(04-24-2014 08:51 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(04-24-2014 08:18 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  The situation has the AAC, MWC, CUSA, MAC and SBC all unionizing together for common interest. Helping each other out to get additional bowl games. This is not a good development for the Power 5. If the G5 can accumulate enough value and ratings it will cut into the P5.

I'm skeptical it can be done as a group. There will likely be schools that develop and become relevant and when they fit a need they will be absorbed by the P5.

Take Thursday nights on ESPN for example.

At one time Thursday night was for the smaller names in FBS. Before the Big East raided Louisville, Cincy, USF and before MWC got frustrated and signed with CSTV (now CBSS), the bulk of Thursday night was MWC and CUSA and even some WAC.

Then something happened. The games drew better than expected ratings and games weren't played before mostly empty stadiums as feared.

Thursday night became palatable for the big boys and they moved in. When they moved in the audiences became even larger and even more money was at stake for what now was becoming a desirable slot.

The NFL noticed and they began experimenting with games on NFL Network, now it is so big it will be on CBS.

If the G5 identify ways to make money the P5 will step into the field and disrupt it either by competing for it and commanding better TV slots or they will absorb valuable properties (ie. Utah and TCU), and if it is lucrative enough the NFL will go there and disrupt it even worse.

The P5 already dominate the lucrative TV windows (most of Saturday and Thursday night) leaving G5 to seek niche coverage (other less accepted networks or Tuesday and Wednesday night).

The G5 has to make its mark in either time slots or on channels not fed by viewer habit and that makes being a serious financial rival unlikely.

I agree with your analysis except for absorption by the P5. The P5 can't expand forever.