ESPN had no 'intention' of sublicensing CFP games until 'very attractive' TNT offer, per Jimmy Pitaro

When ESPN extended its partnership with a now-expanded College Football Playoff, there was a new ripple to the contract. The network had the ability to sublicense games if it chose to do so, and chairman Jimmy Pitaro said it wasn’t necessarily the plan to do so until the deal fully starts in 2026.

But when TNT Sports came calling with a “very attractive” offer, the two sides came to an agreement. Under the 12-team format, TNT will carry two first-round CFP games this year before also broadcasting the quarterfinals in 2025 and 2026.

Pitaro said there were a few factors in that decision, but the financial side of it played a role. That led ESPN to come to terms with TNT for a partnership that will begin this coming season, and he added it would be good for college football fans, as well.

“We took a step back and asked ourselves, ‘Was this better or worse for college football?'” Pitaro said, via the Sports Business Journal’s Mollie Cahillane. “And we ultimately decided that [WBD] putting their networks behind these games would be a net positive.”

When news came down about TNT’s decision to broadcast CFP games, some wondered what the broadcasts would look like and who would be in the booth. Pitaro confirmed ESPN would still produce them and its own talent would also work the games.

Between the control ESPN maintains of the CFP and the sense it made from a business perspective, Pitaro said he’s heard plenty of excitement about the next phase of college football’s postseason.

“Not a bad thing from a morale perspective,” Pitaro said. “Our folks were incredibly excited that we were able to maintain the rights to the College Football Playoffs, and now with the sublicense, this is a healthy, smart business move.”

What deal with TNT means for ESPN’s control of CFP

Since the CFP replaced the BCS in 2014, ESPN held the exclusive rights to the national semifinals and championship game. The two sides then agreed to a six-year, $7.8 billion extension in February, and as the field expands to 12 teams starting this season, ESPN has the ability to sublicense games to other networks.

TNT Sports is the primary choice – one college sports fans know well. The network, along with CBS, hold the rights to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Now, it will also have college football postseason games starting this season.

But for ESPN, the ability to sublicense gives the network that much more control over how College Football Playoff games are broadcast. That could pay off down the road as rumors swirl about further expansion, as well.

“And finally, it potentially offers ESPN additional upside,” Justin Beitler, director of global media rights counseling at Octagon, told On3’s Eric Prisbell in February. “If they can build the value of the expanded CFP early on in the next rights cycle, they can potentially sublicense the rights at a premium further down the road, if they choose.”

Jimmy Pitaro: College sports is ‘up and to the right’

By sublicensing College Football Playoff games, Pitaro said it’s another piece of ESPN’s commitment to college sports. Of course, the network also is expected to keep a slice of the NBA through its media rights deals, in addition to its Monday Night Football NFL game and Sunday Night Baseball matchups.

But when it comes to NCAA championships, ESPN holds rights to all except the men’s basketball tournament. Through the 2023-24 school year, ESPN saw major victories in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament – largely thanks to Caitlin Clark and Iowa’s TV ratings success – in addition to both the Women’s College World Series and Men’s College World Series.

Pitaro said the goal is to continue that upward trajectory, especially after signing a new media rights deal with the NCAA. That agreement starts in September, and ESPN will try to keep the momentum going.

“The team at the NCAA understood our commitment to college sports in general, and they understood the value that they get from ESPN,” Pitaro said. “I don’t want to speak for them, but I believe they felt like it made the most sense for them to stick exclusively with us. … Even beyond the women’s basketball tournament, the Women’s College World Series was just so fantastic this year. The Men’s College World Series also [had] incredible ratings. Gymnastics, volleyball, lacrosse – all of it is up and to the right.”