MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU President Gordon Gee wants the Big 12 Conference to be first in line when it comes to broadcasting conference sporting events over other platforms.
“I would start looking toward Google, Amazon or other carriers in a different way because I think, as you can see, the paid television numbers are not going the right way,” Gee said during an appearance Monday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Gee was elected recently as the chairman of the Big 12 Board of Directors. It was announced late last week that WVU will receive a conference payout, including broadcast revenue, of approximately $35 million. A nice amount Gee admitted, but he said the conference needs to be ready for expected changes.
“I would like to be the first in line to figure that out,” Gee said. “I think the conference that jumps onto that issue is going to be, in the end, very well-served and probably in the end be ahead of the curve.”
Gee said a 10-member Big 12 Conference would be in better shape to handle those changes than one where new members are added.
“I think that if you start talking about expansion right now you dilute those opportunities while these platforms are changing,” Gee said. “We are very committed to our 10 and we are going to stay there for a while.”
The Big 12’s television rights contract runs through 2025. A lot could happen between and then, Gee said.
“It could be a whole new world and I want to be first in line rather than a follower on this issue,” Gee said.