I agree that having fox boradcast teh BCS was odd because they didn't have any reagular season games. And the BCS belogs on a network that accuallly has regular season games like ESPN.

The

So, are the BCS games going to air on ABC or ESPN under this new deal?

I believe the games will be on ESPN and I've read online that the Rose Bowl might also move from ABC to ESPN.

So, the press release says 2011-2014 and you say 2011-2013.

Hmm.

Swofford can eat a dick.

I hope you're just as happy when the Super Bowl and World Series goes to ESPN at some point.

If ESPN throws enough money at the NFL and MLB, it will happen.

Stay classy, gmoney.

Actually the BCS games should remain on FOX with the Rose Bowl joining the others. This is the worst possible deal for the nation because it means that ESPN has an monopoly on almost everything except the NFL. These are games that should be airing on ABC and not ESPN. If ABC will not commit to airing them, then FOX should get everything by default including the Rose Bowl starting in 2010 and include the Big 12 and ACC regular season and championship game packages with that deal. The FCC will hear of this stupid deal.

A much smaller and less significant example of what broadcast networks prioritize these days was when ABC cut out of the end of a NASCAR race to get to America's Funniest Home Videos. Broadcast networks are about maximizing eyeballs and not catering to a dedicated segment of the population (sports fans). ABC would rather crank out another Grey's Anatomy spin-off or bad reality show for Joe Buck & women to be enthralled by than to pre-empt their regular rotation of programming for a Cincinnati-North Carolina Orange Bowl even the most ardent of college football fans wouldn't watch.

To the poster that said the Super Bowl and World Series will one day be on ESPN, that will never happen according to the NFL and MLB unless ESPN replays some games which could happen and has already did by airing a condensed version of Super Bowl 3 as well as official highlight packages of every Super Bowl played as of late January 2009.

As for the packages themselves, it is likely that the Super Bowl will remain on broadcast TV because it is the World's most watched event outside of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. The only other thing is that ESPN could get one opening round Football game, but it would be a Monday Nighter and the NFL would expand to 7 playoff teams per conference.

When it comes to the World Series, expect that and the MLB Saturday Game of the Week to return to NBC for a lengthly spell. However, it will depend on who lands the Olympics in 2014.

Oooooh, John Saunders once again will shill for the BCS again.

Now if we can get Keith Jackson to come out of retirement for the national title game, this will be fine. But the prospects of Reece Davis, Lou Holtz and Mark May yakking on my TV for 10 days is almost too much.

Transcript (or as close as I could get) of ESPN BCS Press call is available at http://sportsontheair.blogspot.com/2008/11/espn-bcs-conference-call-live.html

I was doing some thinking on this deal after reading a previous post and this one basically said that FOX paid $300 plus million for their BCS deal while ESPN's deal is for $125 million over four years. If this was done by the ACC only, then we could see at least a Plus one system come into effect in 2011 with the ACC possibly left out of the picture and using the Bowls broadcast currently broadcast by FOX, CBS, and ABC with the exception of the Rose Bowl. These would likely be the current BCS Championship, Cotton, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, Capital One, Sun, and Gator Bowls.

Does this mean that Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge will get a BCS bowl assignment? Holy Cow!

Is Fiesta, Orange, Sugar from 2011-2014 and BCS title game from 2011-2013 on ESPN.

Rose Bowl 2011-2014 and BCS game 2014 on ABC.

Go Ron Franklin!

espn sucks
they'll do everything but show the game.

get ready for non-stop promos. i'm sure there will be one made this weekend.

honestly AA, ask yourself what good it is to have one broadcast company own all of, or a share of EVERY major sports property?

as always the viewer will lose in this, and espn will hack their way thru the bowl games.

have you seen college game day lately?

No way you take the Rose Bowl off ABC since that game is on a national holiday. The Worldwide Leader does have to spread out the BCS telecasts.

@rick: ESPN caught hell from NASCAR for pulling a Heidi on that next-to-last Cup race.

Keep in mind people, we still have to stomach through two years of Fox's shitty coverage. And no one, and I mean NO ONE is worse than Fox Sports.

And no one, and I mean NO ONE is worse than Fox Sports.

Have you seen games broadcast on Versus & CBS College Sports?

@Anon 3:27:
1) ESPN's deal with the BCS is $500 million for 4 years, not $125 million for four.
2) Swofford is the ACC Commissioner, but he is acting on behalf of all of the BCS conferences in brokering the deal.

The Super Bowl on ESPN will happen someday when Disney/ESPN offers the NFL enough money.

Mark my words.

In Britain, the Independent Television Commission has the ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events. They break major sporting events down into two categories:
Category A, which dictates that an event must have at least one over-the-air broadcaster showing live coverage, though cable channels can have live coverage, too, if they wish; events that fall under this category include every match in the World Cup, the Olympics, the FA Cup Final, the Wimbledon Gentlemen's and Ladies' Finals, Rugby World Cup Final, etc.; Category B consists of events which can air live on cable, provided there is sufficient secondary coverage on over-the-air networks (this includes things like a highlights show, delayed broadcast); events that fall under this are the British Open, Wimbledon all the way through the semifinals, the Ryder Cup, the World Track and Field Championships, etc.

So, maybe it's time for the FCC to develop something like this. Events under category A could be the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, all BCS games (National Championship included), the Men's Final Four and subsequent championship game, all weekend rounds for the PGA Tour's majors, all major races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indy 500, Allstate 400, Indianapolis Grand Prix for the MotoGP World Championship), the Daytona 500, all races in the Triple Crown, the Breeders' Cup, the Olympics, World Cup, all finals at tennis' four Grand Slams (though the Aussie Open would be tricky live, at least the men's).

Events under Category B could include all 4 pro leagues' postseasons (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, excluding their finals), the first two rounds of each PGA Tour major, the NCAA Men's Basketball tourney (excluding the Final Four and title game), all of tennis' Grand Slams through the semifinals, Daytona Speedweeks (except the 500 itself). So far, that's all I have for Category B. I'll add to it later.

BCS = BS.
We need to abolish the BCS "System" once and for all.
I found this clever website which will send a "BS Flag" to the BCS mailbox for you for FREE.
Pretty clever. I just did it. If enough true fans do the same thing, maybe, just maybe,
the BCS Committee will get the message loud and clear!
www.BSFlag.com/BCS
Try it and pass the word!!