CBSSPORTS.com's Brett McMurphy cited sources as saying that the ESPN proposal the Big East Conference turned down last month was for "nine additional years worth $110 million to $130 million annually." The deal "would have extended the league's media-rights deal with ESPN through the 2022-23 school year." But Big East Commissioner John Marinatto last month said the conference decided to wait because it wanted to "maximize and monetize our value the best way possible." McMurphy noted ESPN "has an exclusive 60-day window to renegotiate with the Big East beginning in September 2012." If the two sides "can't reach a deal, the Big East can entertain offers from other networks starting Nov. 1, 2012, as well as ESPN" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/20).
TIME IS RIGHT: Rogers Media is launching Sportsnet magazine in Canada in October, and incoming Rogers Publishing President Ken Whyte said the "biggest reason we didn't do this before is that we didn't own" the Rogers Sportsnet TV channel. Whyte: "Before, there wasn't an opportunity to do cross-platform stuff. Now we have it that gives us a real competitive edge." Whyte said of advertising in the magazine, "The men's advertising category has developed over the last decade for men's grooming products (like Axe deodorant). And auto is back, too, after two or three years. It now seems likely that you can get them back." Whyte added that the "inspiration" for Sportsnet "will come from the European model of sports magazine." Whyte: "It'll be a reader's magazine. I like to say that about everything I publish" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/20).
FOLLOW ME: The website hosting NBA Draft prospect Jimmer Fredette's web series -- FollowJimmer.com -- has eclipsed 2 million page views, according to the series producer, Tupelo-Honey Productions. The online channel launched the series June 2 on YouTube and syndicated it to SI.com. The series was created to chronicle how Fredette has been handling the 30 days leading up to the NBA Draft. This week, the series will feature coverage of Fredette and his family at the NBA Draft, plus home video shot by the Fredette family (John Ourand, THE DAILY).
NOTES: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote with the departure of Dick Ebersol, it is "time for NBC to restore some long-lost good will." The net can "start by fixing those comically transparent, self-serving, credibility-killing weekend 'Sports News' studio reports to include information that actually serves viewers instead of NBC" (N.Y. POST, 6/20)....A new studio at 190 N. State Street in Chicago "will serve as the home" for ESPN Radio 1000 Chicago broadcasts and "will be sponsored by Cadillac." The "multiyear partnership" for the studio "will be announced at a ribbon cutting ceremony in early September" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 6/20).
