Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) and the USA TODAY Network today announced a multi-year agreement to become the official content partner of the Big Ten Conference, the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States.
As part of the agreement, syndicated content from across USA TODAY Network’s local network of more than 200 publications will be featured on BigTen.org. This includes content from The Columbus Dispatch, The Des Moines Register, Detroit Free Press and The Indianapolis Star among several others.
USA TODAY will also continue to produce souvenir covers to commemorate the winners of the Big Ten Championship Games in football and men’s and women’s basketball. These covers are presented to athletes on the field or court after the final whistle. This tradition began last year with the Big Ten Football Championship Game and continued this year with the “A-MAIZE-ING” headline celebrating Michigan’s win in the conference title game.
“We are proud to be a content partner of the Big Ten conference,” said Nate Scott, Vice President and Publisher, USA TODAY Sports Media Group. “The USA TODAY Network’s local footprint is uniquely positioned across key college markets and dedicated to amplifying the importance of recognizing these sports.”
The USA TODAY Network will also produce and publish the Big Ten Conference’s official championship game day programs for football, as well as men’s and women’s basketball.
“The USA Today Network’s talented writers cover so many Big Ten stories, programs, and student-athletes,” said Tyler Kupper, Big Ten Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. “Gannett will make for a great partner to the Big Ten Conference, Big Ten Network and coverage of our championship events.”
