ESPN Expands Big East Deal

ESPN said it cut a broad deal with the Big East Conference that includes rights to football and basketball games for several ESPN and ABC Sports properties.

The six-year basketball component of the agreement, which begins next year, includes rights to every Big East intra-conference game on an ESPN-owned networks (excluding some games that will air on CBS).

In addition to ESPN’s “Big Monday” Big East Coverage, the network said it will run Thursday-night games on ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN’s six-year football contract, which begins in 2008, will keep Big East football games on ESPN and ABC Sports. Women’s basketball and some Olympic sports are also included in the agreement.

The deal also includes games that ESPN can sell on its Full Court and GamePlan subscription pay-per-view packages.