ESPN and Mountain West Conference Ink Multi-Year Rights Agreement

ESPN has reached an agreement in principle with the Mountain West for rights to televise select conference football and basketball games from 2013-14 through the 2019-20 season. ESPN will acquire exclusive worldwide rights to televise up to 16 Mountain West football games plus every Boise State home game as well as up to 31 conference-controlled men’s basketball games annually. ESPN will have the right to make every game available to video subscribers via WatchESPN.

As part of the deal, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will televise a minimum of three Boise State football home games nationally.  The Broncos’ remaining home contests will either be made available on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN3 or ABC. Up to 16 conference-controlled football games per season will be available on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ABC, or ESPN3.

For men’s basketball, up to 31 conference-controlled games will air on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS or ESPN3.

In 2012, ESPN televised four MW football games through a sublicense agreement. It marked the first time ESPN had televised Mountain West games from a member institution’s home venue since 2005. ESPN had a regular schedule of conference member home games from the league’s inception in 1999 to 2005 and televised BYU vs. TCU at Cowboys Stadium on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

“It’s great to be back in business with the Mountain West.  They are a deep, high quality and competitive conference,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president of college sports. “We look forward to once again showcasing the league’s institutions, student-athletes and compelling storylines across multiple sports and ESPN platforms.”

“The Mountain West and its member institutions are very pleased to be re-establishing a television partnership with ESPN,” said Commissioner Craig Thompson.  “We had a very successful relationship during the first years of the Conference and have stayed connected over the years through our bowl agreements and other interactions.  This new agreement is mutually beneficial and offers great promise for the seasons ahead.”