College Hoops Tip-Off 2023: NBC Sports Debuts New Big Ten Package Exclusively on Peacock in 4K HDR

In a new era in Big Ten basketball, Peacock tips off a new exclusive streaming package – which includes 30+ men’s games, 20+ women’s games, and early round games in both Big Ten Tournaments – as part of NBC Sports’ new seven-year media rights deal with the conference. In addition to big-time matchups, fans can expect big time quality with all games being streamed on Peacock in 4K HDR.

“We are incredibly excited to take a big step into the college basketball space with such a storied conference, says Mark Bellotti, coordinating producer, NBC Sports. “The programming team did a great job working with the Big Ten to develop a schedule that features the best teams and matchups on a consistent basis.”

NBC Sports began their exclusive coverage of college basketball on Peacock with Princeton-Rutgers on Monday, Nov. 6.

Stamford Plays Key Role in REMI, Studio Productions

According to Bellotti, 90% of the Peacock games will be REMI productions based out of NBC Sports’ facility in Stamford, CT. The decision to produce the remaining 10% from site was determined by availability of facilities, and/or quality of connectivity from the venue to support the REMI.  Gravity Media will serve as the primary truck vendor for the Peacock Big Ten productions, which will feature six to eight cameras on average with the ability to add SSMO, POVs, and robos for select games.

A new graphics package was also created for basketball that serves as a continuation of the newly designed package built for Big Ten football this fall.

“We wanted consistency and instant recognition,” says Bellotti, “that this is an NBC presentation of the Big Ten.”

NBC’s studio coverage will be anchored from the brand-new Studio 3 in Stamford, which was redesigned over the summer. The 5,400-sq. ft., state-of-the-art space features defined zones and regions that can be used for different purposes.

“Every night will feature pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage from our studios in Stamford,” says Bellotti.

NBC Sports’ Big Ten Basketball game and studio production teams will be led by producers Bellotti and Matt Borzello, and directors Kelly Atkinson and Jared Sumner.

Peacock’s Schedule: Big Ten Slate Features Big Matchups

Every Big Ten school will make at least one appearance on Peacock with Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin making at least five appearances. The Peacock schedule also includes inter-conference matchups between expected AP preseason Top 25 teams.

Peacock’s exclusive Big Ten Men’s Basketball schedule tipped off on Monday with Rutgers-Princeton at the inaugural ‘Jersey Jam’ from CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ. and Big Ten conference play on Peacock begins Tuesday, Dec. 5 with a doubleheader featuring Michigan State-Wisconsin and Indiana-Michigan.

“We wanted to be sure that we had a mix of not only the great rivalries like Michigan-Michigan State and Indiana-Purdue, but that we saw every team in the Big Ten on our schedule throughout the season,” says Bellotti. “The Big Ten is one of the top conferences in college basketball. Purdue has arguably the best player in the country in Zach Edey, and is out for redemption this season after an early exit from the NCAA Tournament.  Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team is a legitimate national championship contender.

Peacock’s 20-game Big Ten Women’s Basketball slate features multiple conference matchups of expected AP preseason Top 25 teams and two early round Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament games. 2022-23 National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and the Big Ten champion Iowa Hawkeyes will make a school-high eight appearances on Peacock. The Peacock schedule tips off on Jan. 2, at 9 p.m. ET as Clark and Iowa host Michigan State from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. On Sunday, Jan. 21, Iowa visits Ohio State at noon ET in a game which will be presented live on both Peacock and NBC.

“On the women’s side, we’re thrilled to feature Iowa and Caitlin Clark eight times throughout the regular season plus many exciting conference matchups as the Big Ten sent a record-tying seven schools to the NCAA Women’s Tournament last season,” says Bellotti. “Iowa is coming off a Big Ten title and advanced all the way to a national title game last year.”

A Stacked On-Air Roster: Eagle, Collinsworth, and Gannon Lead the Way

In terms of on-air talent, play-by-play voices Noah Eagle, Jac Collinsworth, and Terry Gannon will call the majority of Big Ten men’s basketball games on Peacock this season. Paul Burmeister, Steve Burkowski, Rich Lerner, and Steve Schlanger will also handle play-by-play duties for select games. Analysts Robbie Hummel and Stephen Bardo will call the majority of Peacock’s Big Ten men’s games in 2023-24, while Tre Demps will serve as an analyst on select games.

On the women’s side, play-by-play will be handled by Zora Stephenson, Cindy Brunson, and Sloane Martin, while Meghan McKeown and Julianne Viani will serve as analysts.

Back in Stamford, Ahmed Fareed hosts studio coverage for Men’s Big Ten Basketball, alongside analysts Josh Pastner and Jordan Cornette. Carolyn Manno hosts studio coverage on Women’s Big Ten games with analysts Aliyah Boston and Meghan McKeown.

“We prioritized building an on-air team – both remote and studio – that can speak to college basketball enthusiasts and fans of these great Big Ten programs in an authoritative and entertaining manner,” says Bellotti.