For most of the sports-viewing world, the big news in the deal announced today between ESPN (NYSE: DIS) and the Bowl Championship Series is the price tag—an estimated $500 million—and the apparently inexorable move of major sports from free over-the-air broadcast to subscription-supported cable. But, as we suggested here yesterday, it includes some digital news as well: the package of exclusive TV, radio, digital, international and marketing rights from 2011 through 2014 covers broadband and mobile simulcasts.

SEE ALSO: ESPN To Get Football BCS Starting In 2011; Deal Includes Digital, International

The digital media component includes:

—the right to simulcast the Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and National Championship Game on broadband service ESPN360.com and through ESPN Mobile TV. Translation: ESPN isn’t locked into providing the games that way but can.

—“significant content rights” for ESPN.com, which will take over operation of the official BCS site now managed by Fox Sports.

—ESPN VOD will distribute archived games through audio and video podcasts, in addition to affiliate VOD platforms. ESPN/ABC Sports sold condensed iTunes downloads of BCS games for $1.99 in 2006; the thrilling Texas-USC championship helped sell nearly 100,000 15-minute condensed videos in less than a week.

I have a query out on whether digital rights are included for international and will update when that answer comes in.

Update: An ESPN spokesman says the network has the same broad digital rights internationally as it does in the U.S.