If NBC got Big Ten product, they would almost certainly use USA Network as a channel to clear games. NBC owns USA Network (which hits 95 million homes). NBC already plans to put NASCAR and USFL games on USA Network. I could see them adding some premiere Big Ten games to USA Network should they get the contract.
The current ESPN/ABC packages gets - on average - maybe 2 football games per week and 4-6 MBB basketball games per week? I would guess among NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, they would be able to handle the inventory. Probably looking at one game football each week on regular NBC, and a secondary football game on USA Network. Then a handful of weeknight MBB games on USA Network or Peacock, with a game or two on NBC on the weekends.
If they got in a real pickle, I could see them putting weekend games on CNBC (which also hits about 95 million homes).
If I'm the Big Ten, I would hold off on allowing too many games on Peacock this time around. By next negotiating period, we may be watching all of our shows on apps anyway.
Last edited:
