Subscribe to NewscastStudio for the latest news, project examples and product announcements. Broadcasting Technology, Creative Design and engineering Delivered to your inbox.
ESPN and TNT Sports have signed a five-year deal that will see TNT Sports sublicense select College Football Playoff (CFP) games from ESPN, starting with the upcoming college football season.
Under the agreement, TNT Sports will broadcast two CFP first-round games during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Additionally, TNT Sports will add two quarterfinal games each year from the 2026 through 2028 seasons.
TNT will be the primary network airing these sublicensed CFP games, which will also be available on additional TNT Sports distribution platforms.
ESPN will continue to broadcast all other College Football Playoff games on its networks, including the annual CFP National Championship Game, and ESPN will also retain responsibility for managing the CFP's sponsorship program.
“We are excited to enter into an agreement with ESPN that will provide TNT Sports with the opportunity to showcase these College Football Playoff games on our platforms for years to come,” said Lewis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO of TNT Sports. “TNT Sports aims to delight fans and maximize reach and engagement around these marquee games.”
“ESPN is pleased to sublicense some of the College Football Playoff's early games to TNT Sports, an event that we've helped grow into one of the preeminent championships, alongside the CFP,” said Rosalyn Durant, ESPN's executive vice president of programming and acquisitions. “We're confident in the reach and promotion this new agreement will bring as we enter a new, expanded playoff era.”
“We're excited to add TNT Sports, another highly-regarded broadcaster, to the College Football Playoff family,” said College Football Playoff President Bill Hancock. “Sports fans across the country are familiar with their work on a variety of sports properties over the past two decades, and we look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas they bring to the promotion and distribution of these games.”
This year, the College Football Playoff will expand from four teams to 12 teams.
advertisement
The top four conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and will receive byes into the first round. The first round will consist of four games played at home campus venues, with teams ranked 5th-8th hosting teams ranked 9th-12th at home.
Additional details regarding College Football Playoff programming plans will be announced at a later date.