"At least half of the Big Ten media rights package remains up for grabs, with Fox Sports having secured the first half.

Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips on Wednesday addressed the possibility that ABC/ESPN will not be part of the remaining package:

“The Big Ten will do what’s best for the Big Ten, and ESPN has to take that same position. Everyone is watching what’s happening in the television world, the un-bundling that’s taking place, different platforms available now that maybe weren’t in the last go-around for TV contracts. This isn’t pointing a finger at ESPN in any way, stating you have to or don’t have to participate as a partner of the Big Ten. It’s more about: Can the two groups come together?... ."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/col...story.html

Fox paid WAY TOO MUCH! $250 million for just 25 games? That's $10 million PER GAME!!!
Some conferences don't get that much for an entire SEASON!

To put it into perspective, the typical P5 Tier One game sells for about $4 to $5 million.
A special "made for TV" game might go for $10 million.
A P5 championship game might go for $20 million - but that's ONE GAME per year.

I'm sure ESPN looked at those prices and said "no thanks!"

(05-18-2016 02:42 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Fox paid WAY TOO MUCH! $250 million for just 25 games? That's $10 million PER GAME!!!
Some conferences don't get that much for an entire SEASON!

To put it into perspective, the typical P5 Tier One game sells for about $4 to $5 million.
A special "made for TV" game might go for $10 million.
A P5 championship game might go for $20 million - but that's ONE GAME per year.

I'm sure ESPN looked at those prices and said "no thanks!"

It also includes 50 basketball games too, so not entirely what you have here. Now granted football games are certainly the bulk of it so if you say 70-75% is football you are still at 7-7.5 million a game which is just silly money really.

(05-18-2016 02:42 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Fox paid WAY TOO MUCH! $250 million for just 25 games? That's $10 million PER GAME!!!
Some conferences don't get that much for an entire SEASON!

To put it into perspective, the typical P5 Tier One game sells for about $4 to $5 million.
A special "made for TV" game might go for $10 million.
A P5 championship game might go for $20 million - but that's ONE GAME per year.

I'm sure ESPN looked at those prices and said "no thanks!"

ESPN has always been the elephant in the room. They have in some way always control the live sport content, for them not go full ownership for the B1G is IMO a pretty interesting chess move deal by them. I will even go as far as calling it a giant red flag for anyone who currently does business with them and/or more like a dead walking tv network who may soon not have enough $$$ to pay the janitor. Boom replies the balloon.

B1G is moving towards owning their own content and distribution channels. I think they will be selling smaller and smaller bundles at a much higher price per event and with the BTN having good distribution, they have the leverage.

I am about to jump in the camp with the folks that think that the AAC might actually get a decent deal from ESPN in the next negotiation. ESPN will still be looking for content; and they might be able to give the AAC a nice bump, because they are saving money on some of the ridiculous P5 deals.

(05-18-2016 11:21 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  I am about to jump in the camp with the folks that think that the AAC might actually get a decent deal from ESPN in the next negotiation. ESPN will still be looking for content; and they might be able to give the AAC a nice bump, because they are saving money on some of the ridiculous P5 deals.

I'll join that camp. It would be good news for the AAC.

.

(05-18-2016 02:42 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Fox paid WAY TOO MUCH! $250 million for just 25 games? That's $10 million PER GAME!!!
Some conferences don't get that much for an entire SEASON!

To put it into perspective, the typical P5 Tier One game sells for about $4 to $5 million.
A special "made for TV" game might go for $10 million.
A P5 championship game might go for $20 million - but that's ONE GAME per year.

I'm sure ESPN looked at those prices and said "no thanks!"

But this is the best of the B10 and not secondary games. So 10 mil probably isn't unreasonable. If ESPN grabs tier 2 they still get the programing just not the huge bill.

I agree it could be good for AAC, but much depends on how much more they bleed in the next 1 to 3 years.

I think it may factor into the next deal for the American but does this divorce push ESPN in the direction of starting the ACC network to lock up that content long term? ACC fans may be able to add something to this but I believe that part of the current ACC deal with ESPN consists of a 45 million dollar payment to the ACC by ESPN if a conference network isn’t in the works by I believe it’s this July.

If it does this may be the next area of conference expansion with ESPN pushing the ACC to go to 16 full members as part of the deal to create the maximum amount of content.

(05-18-2016 02:42 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Fox paid WAY TOO MUCH! $250 million for just 25 games? That's $10 million PER GAME!!!
Some conferences don't get that much for an entire SEASON!

To put it into perspective, the typical P5 Tier One game sells for about $4 to $5 million.
A special "made for TV" game might go for $10 million.
A P5 championship game might go for $20 million - but that's ONE GAME per year.

I'm sure ESPN looked at those prices and said "no thanks!"

Remember though, FOX owns 51% of the Big Ten TV Network too...so every time FOX is promoting the Big Ten/airing games...they are basically promoting the conf as a whole...and basically drawing interest to all Big Ten members, etc...

FOX/FOX Sports though did NOT own any prime games for Big Ten football or basketball...so even getting marquee games away from ABC/ESPN is a major coup for them...and maybe, they get the entire conf TV deal (not including their share of Big Ten TV Network).

(05-19-2016 07:51 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  I think it may factor into the next deal for the American but does this divorce push ESPN in the direction of starting the ACC network to lock up that content long term? ACC fans may be able to add something to this but I believe that part of the current ACC deal with ESPN consists of a 45 million dollar payment to the ACC by ESPN if a conference network isn’t in the works by I believe it’s this July.

If it does this may be the next area of conference expansion with ESPN pushing the ACC to go to 16 full members as part of the deal to create the maximum amount of content.

Yep and I expect them to work out a deal with the big 12 to get West Virginia. Big 12 made a mistake taking a team so far out of their footprint. They'd take the buy out $ to rid WV to the ACC. A 16 team ACC (with WV & UCONN) gives them a true North/South set up. The South would be a lot stronger than the North but FSU and Clemson would be happy as would the NC schools. My prediction.
Cheers!

the winner in that would be the AAC..

ESPN: loses 2 top 5 programs

FS1: You just paid an unsustainable amount of money for purdue an illinois, yes ohio state will draw but they'll find out not that many casual fans are looking for iowa vs Illinois

The BIG 10: their big 3 will be fine but in the long run the remain 11 will feel the effects of less exposure when most of them are in state with less talented recruits, and it will negatively effect the leagues perception

The AAC: ESPN just lost a ton of major tv spots and might even lose more and gained back alot of capital
FS1 just got stronger and ESPN wont empower anyone else
ESPN Likes us ..they chose Houston/Oklahoma on abc over ( UCLA at Texas A&M, North Carolina vs. Georgia, Clemson at Auburn, Missouri at West Virginia to name a few)
ESPN knows they have the power to build the AAC up

(05-18-2016 11:21 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  I am about to jump in the camp with the folks that think that the AAC might actually get a decent deal from ESPN in the next negotiation. ESPN will still be looking for content; and they might be able to give the AAC a nice bump, because they are saving money on some of the ridiculous P5 deals.

It's a fine line. If the AAC asks too much they're about the re-up with CUSA and you know they can fill the void with some of that. One by product might be more Saturday games for the AAC over more money. Might delay some money, but trade weeknights for more weekends.

(05-19-2016 02:33 PM)ultraviolet Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 11:21 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  I am about to jump in the camp with the folks that think that the AAC might actually get a decent deal from ESPN in the next negotiation. ESPN will still be looking for content; and they might be able to give the AAC a nice bump, because they are saving money on some of the ridiculous P5 deals.

It's a fine line. If the AAC asks too much they're about the re-up with CUSA and you know they can fill the void with some of that. One by product might be more Saturday games for the AAC over more money. Might delay some money, but trade weeknights for more weekends.

Aresco knows his $hit. I think that he probably already knows what ESPN will have available to pay the AAC in a couple of years and he also knows that ESPN has to be committed to the AAC now, because they need the content. If anything ESPN may be about to over pub the AAC, which might give Aresco some traction on his P6 concept. This is about to get real interesting, because ESPN underpaid in the last negotiations, but they may have to overpay in their next round.

IMO, ESPN is going to push CUSA about as hard as they push the Sun Belt and the MAC. Not hardly. Small schools + empty stadiums = panning to the light stands rather than the crowds; during down times in games.

(05-19-2016 02:00 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(05-19-2016 07:51 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  I think it may factor into the next deal for the American but does this divorce push ESPN in the direction of starting the ACC network to lock up that content long term? ACC fans may be able to add something to this but I believe that part of the current ACC deal with ESPN consists of a 45 million dollar payment to the ACC by ESPN if a conference network isn’t in the works by I believe it’s this July.

If it does this may be the next area of conference expansion with ESPN pushing the ACC to go to 16 full members as part of the deal to create the maximum amount of content.

Yep and I expect them to work out a deal with the big 12 to get West Virginia. Big 12 made a mistake taking a team so far out of their footprint. They'd take the buy out $ to rid WV to the ACC. A 16 team ACC (with WV & UCONN) gives them a true North/South set up. The South would be a lot stronger than the North but FSU and Clemson would be happy as would the NC schools. My prediction.
Cheers!

WV to the ACC will NEVER happen

It's definitely good for you guys. (And for everybody). Fox is throwing money around, which means that ESPN has to either spend money or watch FS1 start to begin to close the gap.

More openings on ESPN, 2, U is good for you guys. And FS1 being an alternative to ESPN-U is good for everybody.

official stations of the AAC: EspnU and Espn news

(05-19-2016 03:52 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  official stations of the AAC: EspnU and Espn news

The claim as the official home of the AAC already belongs to.....



"Bringing you the finest in seldom seen sports since 1999"

(05-19-2016 03:21 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  

(05-19-2016 02:00 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(05-19-2016 07:51 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  I think it may factor into the next deal for the American but does this divorce push ESPN in the direction of starting the ACC network to lock up that content long term? ACC fans may be able to add something to this but I believe that part of the current ACC deal with ESPN consists of a 45 million dollar payment to the ACC by ESPN if a conference network isn’t in the works by I believe it’s this July.

If it does this may be the next area of conference expansion with ESPN pushing the ACC to go to 16 full members as part of the deal to create the maximum amount of content.

Yep and I expect them to work out a deal with the big 12 to get West Virginia. Big 12 made a mistake taking a team so far out of their footprint. They'd take the buy out $ to rid WV to the ACC. A 16 team ACC (with WV & UCONN) gives them a true North/South set up. The South would be a lot stronger than the North but FSU and Clemson would be happy as would the NC schools. My prediction.
Cheers!

WV to the ACC will NEVER happen

They took Louisville. That was never supposed to happen either.
Cheers!

(05-19-2016 03:17 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-19-2016 02:33 PM)ultraviolet Wrote:  

(05-18-2016 11:21 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  I am about to jump in the camp with the folks that think that the AAC might actually get a decent deal from ESPN in the next negotiation. ESPN will still be looking for content; and they might be able to give the AAC a nice bump, because they are saving money on some of the ridiculous P5 deals.

It's a fine line. If the AAC asks too much they're about the re-up with CUSA and you know they can fill the void with some of that. One by product might be more Saturday games for the AAC over more money. Might delay some money, but trade weeknights for more weekends.

Aresco knows his $hit. I think that he probably already knows what ESPN will have available to pay the AAC in a couple of years and he also knows that ESPN has to be committed to the AAC now, because they need the content. If anything ESPN may be about to over pub the AAC, which might give Aresco some traction on his P6 concept. This is about to get real interesting, because ESPN underpaid in the last negotiations, but they may have to overpay in their next round.

IMO, ESPN is going to push CUSA about as hard as they push the Sun Belt and the MAC. Not hardly. Small schools + empty stadiums = panning to the light stands rather than the crowds; during down times in games.

Hope you are right but a lot of AAC schools not named ECU can fit the empty stadium description you just made. There were some AAC games on ESPN last year that featured a very tight camera so as not to show the empty seats. I won't mention the participants, and it happened more than once. I hope this means no more week day games, or at least a lot less Friday night games for the conference. Those are crowd killers.
Cheers!