It "was a surprise" yesterday when the Big 12 announced that FS1 would air this year's Texas-Oklahoma football game, as ABC had aired the last 18 iterations of the Red River Rivalry, according to John Shinn of the NORMAN TRANSCRIPT. The Big 12's broadcast rights are shared by Fox and ABC/ESPN, and this year, Fox "had first pick for the games on Oct. 8. Texas-OU was then placed on FS1 as the game "can’t be aired" on Fox’ broadcast channel due to the MLB Postseason. This will mark the first time since '98 that the game will not be on an over-the-air net (NORMAN TRANSCRIPT, 6/2). In Austin, Brian Davis noted the game typically is played in the noon ET time slot, and though no kickoff time has been set, both UT and OU officials "have long been against scheduling that game at night." Texas-OU has "long been one [of] the Big 12’s highest-rated marquee games of the season," with last year’s game drawing 4.99 million viewers on ABC. By comparison, FS1's most-viewed telecast all-time was set with Michigan-Utah in the opening week of the season with 2.89 million viewers (STATESMAN.com, 6/1). In San Antonio, Mike Finger noted even though FS1 has "made a push in recent years to be a major player in college sports, the move from ABC likely ensures this year's Longhorns-Sooners game will be seen by fewer people" (MYSANANTONIO.com, 6/1). In Oklahoma City, Ryan Aber notes in addition to Texas-OU, Fox also gained rights to the OU's Sept. 17 home game against Ohio State. That game will be on Fox in primetime (OKLAHOMAN, 6/2).
TRACK MEET: ABC and Bristol Motor Speedway yesterday announced an 8:00pm ET kickoff time for the Sept. 10 Virginia Tech-Tennessee football game at the track. The game, which is expected to draw more than 150,000 fans, will air as ABC's "Saturday Night Football" (THE DAILY).
