ESPN Acquires Rights To Orange Bowl
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Orange Bowl has struck a deal with the Atlantic Coast Conference for exclusive rights to televise the Orange Bowl until 2026. The deal will kick in after the 2014 season when the college football playoff will begin.
The Discover Orange Bowl will be played on December 31 or January 1 each season and thanks to agreements signed after the playoff was announced; the game will feature the ACC champion against an opponent from the SEC, Big Ten, or Notre Dame.
Sun Life Stadium/Orange Bowl will also be in the rotation of sites where the four-team college football playoff will be held starting after the 2014 season.
The Orange Bowl's new deal will help bring better games to the annual game. In the past few years, the Orange Bowl had struggled in the ratings due to poor matchups including last year's game which featured the lowest-ranked teams in a BCS game.
Drawing from the SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame will give the Orange Bowl a marquee name to pit opposite the ACC Champion and help make the game a must-see event again.
ESPN has acquired the rights to air the Rose Bowl, Champions Bowl (Sugar Bowl), and the Orange Bowl. The network has put a bid on the table to air the entire playoff system which could generate record revenue for college sports.
