The University of Connecticut and IMG College have agreed to a 10-year athletics multimedia rights partnership that guarantees more than $80 million to the institution  over the period of the contract.

“We are pleased to partner with IMG College, as have a select number of the nation’s pre-eminent higher education institutions,” said Athletics Director Jeff Hathaway. “This exciting partnership will provide a stable revenue stream to assist in supporting our intercollegiate athletics program. The partnership represents an ‘insurance policy’ during challenging economic times and, as our marketing assets are further developed, provides us with an opportunity to grow sponsorship income through revenue sharing.”

IMG will manage all media rights except radio, currently held by WTIC under an agreement that expires in three years. At the end of that contract, IMG will take over those rights as well, and Connecticut officials hope to continue the relationship with WTIC under IMG management. The university will also continue to manage its women’s basketball broadcast contract with Connecticut Public Television and its apparel agreement with Nike.