Big 12, ESPN reach deal to expand coverage

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From staff reports

The Big 12 has reached an eight-year television deal with ESPN which will move coverage of the Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments to the network.

The deal will begin in the 2008-09 season and run through 2015-16.

The deal also keeps the Big 12 Football Championship on ABC.

"The Big 12 will receive more exposure than it's ever had,” said ESPN executive vice president John Wildhack.

The biggest impact will be on men's basketball. During the regular season, ESPN will have first pick of 95 games. There will be Wednesday night game of the week n ESPN2. There will also be 20 exclusive Big 12 games on ESPNU and a weekly show highlighting the conference. ESPN's networks will show every game of the conference tournament with the title game on ESPN.

ESPN is also picking up other Big 12 sports, with at least six other events — ranging from women's basketball to baseball and softball — on either ESPN or ESPN2 and 25 additional events on ESPNU.

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Good news there as there will be lots more games on in HD

Hopefully by the time the contract runs out in 2015 the Sooners basketball team will be good again

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Dwight Schrute: Reject a woman and she will never let it go. One of the many defects of their kind. Also, weak arms.

^ Great observation! Anything that's upgrades to HD is a major plus!

It will surely be more exposure for OKC when we get the official tournament rotation.