In the latest development, NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery have secured the broadcasting rights to Big East games from the 2025-26 season onwards, following CBS’s departure from the deal. The move comes as major media companies continue to strive for sports portfolios that attract large audiences without incurring excessive costs.
As part of the new six-year agreement, NBC and its Peacock streaming service will air a total of 60 men’s and women’s regular season and tournament games. On the other hand, Warner’s TNT Sports channels will broadcast a combined 65 games each season, primarily on TNT with some also being available on TBS or TruTV. All games will be available on Warner’s Max streaming platform. Fox remains the primary rights holder, with a deal to showcase 80 games in total.
Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports, expressed excitement about the new agreement, stating that it adds to the network’s premium live sports content and enhances the fan experience. Warner has been expanding its sports rights portfolio recently, adding two college football championship games and the French Open while reportedly planning to drop its NBA package.
Rick Cordella, President of NBC Sports, emphasized the significance of Big East Basketball in the world of college sports and expressed pride in featuring the conference’s teams across NBCUniversal platforms. NBC Sports has been working to bring more sports content to Peacock, including additional NFL games. The company is set to introduce new technologies and game formats for streaming subscribers during the Paris Olympics this summer.
The acquisition of Big East basketball rights by NBCUniversal represents a strategic move by major media companies to build strong sports portfolios that cater to broad audiences without incurring excessive costs. With Fox remaining as one of its partners in this lineup, which includes competitive collegiate athletic programs such as Georgetown University and the University of Connecticut.
In conclusion, this new six-year agreement between NBCUniversal and Warner Bros., along with Fox’s continued involvement in Big East basketball is an exciting development for fans looking forward to watching their favorite college basketball teams compete at a high level while providing a great viewing experience through various platforms such as Peacock streaming service and Max streaming platform from Warner Bros Discovery
