ESPN and Mountain West Conference Announce Multiyear Rights Agreement

ESPN, Inc., has reached an agreement in principle with the Mountain West for rights to televise select conference football and basketball games from 2013-14 through the 2019-20 season. ESPN will acquire exclusive worldwide rights to televise up to 16 Mountain West football games plus every Boise State home game as well as up to 31 conference-controlled men's basketball games annually. ESPN will have the right to make every game available to video subscribers via WatchESPN.

As part of the deal, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will televise a minimum of three Boise State football home games nationally. The Broncos' remaining home contests will either be made available on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN3 or ABC. Up to 16 conference-controlled football games per season will be available on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ABC or ESPN3.

For men's basketball, up to 31 conference-controlled games will air on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS or ESPN3.

In 2012, ESPN televised four MW football games through a sublicense agreement. It marked the first time ESPN had televised Mountain West games from a member institution's home venue since 2005. ESPN had a regular schedule of conference member home games from the league's inception in 1999 to 2005 and televised BYU vs. TCU at Cowboys Stadium on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

"It's great to be back in business with the Mountain West. They are a deep, high quality and competitive conference," said Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president of college sports. "We look forward to once again showcasing the league's institutions, student-athletes and compelling storylines across multiple sports and ESPN platforms."

"The Mountain West and its member institutions are very pleased to be re-establishing a television partnership with ESPN," said Commissioner Craig Thompson. "We had a very successful relationship during the first years of the Conference and have stayed connected over the years through our bowl agreements and other interactions. This new agreement is mutually beneficial and offers great promise for the seasons ahead."

About The Mountain West Conference

From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. With the addition of San Jose State University and Utah State University on July 1, 2013, the MW will be comprised of 11 all-sport members and 12 football-playing institutions. Currently, the Mountain West membership includes: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Hawai`i (football only), University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, UNLV and University of Wyoming.

ESPN, Inc.

ESPN, Inc., is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight U.S. 24-hour television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D and Longhorn Network) and five HD simulcast services (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes). Other businesses include ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (35 networks, syndication, radio, digital), ESPN Radio (broadcast, satellite, digital, a growing category led by ScoreCenter), ESPN.com (plus a variety of sport-, college-, and market-specific sites), ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises and espnW. Multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN (access to several ESPN networks online and via an app), ESPN3 (live multi-screen network available online, on the go and via Xbox LIVE) and ESPN Mobile (mobile Web, mobile TV and video, apps, alerts and messaging). Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.