Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts reacts to landmark Big Ten media rights deal

The reactions keep coming in after the Big Ten announced its landmark media rights deal on Thursday. Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts joined the chorus of people praising the reported $7 billion agreement.

Alberts spoke highly of the new deal, which will see NBC and CBS join FOX and the Big Ten Network as broadcast partners for the Big Ten. CBS was previously involved with the SEC before it made a deal to partner with ESPN and ABC, and the Big Ten swooped in to fill that void.

That’s the biggest piece of the puzzle, Alberts said, because of some of the other major events CBS carries.

“Think about Jim Nantz, on The Masters, talking about Big Ten football games in the fall,” Alberts said, via the Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon. “Or they’re getting ready to air a NFL game on CBS and they’re promoting Nebraska playing Wisconsin. The reach is spectacular.”

One of the marquee games on Nebraska’s schedule is the “Heroes Trophy” matchup with Iowa. That’s one game Alberts hopes ends up on the big stage as part of the new deal, especially since both fan bases get excited for the showdown. He thinks it will end up getting the exposure it deserves, too.

“I have great confidence that the Nebraska/Iowa game will get a premier time slot,” Alberts said, via McKewon. “That’s what (Iowa Athletic Director) Gary Barta and I both want. It’s a tremendous game that fans of both schools love.”

More on the Big Ten media rights deal

The Big Ten’s new deal is set to begin July 1, 2023 and run through the 2029-30 school year, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He added the deal will bring in almost $7 billion over the course of the agreements.

“Specific terms were not disclosed, but a financial windfall won’t come immediately, according to media sources,” Thamel wrote. “The CBS payout in Year 1 of the agreement is lower since it still will be carrying SEC games during the 2023 season, and will air only seven Big Ten contests that fall.

“But the Big Ten’s per-school distribution will slope upward in Year 2 of the deal, when new members USC and UCLA enter the Big Ten. Revenue will rise substantially beginning in Year 3.”

On3’s Stephen Samra contributed to this report.