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ESPN, BCS reach television agreement for bowls

• BCS Commissioner John Swofford on the new deal

Nov 18, 2008

ESPN has reached a four-year deal with the BCS to televise the BCS bowls, the two announced Tuesday. The bowls are currently on the Fox network.

The deal will include the Fiesta, Orange, Sugar and national title games.

“We think this partnership is a natural fit," said ACC commissioner John Swofford. "ESPN does a tremendous job during the college football regular season and has created a great culture around college football.

“We think the multi-platform ESPN is able to bring to the table is unlike anything else offered in sports.”

ESPN president George Bodenheimer said ESPN is not planning to put the games on over-the-air broadcasts on ABC.The Rose Bowl will remain on ABC through at least 2010, Bodenheimer said.

Both Swofford and Bodenheimer insisted enough Americans now had access to cable to make the games available to fans who wanted to see them.

Swofford was asked several times whether college football would move toward a playoff. President-elect Barack Obama said on "60 Minutes" Sunday that he wants an eight-team playoff.

However, Swofford said the BCS conferences had discussed changes in the spring and he did not anticipate any further changes in this television cycle.  But he pointed out that the ESPN deal was a television deal and didn't preclude changes in the postseason structure.

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By Mr.Reaction2
Posted Nov 18, 7:59 p.m.

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RE: ESPN, BCS reach television agreement for bowls

I just wanted to apologize for offending so many people. If you look at my profile picture you will see Why I love talking to you guys.

By TruthBKnown Left The Building
Posted Nov 18, 1:42 p.m.

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RE: ESPN, BCS reach television agreement for bowls

I post this every year about this time. If people ever want a playoff instead of bowls, the only way thAt will ever come true is if we remove dollars from the equation. The bowls make too much money and they don't want anything to change. The schools make a lot of money, too, so they also don't want anything to change.

For us to FORCE change, we need to boycott the bowls. And I mean, don't even watch them on TV. I suppose you could watch the one bowl YOUR team happens to be in (if any), but don't watch ANY OTHER BOWLS. Don't buy the tickets. Don't do anything.

It will be painful, but once they realize we mean business, and a boycott is the only way to prove to them that we do, nothing will change. Nothing.

By DeathRow-IFeelYourPain-NOT
Posted Nov 18, 12:53 p.m.

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RE: ESPN, BCS reach television agreement for bowls

Whatever! No big deal. Doesn't change anything for the fan that watches the games. Still the SOS.

By PRGuy
Posted Nov 18, 12:53 p.m.

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RE: ESPN, BCS reach television agreement for bowls

What I don't like about ESPN is that they occasionally shut out other outlets from covering events. Just like they barred WRAL from attending the Josh Hamilton event at his high school a few weeks ago. I hope they don't do the same thing at the BCS bowl games.

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