BTN profits increase Big Ten revenue

The Big Ten Network continues to pay off financially for Purdue and other conference schools.

As part of the more than $32 million Purdue received from the Big Ten during the 2014-15 fiscal year, $1 million was generated from BTN profit shares, according to a document obtained by the Journal and Courier through a records request.

The Big Ten Network, which the league owns along with Fox, began showing a profit in 2011-12. However, those shares were initially held back by the conference to help with the transition of Maryland and Rutgers.

Big Ten deputy commissioner and treasure Brad Traviolia said this is the first year the conference distributed BTN profit shares to schools. Traviolia, though, declined to say which schools received them and how much was distributed.

The conference's five-year budget plan, obtained in 2014, showed the league projected to distribute $11 million - $1 million each to 11 schools - in BTN profit shares beginning in 2014-15. The profit shares are subject to approval by the Big Ten's Chancellors and Presidents.

The league's newest members – Maryland, Nebraska and Rutgers – are operating under a six-year financial integration plan and not expected to receive BTN profit shares. Nebraska is scheduled to receive its first full financial share in 2017-18 – the first year of the league's new television contract - while Maryland and Rutgers will receive full shares starting in 2020-21.

However, Maryland negotiated a front-loaded deal with the Big Ten, according to multiple reports, to slice into the athletic department's deficit.

During 2012-13, Nebraska received $16.4 million from the league, according to the Big Ten's IRS Form 990.

The $32 million Purdue received from the Big Ten is about $5 million more compared to 2013-14. Revenue from the league's bowl games and the first year of the College Football Playoff provided the biggest increase, generating about $2 million more than the year before.

Purdue's financial numbers for 2014-15 aren't complete as the athletic department is awaiting a final payment from the NCAA.

Television is the biggest part of the league's distributions to member schools, but other revenue that is shared equally comes from the NCAA, bowl games, the conference's football championship and men's basketball tournament and this year BTN profit shares.

This year's conference distributions are projected to increase to $34.7 million, according to the budget Michigan's athletic department presented to the school's Board of Regents last month.