Big 12 sends cease and desist to ESPN
Today, Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported that the Big 12 conference has sent a cease and desist to ESPN.
Breaking: The Big 12 has sent a "cease and desist" letter to ESPN. The letter demands ESPN end "all actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference's existing members…. 1/2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
On the surface this looks like it might have something to do with TV and media rights. Big 12 is FOX and the SEC, who took Oklahoma and Texas, is ESPN. So like maybe that would make sense? Maybe the SEC and ESPN told Oklahoma and Texas about all the media and TV rights they would have and how much extra dollars they would make off of joining the SEC. According to the Big 12 this is exactly what they are claiming.
Here’s the heart of why the Big 12 is so angry at ESPN and took this unprecedented step, per sources. The Big 12 claims to have hard evidence of ESPN and at least one other league essentially plotting to undermine the Big 12.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
Does It Make Sense?
Ok, so this makes sense. So the Big 12 is losing TV money because now they will be with the SEC and ESPN. ESPN, of course, denied this and called bullshit. BUT, the Big 12 does have a point. They are angry because ESPN is essentially writing off the conference and predicting where the other teams would go. To be honest, I would probably have sent a cease and desist to ESPN too.
Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Commissioner, told Yahoo Sports this:
to destabilize the Big 12 and approach our members about moving away and providing inducements for the conference to do that. That’s tortious interference with our business. It’s not right." 2/3
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
This is 100% true. ESPN has been playing games and predicting where the rest of Big 12 will go and they have every right to do so. BUT, all the other Power 5 conferences have media rights with ESPN. I think that is where Bowlsby is mad and where he believes his cease and desist was necessary.
Whatever happens with the Big 12 and ESPN should be interested. I think the Big 12 has a point and is just trying to protect themselves from folding, and you can’t blame them.
-John (Uncle_mac4)
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