ESPN Raids Fox Sports for Troy Aikman and Joe Buck

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorESPN spent last year building up Peyton and Eli Manning as the curators of a loose, bar-talk like show meant as an alternative to its traditional “Monday Night Football.” Now the Disney-backed sports giant is focusing on the main event.ESPN has signed the two main figures behind Fox Sports’ football presentations, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, in a bid to strengthen the main “MNF” booth.

The deal, which has been anticipated for several days, will put one of sports’ most-watched game-day figures at the helm of ESPN’s signature offering.“When you have the opportunity to bring in the iconic, longest-running NFL broadcasting duo, you take it, especially at a time when we are on the cusp of a new era in our expanding relationship with the NFL,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman, ESPN and sports content for Disney, in a statement.  “The NFL continues to ascend, and we now have more games than ever before, providing additional opportunities for Joe, Troy and our deep roster of commentators.” Signing the pair, who have worked together for two decades and called  called six Super Bowls — only the legendary team of Pat Summerall and John Madden has called more — illustrates the new pressures facing some of the most traditional broadcasters of sports.

Disney, NBCUniversal, Fox and Paramount Global have all agreed to substantial hikes in the licensing fees they will pay to the National Football League under a new 11-year pact that will keep the bulk of professional-football telecasts under the purview of the big traditional TV broadcasters.

As part of its own deal, Disney gets to telecast an additional Monday-night game on ABC and a new international game on ESPN Plus, ESPN’s streaming-video service.