The NCAA announced Thursday that ESPN will continue to hold media rights of 40 NCAA Championships for the next eight years. The sports that the world leader in the Sports Industry will include women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball. As well as many others.

The new agreement contains the rights to 21 women’s championships and 19 men’s. The partnership between ESPN and the NCAA has been consistent since 1979. Since 2003, ESPN has carried and televised every game of the women’s basketball tournament. Over the past several seasons the ratings have improved. In 2023, the championship game reached over four million viewers for the first time since 2014.

“ESPN and the NCAA have enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship for more than four decades, and we are thrilled that it will continue as part of this new, long-term agreement,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

“The ESPN networks and platforms will exclusively present a record number of championships, including all rounds of several marquee events that, together with the NCAA, we have grown over time. This unprecedented deal also further strengthens The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports and will help fuel our continued growth, including in the critical streaming space.”

The new partnership adds coverage of Division I men’s and women’s tennis team championships and the national collegiate men’s gymnastics championship. It also gives ESPN the media rights to the men’s National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), as well as international rights for the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

ESPN also plans to add coverage of NCAA Division II and Division III championships in men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

“The NCAA has worked in earnest over the past year to ensure that this new broadcast agreement provides the best possible outcome for all NCAA championships, and in particular women’s championships,” said Charlie Baker, NCAA president. “Over the past several years, ESPN has demonstrated increased investment in NCAA championship coverage, and the Association is pleased to continue to provide a platform for student-athletes to shine. Having one, multi-platform home to showcase our championships provides additional growth potential along with a greater experience for the viewer and our student-athletes.”

Men’s championships included in the agreement include soccer, football (non-FBS), cross country, water polo, indoor and outdoor track and field, swimming and diving, wrestling, ice hockey, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, gymnastics, fencing, baseball and Division II and III basketball (other than the Division II title game).

Women’s championships included are soccer, field hockey, all divisions of volleyball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, swimming and diving, all divisions of basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, gymnastics, beach volleyball, tennis, fencing, softball, water polo and bowling.

The new deal will start in Sept. 2024.

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