The NCAA signed a significant eight-year media rights deal with ESPN on Thursday to broadcast 40 of its men’s and women’s championship events, but those won’t include college golf.
ESPN will cover 40 NCAA championships domestically – 21 women’s and 19 men’s events (not including men’s basketball) – along with the international rights to the Division I men’s basketball tournament, as well as those same NCAA championships.
NCAA President Charlie Baker told Sports Business Journal the deal is worth an average of $115 million annually. However, college golf won’t be included in the deal, an NCAA spokesperson confirmed to Golfweek.
The Division I men’s and women’s golf championships have a separate agreement with Golf Channel to broadcast the event, which this year moves to Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, about 30 miles north of San Diego.
There shouldn’t be many changes to the broadcast, however, producer Brandt Packer won’t return. He was in charge of the NCAA Championship broadcasts in addition to numerous other golf productions for Golf Channel over the past two decades.
After 17 years at GC/NBC, today is my last show. Proud to have produced DCP, Augusta National Women’s Am, 2x Olympics Golf, College Golf/NCAA Champs, PGA Tour, The Open, US Open, US Am, US W Am, Curtis & Walker Cup, US Sr Open, etc.
LOVED the relationships along the waypic.twitter.com/wQCyJB7upd
— Brandt Packer (@BPACKERVOLS) November 15, 2023
The Division I Women’s NCAA Championship is set to begin May 17 with the men starting a week later.