Former Media Executive weighs in on Notre Dame working with ESPN.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding realignment. I think there is even more misinformation regarding how media rights deals work.

Retired FOX president Bob Thompson ( @rltsports ) has started tweeting about some of the recent media rights activities, and if this is a topic of interest for you – this is a must-follow.

What he says comes from someone with years of experience negotiating these types of deals. He has insights into this industry that most people simply don’t have the depth of knowledge to understand the complexities involved with these rights deals.

If you want to debate him on Twitter – you better know what you are talking about.

That said he had interesting comments on the future of Notre Dame working with ESPN. Don’t assume it’s a slam dunk, that Notre Dame simply stays with NBC when their rights deal ends in the next few years.

I know someone who probably would, and it starts with an E and ends in a N. https://t.co/QLEAJz9vsE

— Bob Thompson (@rltsports) August 20, 2022

ESPN has over 20 Sat windows between ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC network, ACC network, And that’s before you even get to unlimited streams on ESPN+. 20 of room for seven Notre Dame games. https://t.co/X302ufyZ84

— Bob Thompson (@rltsports) August 20, 2022

doesn’t have to be ND on the channels you site. Could be lesser matchups. Seven ND games easily fit on ABC,ESPN and ESPN2. https://t.co/PDq3ihnrsg

— Bob Thompson (@rltsports) August 20, 2022

I think one thing that is often lost when talking about ESPN is that ESPN includes ABC. You are still getting OTA content on a major network, and now having your games promoted on the entirety of the ESPN family of networks.

I’m not saying it will happen, but especially after losing Big 10, ESPN could very well make a run at Notre Dame.

Since they already have all the Notre Dame content through the Irish’s deal with the ACC including 2 – 3 football games a year, to get seven more Irish home games at some price between $60-$100 Million doesn’t seem out of reach.

Now plus games with the ACC, you set up monster games with the SEC. You know that will happen too.

You don’t think ESPN didn’t notice that in 2019 Notre Dame vs Georgia had 9.3 Million viewers?   In 2017 it was over 4 Million. How about in 2016 when future SEC member Texas and Notre Dame had over 10 Million?

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