Why is so many Big 12 Men’s College Basketball Game Only On ESPN+?

On February 12, 2025By Littum

The Arizona Wildcatswho have won six straight matches and are 17-6 overall and 11-1 in BIG 12, facing the red-hot Kansas State Wildcats (12-11 overall, 6-6 BIG 12), who have won five games in a row, at. 18.00 mst Tuesday night.

You would think it would definitely be a game worthy of a lot of attention and worth a wide TV audience.

Think again.

The big 12 conference matchup is only scheduled to be released via ESPN+ESPN’s streaming service, which could severely limit its audience.

This will not be the first Arizona basketball game to be released on ESPN+ this season. In fact, it will be the 10th ..

But Kansas State has Arizona beat. This will remarkably be Kansas State’s 15th match that will be displayed exclusively on ESPN+ this season. Kansas State has played 23 matches.

How to see Arizona vs Kansas State Game on ESPN+

Why are so many big 12 basketball games only on ESPN+?

In October, when the Big 12 announced its 2024-25 men’s basketball TV plan, it proclaimed the league that had “the most national TV matches since the 2018-19 season” season ” In a media release.

It wrote: “All 160 league competitions are intended for broadcast on all ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN+, in addition to being released on CBS Sports platforms, including CBS, CBS SPORTS NETWORK and Paramount+.”

It should perhaps have emphasized how many of these 160 games would be streamed exclusively on ESPN+.

According to The conference’s complete list of TV selection78 matches involving BIG 12 teams will be broadcast on ESPN’s streaming platform this season.

The additions of Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado and Utah to the Big 12 This season gave the conference more games, and ESPN+ gives the conference a way to show these games because of the league’s TV deal with ESPN.

But it also potentially restricts the viewing of the conference with fans deciding whether to buy the streaming service to see conference games.

More big 12 games on linear TV next season

However, some help is on the way.

TNT is set to become a partner with the BIG 12 conference as part of a settlement that was hit between NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery. With NBA Moving Games away from TNT to ESPN, ESPN is underliced 13 football matches per game. Season from ESPN+ to TNT and TBS, with 15 Big 12 -men’s basketball game, which is also set to be released at these stations instead of ESPN+ starting next season.

It’s a start.

“This is additive to what ESPN and Fox bring us. That’s why it’s a lot, ”BIG 12 -Commissioner Brett Yormark told Yahoo Sports In November. “Any addition to both is complementary and will lead to more promotion and marketing around the BIG 12 and the conference marks.”

Interestingly enough, the release that advertised Big 12 Men’s Basketball -Tv -tid Plan In October ended with this: “The Big 12 sent a conference record eight teams until 2024 NCAA Division I-men’s Basketball Championship. Big 12 has finished the season with the country’s best average net ranking in four consecutive seasons and cementing its status as the top league In the sport.

Shouldn’t you be able to see more of sports ‘Top League’ on plain TV? Big 12 fans are left to consider the answer to that question as ESPN+ continues to stream a lot of BIG 12 -men’s basketball game this season, including Arizona in Kansas State on Tuesday night.

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