(12-27-2017 04:02 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  I don't think that this will have much of an effect at all. The SEC, ACC, B1G & PAC all have their own networks for these types of games. ESPN could pick up T3 rights from conferences that it currently doesn't have any rights to on the cheap. The more conference rights they have the more inventory they will have to supply the RSN's. They may even be able to better utilize more of their T2 G5 games.


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The Power leagues do have their own networks, but they don't have a way to distribute every game on a national stage regardless of the time slot. Especially once the Big 12 goes away then the leagues should grow enough that their T2 and T3 content will outgrow their respective networks.

Of course, ESPN could just deliver those games online in its current platform, but the problem is that they haven't found a good way to monetize that yet. This could be their opening. Put some games on the RSNs and sell an out of market package nationwide for games that fans couldn't otherwise see.