Astronomical 12 Accuses ESPN of Tampering to Get Member Schools to Dash away Conference
In a cessation and desist letter, commissioner Bob Bowslby says ESPN has ”actively engaged“ in ”inducing further members of the Astronomical 12 convention to proceed“
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The Astronomical 12 convention has gone scorched earth against idea to be one of its media partners, accusing ESPN of tampering to salvage member faculties devour Texas and Oklahoma to proceed the convention.
In a cessation and desist letter sent on Wednesday, Astronomical 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby accused ESPN of not most effective facilitating the two faculties’ wish to proceed, however that it’s been “actively engaged” in “inducing further members of the Astronomical 12 convention to proceed.”
“It has attain to my dispute consideration that ESPN, doubtlessly the latest trade accomplice of the Astronomical 12 Conference, has taken particular actions that are supposed to not most effective effort the Astronomical 12 Conference, however to result in monetary benefits for ESPN,” the letter states.
Earlier this week, two of the convention’s finest faculties, Texas and Oklahoma, signaled their intentions to proceed the Astronomical 12 for the SEC, which may perchance form a school sports activities mega-powerhouse convention.
You are going to read the letter below, courtesy of Sports activities Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. A gain for the Astronomical 12 didn’t straight acknowledge to TheWrap’s search data from for comment. In an announcement emailed to TheWrap, ESPN denied the accusations: “The claims within the letter maintain no merit.”
.@SINow has acquired the cessation and desist letter that the Astronomical 12 sent to ESPN.
In it, commissioner Bob Bowlsby says that ESPN has reached out to not not as a lot as idea to be one of the most eight ideal Astronomical 12 members in an strive to persuade the college to proceed in wake of the Texas and OU exit. pic.twitter.com/j50gEBPWBY
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 28, 2021
Rumblings had been swirling this week referring to ESPN’s involvement in Oklahoma and Texas’ idea to proceed the convention for the SEC within the following couple of years (the two faculties made the major formal step earlier this week as soon as they instructed the convention they’re going to not be renewing their grants of media rights as soon as they expire in 2025).
An particular person with data of the scenario develop to be adamant that ESPN had nothing to assassinate with Texas and Oklahoma reaching out to the SEC.
ESPN has a substantial monetary stake within the SEC. No longer most effective are the SEC football rights transferring from CBS to ESPN starting up with the 2024 season, however ESPN owns the SEC Network (which is itself a joint project between Disney and Hearts Corporation). ESPN already held rights to other SEC sports activities including basketball. Additionally, ESPN has an possession stake in and operates the College of Texas’ Longhorn Network.
As for the Astronomical 12, the convention’s rights provides with ESPN and Fox expire in 2025.