ESPN has seemingly continued to suffer from financial losses as the network parted ways with a big live television contract.
ESPN’s decision comes after the network handed Stephen A. Smith a five-year contract reportedly worth more than $100 million in March.
GettyESPN has reportedly said goodbye to live TV rights to a college football game[/caption] First TakeESPN’s decision comes after the network handed a reported $100 million deal to First Take star Stephen A. Smith[/caption]Last week, it was reported by Yahoo that ESPN has agreed to give up its broadcasting rights for one College Football Playoff semifinal game to TNT.
The report added that the deal runs from 2026-28.
ESPN owns the rights for the CFP through the 2031 campaign, but has sublicensed a few games to TNT Sports.
In last season’s playoffs, TNT broadcast two first-round games.
The network will show two more in the upcoming season and was already set to show two quarterfinal games each year from 2026-28.
TNT will broadcast a semifinal game for those years now.
ESPN’s latest decision comes as the network has had financial worries.
It was revealed in March that the network asked for a discount from MLB for its existing TV package of games.
ESPN has laid off its big-name employees over the last few years.
The cutbacks have come after handing contracts to First Take star Stephen A. and a new billion-dollar deal to broadcast NBA games.
ESPN has had the rights to the CFP since its inception more than a decade ago.
In 2024, the network penned a $7.8 billion deal to receive the rights to the new expanded Playoffs.
Last year’s expanded CFP, however, saw decreases in viewership.
The 2025 semifinals had an average of 19.2 million viewers, down 17 percent from the previous year.
And the title game, which featured the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, drew 22 million viewers, down 12 percent from the previous campaign.
GettyThe first year of the expanded College Football Playoff didn’t receive improved TV ratings[/caption]TNT Sports’ new college football semifinal game comes after losing the NBA to numerous networks, including ESPN.
The network also lost the iconic basketball TV program Inside the NBA to ESPN.
TNT has its eyes set on the upcoming college football season.
The network will air either the Rose or Sugar Bowl in 2026.
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