Analysis of the various expansions from a business POV says among other things:

"From a television standpoint, and that's where the money is coming from, Frank seems a little surprised at all the talk of movement, which in the end just might be fool's gold.

Does Nebraska's likely move to the Big Ten make sense for the conference, given the fact that there would be another partner to split the money with?

"Probably not", Frank said.

"That's not worth it to the SEC either," Frank said. "I can't imagine adding a team that would improve on what they already have."

I love the "fool's gold" comment. This is the 2nd article posted here within the past month that's been at odds with some of the other financial claims that are otherwise out there.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/37636000

There is an ongoing assumption that every school wants to maximize their income.

I'm not sure that is true.

From a major university president's viewpoint, I don't think I'm too worried about the margins on the money side. If I am in the right wagon train, the money will always be there.

No amount of money is worth the risk of joining the wrong wagon train.

This is a long term investment. The TV money from today is simply not the primary consideration.

Yep. Just like the ACC would never come close to their TV projections back in 2003, the BTN would be an utter failure, and the ACC couldn't possibly get more than $100-120 million annually when they renegotiated their TV contracts this year with their football product and the current state of the economy.

How many times do these pundits have to be proven wrong. After the latest ACC deal, I've stopped listening.

What is happening with the Mega-Conferences and Conference Networks is called "bundling" in the first instance and "owning a piece of your own product" in the second.

Cheers,
Neil

(06-11-2010 12:13 PM)omnicarrier Wrote:  and the ACC couldn't possibly get more than $100-120 million annually when they renegotiated their TV contracts this year with their football product and the current state of the economy.

How many times do these pundits have to be proven wrong. After the latest ACC deal, I've stopped listening.

Yup. Taking my lumps on that one.
I was dead wrong.

Sorry that I left out the link in my original post. I've edited it to put in the link. Again, sorry about that.

I agree. That's why I think the Big Ten will stay at 12 right now unless they can land Notre Dame or Texas. None of the other candidates make further expansion more profitable.

(06-11-2010 12:13 PM)omnicarrier Wrote:  How many times do these pundits have to be proven wrong.

They're like weathermen. They can be wrong all they want, and they still get paid...