Helena Frye
ESPN3 is a live multi-screen network available online, on the go, and via Xbox Live. ESPN3 is one of the many ESPN networks that have been airing college basketball games since 1980. ESPN3 carries America East basketball games as part of the ABC/ESPN networks, which also include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNNEWS. The ABC/ESPN networks have a long history of broadcasting college basketball, with ESPN's coverage of the sport dating back to the early days of the network. ESPN3 provides fans with access to a variety of sports content across multiple devices, including men's and women's college basketball games from various conferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| ESPN's agreement with Big East Conference | ESPN had the rights to the Big East from 1980 to 2013. In 2025, they signed a 6-year media rights deal with the Big East Conference. |
| ESPN's coverage of basketball | ESPN has been airing regular-season games since 1980, ESPN2 since 1993, and ESPNU since 2005. ESPN Plus previously syndicated basketball games from various conferences until 2014. |
| ESPN's platforms | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D, Longhorn Network, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, espnW, WatchESPN, ESPN Mobile |
| ESPN's rights to basketball games | ESPN has the rights to men's basketball games, women's basketball regular-season and postseason games, and other conference-sponsored sports |
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What You'll Learn
ESPN's rights to America East basketball
ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference have enjoyed a long-standing relationship that spans over three decades. The BIG EAST first signed a national television deal with ESPN in 1980, marking the beginning of a partnership that endured until 2013. In March 2013, ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference agreed to a multiyear rights agreement. Commencing in 2014-15, ESPN was granted rights to all conference contests, including football, basketball, and other sports through 2019-20. This encompassed at least 170 men's basketball games annually, along with select women's basketball regular-season and postseason contests.
In July 2025, ESPN and the BIG EAST Conference announced a new six-year digital media rights agreement, rekindling their partnership. This deal adds a significant number of live BIG EAST events to ESPN's college sports portfolio. Specifically, it guarantees a minimum of 25 non-conference games annually for BIG EAST men's basketball and a minimum of 75 women's basketball games streamed on ESPN+ each year, starting with the 2025-26 academic season.
This recent agreement underscores ESPN's commitment to delivering superior sports content across multiple platforms, including television, digital, and mobile. It also reinforces BIG EAST's prominence in college sports, with its member institutions located in eight of the country's top 36 largest media markets. The conference includes renowned universities such as Butler University, University of Connecticut, Georgetown University, and Villanova University, among others.
ESPN, as the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company, boasts an extensive portfolio of multimedia sports assets. It encompasses multiple television networks, HD simulcast services, regional television, international networks, radio, digital platforms, and more. The company's multi-screen offerings include WatchESPN, providing access to various ESPN networks online and via mobile apps, enhancing the accessibility and reach of BIG EAST basketball to fans everywhere.
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ESPN3's coverage of men's college basketball
ESPN3 is a live multi-screen network available online, on the go, and via Xbox Live. It is one of the many multimedia sports assets of ESPN, Inc., which is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company. ESPN3 covers a wide range of sports, including men's college basketball.
ESPN3 provides coverage of NCAA Men's Basketball, although it is unclear if this includes America East Basketball specifically. ESPN3 has the rights to broadcast at least 170 men's basketball games annually, which are also available across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS. This is part of a multiyear rights agreement between ESPN and the Big East Conference, which includes basketball, football, and other sports.
The agreement grants ESPN the rights to all conference contests, including at least 66 football games and 170 men's basketball games annually. These games are made available across ESPN's various platforms, including ESPN3. The agreement also includes select women's basketball regular-season and postseason contests, as well as other conference-sponsored sports.
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ESPN's Big East media rights
ESPN and the Big East Conference have enjoyed a long-standing relationship, with the Big East signing its first national television deal with ESPN in 1980. Over the years, this partnership has been maintained and strengthened through various multi-year rights agreements.
In 2013, ESPN and the Big East Conference agreed to a multi-year rights agreement that included football, basketball, and other sports. This agreement, which commenced in the 2014-15 season, granted ESPN the rights to all conference contests, including a minimum of 66 football games and 170 men's basketball games annually. The deal also included select women's basketball regular-season and postseason games, as well as other conference-sponsored sports.
ESPN's coverage of Big East basketball is comprehensive. Women's basketball regular-season games are featured on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and/or ESPN3, with the championship game and semifinals also televised on these networks. For men's basketball, the 2025 multi-year agreement ensures a minimum of 25 non-conference games annually.
In addition to basketball, ESPN's rights agreements with the Big East have encompassed other sports. This includes baseball and softball, as well as Olympic sports such as field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and women's cross country. The Big East Conference is an association of prominent colleges and universities that foster athletic excellence and community service.
ESPN, as a leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company, has a broad portfolio that includes multiple television networks, HD simulcast services, regional television, international networks, radio, digital platforms, and more. Their multi-year agreements with the Big East Conference showcase ESPN's commitment to delivering superior sports content across various platforms and devices.
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ESPN3's multi-screen availability
ESPN3 is a live multi-screen network available online, on the go, and via Xbox LIVE. ESPN3, along with ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes, ESPN 3D, Longhorn Network, and WatchESPN, are all part of ESPN's multi-screen offerings.
ESPN3 previously allowed users to select multi-screen and have up to four different events going on at the same time. However, with the introduction of WatchESPN, this feature seems to have been discontinued. It is unclear if this feature is still available through other means on WatchESPN.
The WatchESPN app allows users to access various ESPN networks online and via the app. ESPN has also launched an Apple TV app, allowing viewers with the latest generation of Apple TV to watch four different streams simultaneously. This multi-screen experience includes a double box, picture-in-picture, three or four screens with the left being the main stream and the right side with smaller boxes, and a four-way grid.
ESPN+ also offers several playback features, including the ability to pause and resume content across devices, stream content from a mobile device to a Smart TV or TV-connected device, and use picture-in-picture multitasking on mobile devices or Apple TV.
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ESPN's Longhorn Network
The Longhorn Network was unique in that it had both a television and internet presence. However, its availability was restricted to subscribers whose cable and internet service providers carried the network, primarily within the states contained within the Big 12 Conference. Despite its popularity among Texas sports fans, the network closed on June 30, 2024, due to the Longhorns' move from the Big 12 Conference to the SEC. The rights to SEC content are fully owned by ESPN, and the network transitioned to the ESPN-run SEC Network, which provides national coverage.
ESPN, as a multinational sports entertainment company, has a vast portfolio of multimedia sports assets. In addition to the Longhorn Network, they operate well-known networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, and ESPN Deportes. They also offer multi-screen offerings like WatchESPN, which provides access to multiple ESPN networks online and via an app, and ESPN3, a live multi-screen network. ESPN has entered into agreements with conferences like the Big East to secure the rights to broadcast a wide range of sports, including basketball, across their various platforms.
ESPN3, as part of the ESPN family of networks, contributes to the coverage of basketball games, specifically those within the America East Conference. ESPN's multiyear rights agreement with the conference ensures that fans can enjoy basketball games across different ESPN outlets, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN3. This comprehensive agreement showcases ESPN's commitment to delivering superior sports content to viewers through multiple devices and platforms.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, ESPN has the rights to America East basketball.
America East basketball will be available on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, and ESPN3.
ESPN also has the rights to Big East Conference basketball games.
Yes, America East basketball may also be available on regional syndicators and over-the-air television.
ESPN covers a wide range of sports, including football, baseball, softball, and women's basketball.
