Fox Boosts Big Ten Volleyball Coverage with Primetime Finals

Fox Corporation is significantly expanding its broadcast commitment to collegiate women’s volleyball. The media company announced that the inaugural Big Ten Women’s Volleyball Tournament championship game will air in primetime on the Fox broadcast network. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25 at 8 p.m. ET, marking a high-profile slot for the conference’s new tournament format.

The tournament runs from November 20 through November 25, with 10 of the 14 matches receiving national television exposure. While the championship will be exclusive to the main Fox network, the earlier rounds will be carried on FS1. Fox’s decision to place the final on its flagship channel highlights the sport’s rising media value, though the broadcast will face stiff competition for viewership. The November 25 date coincides with the debut of Netflix’s Wednesday NFL package and the peak of college basketball’s Feast Week.

Beyond the tournament, Fox is increasing its regular-season inventory. The network will televise three specific Big Ten matches during the season, including a highly anticipated matchup between Wisconsin and Nebraska on October 10. The start time for that contest is contingent on Fox’s college football schedule that day. The network will also showcase games from Wrigley Field as part of the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week in September.

FS1 is also ramping up its involvement, planning to air 16 regular-season Big Ten matches this season compared to just nine last year. While Fox is increasing its footprint, the media rights landscape for the conference is shifting elsewhere. Comcast Corporation, through its NBC and Peacock platforms, does not currently have any Big Ten volleyball matches scheduled for 2026. NBC’s existing agreement with the Big Ten mandates coverage for football and basketball but offers flexibility regarding Olympic sports.

Fox’s expanded strategy aligns with a broader industry trend. Broadcasters have recently increased investment in women’s volleyball, evidenced by recent rights deals announced by USA Network and The CW for professional leagues.

What to watch

• The viewership numbers for the Nebraska-Wisconsin match on Fox in October.
• Future programming decisions by NBC regarding Olympic sports under its Big Ten contract.
• Fox’s quarterly earnings reports for any commentary on sports segment performance.

Source: original release