The Big 12 BOD today formally adopted a plan to "equally distribute Tier I and II television revenues" among member schools, marking a "major step toward staying together." Football and men's basketball revenue from Tier I and Tier II contracts "will take effect once each of the nine schools commit to a grant of rights for at least six years." Tier I includes nationally televised games on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox, while all cable broadcasts fall under Tier II. If all nine remaining schools sign off on the deal, "it would end speculation that Missouri would bolt to the SEC" (ESPN.com, 10/3).

ESPN today announced that it has posted its most-watched fiscal year for the fourth consecutive year and that it tied its own mark for the highest-rated fiscal year on record. Nielsen data indicates the net averaged 1,067,000 viewers on a 24-hour basis, breaking the record of 1,048,000 set last year. The net's total-day rating of 0.9 for the last 12 months also ties its high set in '90 and '10. The ESPN family of networks also set fiscal year record for combined average total-day audience with 1,535,000 viewers, breaking last year's record of 1,528,000 (ESPN).

Tampa Bay tonight is slated to host both Rangers-Rays ALDS Game Three and the Colts-Buccaneers "MNF" game in what will be "one of the most exciting nights in the sporting history of Tampa Bay." Both games are sold out, meaning about 100,000 tickets have been sold for the two games combined. This will also be the Buccaneers' "first official sellout in 10 games" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/3).

It will be the Rays' 12th consecutive playoff sellout dating back to the '08 World Series (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/3). Rays President Matt Silverman said that there are "no plans to remove the tarps that cover about 6,000 seats" in the upper deck at Tropicana Field. However, those plans "could change if the Rays advance to the ALCS" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 10/2).

Tennis Channel signed a multiyear extension to keep its rights to the French Open. A formal announcement is due tomorrow. Specific financials were not released. The 10-year deal keeps the French Open on the channel through '22. The deal gives Tennis Channel exclusive U.S. non-broadcast media rights to all French Open matches and includes streaming, digital, mobile, video on demand and "TV Everywhere."

EA Sports today announced that it is giving fans an opportunity to vote on which golfer will join Tiger Woods on the cover of "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13." Starting today, fans can participate in a bracket-style voting campaign involving 16 golfers on the game franchise's official Facebook page. Eight U.S. golfers are featured on one side of the bracket, with eight European golfers on the other side. Voting runs through Oct. 23, with the winner to be announced via Facebook on Oct. 24 (EA Sports).

For the third consecutive season, the Predators will offer single-game ticket discounts on specific days of the week. The team’s single-game tickets average $45 for the upper level and $80 for the lower. For Thursday games, the team will give discounts to college students for $15 upper-level tickets and $25 lower-level seats. On Tuesdays, the club will sell a two-pack of upper-level tickets for $49 and a two-pack lower level tickets for $99. The club will also offer a military discount for all games good for $60 lower-level tickets and $25 upper-level seats.

The B.C. Government and Service Employee's Union today announced that B.C. Place workers have voted 89% "in favour of possible strike action." The employees have approved a 90-day window within which a strike notice "could be enacted." About 600 arena employees, including hosts, ushers and security staff, have "been without a contract with BC Pavilion Corporation" since March. Negotiations between the union and PavCo "ceased in September." Food service workers at the stadium "are also without a contract, but are not involved in the strike vote" (VANCOUVERSUN.com, 10/3).

It's time to make your opinion known as the 7th annual SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily Reader Survey is underway. The survey features more than 100 questions across leagues, teams, facilities, sponsorship, media, labor and more.

• Who is the most influential person in sports business?
• The most innovative sports property?
• The most marketable athlete?

The AFL today announced that broadcasts of its games will continue for the third consecutive season on NFL Network. The net will continue to air its "Arena Football Friday" telecasts (AFL).

Spotlight Ticket Management announced a deal with the Bengals to provide the company's SpotlightTNS ticket management system to suite customers at Paul Brown Stadium (Spotlight Ticket Management).

Omaha Steaks has agreed to sponsor "Tailgate 48," a new show to debut on Big Ten Network on Oct. 6 (Omaha Steaks).

The NFLPA is partnering with A Call To Men and the Verizon Foundation for Training Camps For Life, a series of October events at high schools throughout the country designed to educate teens about healthy relationships and raise awareness about domestic abuse (NFLPA).

Yokohama Tire Corp. has agreed to sponsor the Patriots for the '11 season. Yokohama's also has deals with the NFL's Cowboys, Broncos and Ravens (Yokohama Tire Corp.).

Tickets go on sale today for the '11 NASCAR After The Lap event at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas (NASCAR).

The Celtics and New England Baptist Hospital today announced a multiyear renewal of their deal that designates NEBH as the team's official hospital. This comes as the two organizations mark the 25th year of their partnership (Celtics).

“We do everything we can from a fan experience, from a pricing standpoint to … obviously a compelling product. At this point there's not much more we can do but just keep going at it” – Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg, on trying to draw fans to Tropicana Field (“The Call,” CNBC, 10/3).

"To do this right now is morally indefensible. We need to focus on our critical needs – infrastructure and the well-being of our citizens" – Columbus mayoral candidate Earl Smith, blasting the pending public buyout of Nationwide Arena (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/3).

IMG Consulting Senior VP Tim McGhee: "#PAC12 continues to hit on all cylinders. Just announced Steve Kerepesi wil run sponsorship sales. Great hire."

Ice Edge Holdings COO and Hedgeye Risk Management Dir of Research Daryl Jones: "On with @hainsworthtv on BNN to discuss the outlook for the Eurozone at 540pm today. Hint : almost as bleak as the outlook for the Leafs."

ESPN’s Buster Olney: “MLB officials out here on the field measuring distance between bases at Comerica. Just double-checking.”

L.A. Daily News' Tom Hoffarth: "Dodgers' new radio deal with KLAC 570 finally official … no word on DodgerTalk hosts coming over from 790 in the deal."

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

NHL Senior Manager of Communications Kerry McGovern posted this shot of top officials from the NHL and NBC Sports ringing the NASDAQ Closing Bell moments ago.

During Sunday's Saints-Jaguars game at EverBank Field, the north side of the field "had half the arrows pointing in the direction of the opposite end zone." The arrows painted on the yard lines at a football field are "supposed to point toward the closest end zone" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/2).

Orlando's WYGM-AM will debut "Magic Drive Time" at 5:30pm ET. The 30-minute show will be hosted by Dante Marchitelli, who will be joined by a different co-host, including a rotation of head coach Stan Van Gundy, President of Basketball Operations & GM Otis Smith and select players, broadcasters and front office personnel.

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit becomes the latest sports figure to appear in ads for Unilever's Dove Men+Care brand. The video series, part of the brand's ongoing "Journey to Comfort" campaign, kicks off today with two videos, titled "Audition" and "Dad."

Basketball HOFer Magic Johnson will appear on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” at 11:30pm ET.

U.S. women’s soccer G Hope Solo will appear on “The Ellen Degeneres Show.”

1,463,741 – Total attendance for all 200 events at Amway Center in the venue's first year of operation. The total attendance for Magic games in that time is 816,421. The arena is one year old as of this past Saturday (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/1).