selected time windows (e.g. when a game is on ERT and when a game is on the ESPN Big Monday package). Once ESPN/ERT has selected its games, then games revert back to the member institutions for their local packages. These are known as "second/third tier" broadcasts. ESPN essentially controls or has contractual language with the Big 12 on when games that ESPN, ABC, or ESPN Regional (ESPN+) broadcast and when any other network can carry a game (Fox Sports Net, Missouri Tigers Sports Network, OSU Cowboys Network, Jayhawk Network etc.) Part of that agreement with the Big 12 says that if a game is a second/third tier game, it can ONLY be shown within the state that the participating teams are located in. For example, the Oklahoma State/Texas A&M game on Feb. 12 could ONLY be aired in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Because that game was carried by Fox Sports Net Southwest and not an ESPN network or affiliate, the game was subject to the blackout rule. If the game was broadcast by ESPN+, which many A&M games are, you would be able to view it anywhere in the country if you subscribe to ESPN Full Court on Direct TV. Unfortunately Fox Sports Net games are not carried as part of the ESPN Full Court package. The games may leave the home state of the participating teams ONLY if they are on a premium pay tier like ESPN Full Court or a school Internet package where games are paid for on a game-by-game or package of basketball games (only). This is not directly a revenue decision as the schools would realize little or no financial gain. Again, ESPN/ERT paid for the exclusive right to restrict local packages so member institutions wouldn't go out and create a competing national/regional network. That is why games on FSN-Southwest are restricted to the state of Texas when Texas A&M is playing. Kansas and Kansas State 'local package games' are restricted to the state of Kansas; Missouri games to Missouri; etc. If you see any Texas A&M basketball games carried by ESPN Plus, or by a team's sports network such as the "Cyclone Television Network" or the "Mizzou Sports Network," the game should be available through ESPN Full Court. Always keep an eye on AggieAthletics.com's gameday pages as we will tell you where and how you can see the broadcasts. Any games aired by a specific FOX Sports Net affiliate should only be available in the home states of the participating teams. Again, AggieAthletics.com's gameday pages will tell you where and how you can see the broadcasts. |
