“@sn_ncaab: Big East TV negotiations ‘not anywhere near done’
http://t.co/sEppKh5x”
Big East commissioner Mike Aresco said a deal between the conference and ESPN during the two sides' exclusive negotiating window that runs through October is “not anywhere near done."
Aresco said there has been "a lot of interest” amongst rival networks and that he expects negotiations with ESPN to ramp up as the network’s exclusive window closes. Should the Big East become available, NBC Sports Net and CBS Sports Net are both expected to make bids.
"We have two sports that are equally important, and they can help each other,” Aresco told the Chicago Tribune recently. “The basketball-only schools derive great benefit from being with our football-basketball schools. The football-basketball schools benefit from the wonderful, strong heritage of the basketball schools. That, together, will mean a lot as we talk to the various networks."
As part of any future agreement, Aresco said he has not ruled out creating a Big East Network, a la the Big Ten, Pac-12 and coming soon, the SEC.