Sources: CFP, ESPN going over new 6-year offer
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Heather Dinich Close Heather Dinich ESPN Elder Author College football reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007 Graduate of Indiana
- University Pete Thamel Jan 8,
- 2024, 06:15 PM ET HOUSTON–
- The College Football Playoff and ESPN are
in the midst of settlements to keep the network as the sole rights holder of the event for the next eight years, sources told ESPN on Monday.The offer would include the last two years on the current CFP agreement plus a new six-year arrangement for the next version of the playoff, sources told ESPN.If ESPN remains the sole rights holder, it would be a significant change from what the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick had actually originally desired, as all had remained in agreement that several broadcast partners– a design comparable to what the NFL has– would be best for college football.While absolutely nothing has actually been finalized and negotiations are continuous, sources suggested that ESPN is thinking about paying around$ 1.3 billion for the rights to the new six-year deal starting in the 2026 season.ESPN decreased to comment.Editor’s Picks 2 Related ESPN is the sole rights holder in the present, 12-year contract, which ends following the 2025 season. The CFP will broaden from four to 12 groups this fall.CFP executive director Expense Hancock stated the
company is no longer in
the special negotiating window with ESPN.” I need to say, this is a settlement, and so I’m not going to have the ability to inform you much about it, “Hancock stated.”We enjoy with where we are and not rather to the goal yet.”A sublicense arrangement was a sticking point that has actually been settled, according to sources. The contract would give ESPN the capability to offer the rights to a few of the games– something Fox Sports would have an interest in, sources indicated.Hancock said that if ESPN were to sublicense any games, the presidents would need to
approve it.The 10 FBS commissioners and Swarbrick assembled with the 11 presidents and chancellors who manage the CFP for their annual meeting Monday morning before No. 1 Michigan dealt with No. 2 Washington in the CFP Championship Game Provided by AT&T.
While nothing concrete has actually been settled about the future TV rights in the new contract, sources told ESPN that it
‘s something that all parties aspire to settle.”Do not have a timeline,”Hancock said.”We’re getting close.”