ESPN sues Conference USA over Fox contract

NEW YORK (AP) – ESPN has sued Conference USA, accusing the league of violating their contract when it signed a new deal with Fox. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in New York seeks either damages of at least $21 million or for the conference to honor the extension the network claims it agreed to. Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky says “we disagree with the positions they have taken” and the league is “prepared to vigorously defend” itself. The two sides signed a five-year deal in 2005 worth $21.9 million. It included a provision giving ESPN exclusive rights to try to re-negotiate the package in 2010. The suit claims Conference USA violated that when it announced in January it had reached a five-year contract with Fox’s networks to broadcast its football championship game and other sports events.