Notre Dame’s Next Media Deal Expected to Fetch $60M Annually

Notre Dame should reportedly expect around $60 million annually for its next media rights contract — more than doubling its current deal that’s worth roughly $25 million per year.

Outlets reported in July that Notre Dame was seeking $75 million annually from NBC, which drew speculation due to the school’s lower-than-expected ratings. The non-conference school negotiates its football media rights deals independently.

• A report from November 2021 revealed viewership for Notre Dame’s football games was down 48% year-over-year, with an average of 2.5 million viewers. The team did, however, bring in a record streaming audience during the season.
• In 2020, Notre Dame produced the most viewers since 2005.
• But in 2019, viewership hit a record low for NBC with 2.1 million viewers.

Sports Business Journal reported the $60 million figure, but noted the landscape could change when NBC’s current deal is up in 2025.

Big Ten Broadcasts

Notre Dame had no matchups against Power 5 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 for the 2021 football season, but a new deal with NBC could mean the Fighting Irish would face Big Ten teams more often. 

NBC and CBS are reportedly “front-runners” for a broadcasting rights deal with the conference, with each expected to pay around $350 million per year.

ESPN, which has aired the Big Ten for 40 years, declined the conference’s final offer for a seven-year deal worth $380 million annually.