Calculating BYU’s value to the TV contract
So we’re dealing with multiple independent reports of BYU bringing an extra AAV (Average Annual Value) somewhere in the $2-4M range. If we conservatively use $2.5M as the added AAV BYU contributes per team, we can subtract that amount from the $31.7M figure to get an $29.2M AAV that the Big12 would have received without adding BYU. Using these figures, we can use simple math to find BYU’s total value of $59.2M ($29.2M + $2.5Mx12 teams), or 16% of the Big12’s $380M/year total value—essentially a double share.

Some may question a staggering figure around $60M AAV for BYU. “Wasn’t ESPN only paying BYU around $10M/year up until now?” they (understandably) may say. A few points on this:

1. The details of BYU’s Independent contracts with ESPN have never been publicly disclosed, so we don’t know most of the details, including that AAV figure, for sure.
2. BYU has always valued exposure over revenue when it comes to media deals, and did attain unprecedented exposure in the ESPN contract.
3. BYU launched into independence in the setting of their rival Utah (and later TCU) getting the call up to the big leagues; launching into the uncharted waters of Independence put the Cougars in a difficult “position of weakness” from a negotiating standpoint.

BYU’s value to the Big12 is greater than it otherwise would have been in isolation due to opening up that late TV window for the whole conference.

1. Many of the home schedules, especially late in the year, were against smaller brand programs and provided less TV value. This problem is now resolved and increased value is achieved by joining the Big12.
2. The ESPN contract was only for the rights to 5 home football games per year with no road games nor basketball or other sporting events included
3. Some suspect that part of the contract provided for ESPN to help find and broker games for BYU, but at a cost of decreased payout.

But, by far, the biggest reason BYU was “under-paid” by ESPN, relates to the risks any media partner must accept when entering a deal with an Independent.

Full analysis at this link: https://espn960sports.com/byu/big-12-scored-media-value-from-new-schools-especially-byu/#google_vignette