ESPN, Western Athletic Conference Sign New Deal to Continue Media Rights Agreement
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Continuing a relationship that spans more than 31 years, the Western Athletic Conference and ESPN have announced a new multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement that will see over 500 annual events on ESPN+ and the ESPN App. ESPN will also televise select regular season men’s basketball games and the championship games for the WAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments on ESPN linear networks.
“The WAC and ESPN have a long history together and it’s exciting to continue that relationship into the future,’ says WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd. “ESPN remains the gold standard when it comes to sports and this multi-year agreement will continue to assist in the WAC’s growth nationally.”
All home football and men’s and women’s basketball games will reside on ESPN platforms, as well as selected other events. The WAC will also produce and air over 70 championship events on ESPN+ in the upcoming year.
“As the WAC expands its fan base into new markets across the country, we’re pleased to continue ESPN’s association with the conference, which started more than three decades ago,” says Dan Margulis, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions. “With more than 500 annual events included in this new agreement, we look forward to showcasing the WAC’s talented student-athletes and member institutions.”
In May 1995, the WAC became the first conference in the country to have an exclusive contract with ESPN for football and basketball games. The conference’s extensive history with ESPN includes having nearly all WAC championship events on ESPN+ since the platform launched in the summer of 2018.
“Enhancing our relationship with ESPN allows fans around the WAC and the country to see our stellar brand of college sports,” adds WAC executive director of broadcasting Eric Danner. “ESPN+ has grown exponentially in the past three years and we are thrilled to now have hundreds of regular season events and WAC championship productions associated with the strongest brand in sports.”
