ESPN Picks Up Gator Bowl Rights

Extends deals for Outback Bowl, Capitol One Bowl

By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/4/2010 5:35:07 PM

ESPN has picked up the TV rights to the Gator Bowl, and has also extended its deals with the Outback Bowl and the Capitol One Bowl.

Under the new deals, ABC and the ESPN networks will televise the Gator Bowl and Outback Bowl through 2014, and the Capitol One Bowl through 2018.

ABC has televised the Capitol One Bowl since 1987, with 2011 marking its cable debut. The Outback Bowl has been televised on ESPN every year since 1993. ESPN televised the Gator Bowl from 1988-91, with the rights subsequently going to Turner Sports, NBC Sports and most recently CBS Sports.

ESPN will air the games as part of a "roadblock" of games across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 to drive viewers to its Rose Bowl coverage.

"We are thrilled to add the Gator Bowl to our extensive postseason coverage and to extend our longstanding relationships with the Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowl," said Dave Brown, VP, ESPN programming & acquisitions. "These premier matchups between teams from two elite conferences in a three-wide ‘roadblock' across the ESPN platforms will drive viewers to our inaugural Rose Bowl Game telecast."