IMG College Shells Out $86M In 12-Year Deal For UM's Media Rights

Michigan Sells Complete Media Rights Package For First Time Ever

IMG College has acquired the media rights for the Univ. of Michigan (UM) in a 12-year, $86M deal through June 2020, according to John Ourand in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The deal marks the "first time Michigan has bundled all of its media rights into one package and marks the continuation of a trend where colleges are hiring companies ... to maximize revenues from those rights." IMG College has held UM's radio rights for the past seven years, and recently it also had "picked up publishing and Web site management rights." Under the new deal, set to be announced this week, IMG College also will "pick up all rights associated with corporate sponsorships, hospitality and coaches' endorsements, as well as manage coaches' TV and radio shows." Most of UM's "expanded rights previously had been handled in house." UM will continue to manage its apparel rights (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/4 issue).