Montana’s Big Sky contests move to ESPN
Griz fans around the nation will now have a new and convenient way to watch Montana's Big Sky Conference football, men's and women's basketball games and more starting in 2021.
ESPN, the "worldwide leader in sports," and the Big Sky announced a new multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement Wednesday that will bring UM's conference events to the industry-leading ESPN+ streaming service and the ESPN family of networks.
The new agreement replaces the league's previous deal with PlutoTV and moves Big Sky contests to ESPN+, which currently boasts more than 13.8 million subscribers. The deal also expands the conference's exposure on ESPNU and other ESPN linear networks.
Under the new agreement, more than 600 Big Sky events in both men's and women's sports will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN App, which is available on nearly all streaming devices and platforms.
ESPNU will televise two football games each year, in addition to one regular-season men's basketball game. The championship games for the Big Sky men's and women's basketball tournaments will also be shown on ESPN networks, marking the first time the Big Sky women's basketball championship game will be broadcast on ESPN linear TV.
"This landmark agreement for the Big Sky and our membership rightfully aligns the nation's preeminent FCS conference with the strongest media brand in sports," Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said in a release. "We are absolutely thrilled to join the ESPN family and deliver an elevated viewing experience with hundreds of Big Sky contests on ESPN+ each year. In addition, the numerous linear opportunities on ESPN networks now available to us is unprecedented among our peers, and yet another way that we will enhance the brand of the Big Sky."
Big Sky media rights partner ROOT Sports will also continue to broadcast conference football games, putting the league's contests inside millions of homes nationwide.
The first Big Sky event on ESPN networks as part of the new deal is the conference's annual Football Kickoff, which will stream live on ESPN+ on Monday, July 26.
Specific UM football and basketball start times and broadcast details will be announced in the near future.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 13.8 million subscribers.
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).
Griz fans around the nation will now have a new and convenient way to watch Montana's Big Sky Conference football, men's and women's basketball games and more starting in 2021.
ESPN, the "worldwide leader in sports," and the Big Sky announced a new multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement Wednesday that will bring UM's conference events to the industry-leading ESPN+ streaming service and the ESPN family of networks.
The new agreement replaces the league's previous deal with PlutoTV and moves Big Sky contests to ESPN+, which currently boasts more than 13.8 million subscribers. The deal also expands the conference's exposure on ESPNU and other ESPN linear networks.
Under the new agreement, more than 600 Big Sky events in both men's and women's sports will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN App, which is available on nearly all streaming devices and platforms.
ESPNU will televise two football games each year, in addition to one regular-season men's basketball game. The championship games for the Big Sky men's and women's basketball tournaments will also be shown on ESPN networks, marking the first time the Big Sky women's basketball championship game will be broadcast on ESPN linear TV.
"This landmark agreement for the Big Sky and our membership rightfully aligns the nation's preeminent FCS conference with the strongest media brand in sports," Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said in a release. "We are absolutely thrilled to join the ESPN family and deliver an elevated viewing experience with hundreds of Big Sky contests on ESPN+ each year. In addition, the numerous linear opportunities on ESPN networks now available to us is unprecedented among our peers, and yet another way that we will enhance the brand of the Big Sky."
Big Sky media rights partner ROOT Sports will also continue to broadcast conference football games, putting the league's contests inside millions of homes nationwide.
The first Big Sky event on ESPN networks as part of the new deal is the conference's annual Football Kickoff, which will stream live on ESPN+ on Monday, July 26.
Specific UM football and basketball start times and broadcast details will be announced in the near future.
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 13.8 million subscribers.
Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $5.99 a month (or $59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $13.99/month (Hulu w/ads) or $19.99/month (Hulu w/o ads).