IRVINE – The Big West Conference and FOX Sports Networks today announced a long-term media rights agreement that makes Prime Ticket, FOX Sports West, and FOX Sports San Diego the exclusive regional TV partners for Big West Conference sports commencing with the current 2012-13 season.
This season, a minimum of 20 marquee events will be showcased across Prime Ticket, FOX Sports West, and FOX Sports San Diego, including regular season men’s basketball games, four men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal games, and the women’s basketball tournament championship game, as well as the soccer and track and field championships.
Beginning in the 2013-14 season, at least 32 events per year will be televised when San Diego State joins the Big West. A minimum of 12 San Diego State men’s basketball games will be added to the selection of events for Prime Ticket, FOX Sports West, and FOX Sports San Diego. Additional events and non-game programming specials are slated to appear on other FOX Sports platforms.
Additionally, FOX Sports Networks in conjunction with the Big West will launch the Conference’s free-to-access video streaming platform this November. The digital offering will deliver up to 800 live events each academic year, including certain men’s and women’s basketball games and women’s volleyball matches not selected for TV, as well as many other Conference athletic events.
“This agreement with FOX continues a partnership that began more than 15 years ago,” said Big West Conference Commissioner Dennis Farrell. “The Big West’s continued growth and stability contributed to the overall expansion of the package and the increased exposure through the cable and digital platforms will only enhance the Conference brand.”
“We’re proud to be long-term partners with the Big West Conference,” said Steve Simpson, senior vice president and general manager, FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket. “The schools that represent the Conference are an ideal complement to the regionally relevant programming focus of FOX Sports West and Prime Ticket and we look forward to showcasing multiple sports and the remarkable student-athletes that represent the Big West.”
“Kudos to the conference for getting this done,” said Mark Massari, UCSB’s Director of Athletics. “This is another big step in raising the visibility and profile of the Big West.”
The agreement also gives FOX Sports year-long in-arena exposure – signage, video/message boards, PA announcements – at all Big West institutions, website recognition on all Big West institution websites and a sponsorship position in the Big West Basketball Tournament.
Fox Sports West is in 6.8 million homes and Prime Ticket is in 6.2 million in a territory that stretches from San Luis Obispo in north, to San Diego in the south and from Hawai’i in the west to Las Vegas in the east.
