Ross Bjork calls out Huge Ten TV contract over amount
In 2024, Ohio State played seven of its 12 regular-season games in the Twelve noon ET window. Buckeyes fans voiced their displeasure with the absence of primetime games and early kickoff times, and Ross Bjork has expressed a comparable sentiment.
This week, Bjork said Ohio State is asking for “versatility” with regard to the TV schedule. Under the Big Ten’s present media offer, FOX has the first choice of games for each week. That implies those teams would play in the early window since that’s the network’s Big 10 window. CBS has the 3:30 p.m. slot and NBC gets primetime.
Bjork kept in mind the impact of Ohio State’s brand while breaking down why the Buckeyes get the midday slate. That said, he included the existing media agreement doesn’t permit much wiggle room with regard to game times under its draft system.
“We have actually invested a great deal of time working with FOX, working with the Big 10 to understand, look, we know why we’re picked for Big Twelve Noon Kickoff,” Bjork stated on All Sides with Amy Juravich. “We know it. Our brand name is the greatest brand. We have the most viewership, we have the biggest fan base, we’ve carried the window because midday kickoff. What we’re asking for is just a bit more versatility. Why does each of our games need to be at midday? However the television agreements, the method they’re set out is, FOX has the very first pick– they own the midday window. They do not own a night window, they do not own a 3:30 window. They have the first pick, and after that it goes to sort of a pooling of NBC and CBS and the Big Ten Network. CBS owns the 3:30 window and NBC owns the 7:30 window.
“There’s not versatility within that. FOX can’t simply say, ‘Hey, for this game, we want a 7:30 window and for this game, we desire a 3:30.’ So the lack of versatility that was kind of developed into this, to me, that’s the part that we need to continue to chip away at.”
During the 2024 season, Ohio State was the second-most enjoyed team in college football, balancing 6.8 million viewers on the year. However the Buckeyes played in seven midday games, consisting of The Video game versus Michigan.
Ross Bjork: ‘Why can’t we have more adaptability?’
The Big Ten’s media offer worked in 2023, but totally started last year when CBS gained special rights for the 3:30 p.m. ET after the SEC’s deal with ESPN started. The seven-year, $7 billion deal is because of expire in 2030.
Ross Bjork said his objective is to produce more flexibility ahead of that expiration date. However, if things stay status quo, FOX will continue to select the biggest game on the slate considering that it gets the top option.
“So when the CBS and NBC agreements come up in 2030– which looks like a long period of time [away], however it’ll go quickly– how can we develop versatility within our television partners?” Bjork stated. “How can we create more simply movement– why do we always have to play at twelve noon? Why can’t we have more versatility throughout? That’s what we’re requesting for. That’s what we’re really kind of pressing with the Big 10.
“But today, there just is no versatility, so FOX is going to select the greatest game. And if you look week by week, we’re going to be in that window a lot. … Everyone, be patient. But the message likewise is, it should not matter when we play. We’re asking our fans to appear, be loud, support the team, produce a home field advantage. And then, we’ll work on that stuff off the field.”