Joe Buck’s move from FOX to ESPN came after days of speculation. FOX had to let Buck out of his contract a year early, but it turns out they did get something from ESPN in return for the broadcaster.
FOX and ESPN share the rights to Big Ten football games, and FOX will receive the right to select an extra Big Ten game early next season, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. While minor, it does represent a tangible return for letting Buck go to ESPN.
Notably, this is just about the exact scenario one expert described as a possibility earlier in the week. There is some similarity to how Al Michaels was allowed to join NBC in exchange for the rights to a cartoon character in 2005.
For FOX, it simply made sense to let Buck go. He was able to reunite with Troy Aikman and get a hefty payday out of it. The fact that FOX was able to land something in return, however minor, is a win for them as well.
Photo: Jan 14, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; FOX analyst Joe Buck before the NFC Divisional Playoff football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
