ESPN in talks to air Bowl Championship Series

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Nov 13, 2008 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

Disney' ESPN network reportedly is bidding on the air rights for the five College Bowl Championship Series games.

The Fox network's current four year contract ends in 2010. Fox, as well as ESPN, are negotiating for the BCS broadcast rights beyond 2009.

BCS coordinator and Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford stated "We've had good meetings and discussion up to this point. The BCS is obviously an attractive television property, but we simply have not completed our process."

Under the current contract, Fox pays $82.5 million per year to broadcast four of the five BCS games. Disney's ABC network has the rights to the Rose Bowl.

According to Sports Business Daily, Fox is bidding $100 million annually as compared to ESPN's $125 million annual offer. Part of the negotiations includes moving the Rose Bowl to ESPN.

While ESPN is withholding comments while the talks are underway, the numbers have been confirmed by other sources within the organizations.

In addition to ad sales revenue, ESPN has the advantage of collecting fees from the cable providers.

If ESPN wins the rights to air the games, it will be the first time that a cable network is awarded the contract.