The Sun Belt Conference has extended its agreement with ESPN through 2011-12, giving the conference the potential for up to 40 annual appearances on the ESPN family of networks.

Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters called the negotiation “one of the most significant events” in league history.

“There have been many great steps taken in the history of this league, including the Sun Belt becoming a member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Bowl Championship Series,” he said. “I firmly believe that this new deal and our partnership with ESPN is another important step for the success of the Sun Belt Conference.”

As part of the agreement, ESPN has committed to televising at least two football games per year on ESPN or ESPN2, with ESPN Regional Television retaining the rights to up to five games annually. The network will also have the opportunity to select other games to broadcast. The network will also televise the conference men’s basketball championship game and broadcast a minimum of four men’s basketball games annually, with the regional network retaining the rights to up to eight games annually.

A minimum of two women’s basketball games annually will also be broadcast on ESPN.

Frank Brogan, president of Florida Atlantic and a member of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, said the agreement will help the conference and its member schools at a time of economic need.

“In a time when many universities can’t afford to spend precious dollars in advertising to potential students and donors, televising games will allow for publicity at the national and international level,” he said.