Will ESPN Offer a College Football RedZone Channel?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, now that ESPN has the RedZone for the NFL, will it do a college RedZone this year, too? – Robbie, Omaha.

Robbie, you’re right that ESPN has obtained the linear (cable, satellite) distribution rights to the NFL RedZone channel in a deal that also includes the NFL Network. But as I point out in this article, it may be more than a year before the agreement is approved by federal regulators. Consequently, it’s unlikely you will see ESPN offer the RedZone or NFL Network as part of its new ESPN Unlimited app this year.

However, if the deal is ultimately approved, it will also give ESPN the branding rights to the RedZone name. That means it could offer a RedZone channel for college football or several other sports.

But will it do so for college football, you ask?

Front Office Sports reports that Fox is unlikely to license the rights to its Big 12 and Big Ten games for any college football edition of the RedZone. No surprise. Fox knows that the NFL RedZone reduces its ratings for NFL games on Fox affiliates so why do the same for college football?

This, of course, could change if ESPN offered Fox enough money/financial stake in the venture to change minds. But as of now, it’s apparently a no go. And I can’t imagine any college RedZone being successful without Fox’s participation.

Robbie, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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