ESPN has reached an exclusive seven-year deal with the
newly-formed eight-team Moutain West Conference (MWC), that
gives the net rights to all football and men's basketball
games beginning with the '99 season (ESPN). The SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE reports that the deal is worth $48M and requires at
least three football appearances on the "Thursday Night Game
of the Week" and three basketball appearances on the
network's "Big Monday" tripleheader. The football package
calls for the broadcast of 19-23 games each year, with at
least two on ABC, four on ESPN, five on ESPN2 and an average
eight syndicated by ESPN Regional TV. A minimum of 12
basketball games carried each season includes seven league
games, two non-conference and three MWC tournament games.
An additional 8-10 games will be syndicated by ESPN TV along
with three quarterfinal games and one semifinal game during
the MWC tourney (S.L. TRIBUNE, 2/2). The MWC women's hoop
championship, along with one regular-season game, will also
be seen on ESPN or ESPN2 (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 2/2).
