Big Ten Challenges Amazon Rights to Duke–Michigan at Madison Square Garden

Overview

• Duke and Amazon unveiled an exclusive Prime Video package for three nonconference men’s basketball games against UConn, Michigan, and Gonzaga.
• Fox Sports and the Big Ten argue the New York City matchup fits an alternation rule that assigns neutral-site games in shared markets to rotate between rights holders.
• Duke said ESPN approved the arrangement after the school agreed to play in additional ESPN-owned neutral-site events during the 2027–28 and 2028–29 seasons.
• An intellectual property lawyer noted live games are not copyrighted and said any Big Ten claim would be a contract dispute with the ACC and ESPN rather than a case against Duke or Amazon.
• No lawsuit has surfaced, the Las Vegas and Detroit games remain unaffected, and reported options include a payment to the Big Ten or letting Fox run the game’s TV production.