(05-19-2022 10:06 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(05-17-2022 08:49 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Pretty sure they won't. Pretty sure they can't.

NIU, MAC is tied to ESPN, CBS sports for conference, even for OOC home games. Although I do remember years ago a couple MAC games on local sports networks in Ohio.They appear on conference stations, affiliates when on road due to rights. Marquee has deal with ISU and ACC I think, or they did. They carried a few regional games not on networks like ESPN, ABC or ACC.

Yep, I don't think this is possible under the media rights deal the MAC signed, which is awful and makes me want to vomit.

I badly miss the days when you could watch NIU football games on Fox Sports Net. I truly feel NIU football felt more relevant and present in Chicagoland back when games were on FSN (later CSN).

Yes, those were great days when you could just turn on the TV and watch a Huskie game. I loved recording the games I attended and watching it the next day with a cold beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other (the one I couldn't get at the game).

(05-19-2022 10:59 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-19-2022 10:06 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(05-17-2022 08:49 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Pretty sure they won't. Pretty sure they can't.

NIU, MAC is tied to ESPN, CBS sports for conference, even for OOC home games. Although I do remember years ago a couple MAC games on local sports networks in Ohio.They appear on conference stations, affiliates when on road due to rights. Marquee has deal with ISU and ACC I think, or they did. They carried a few regional games not on networks like ESPN, ABC or ACC.

Yep, I don't think this is possible under the media rights deal the MAC signed, which is awful and makes me want to vomit.

I badly miss the days when you could watch NIU football games on Fox Sports Net. I truly feel NIU football felt more relevant and present in Chicagoland back when games were on FSN (later CSN).

Yes, those were great days when you could just turn on the TV and watch a Huskie game. I loved recording the games I attended and watching it the next day with a cold beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other (the one I couldn't get at the game).

I can still do that (because I have internet tv...which...most people in this area can get and it's cheaper than cable or satellite), but back then, you HAD to have cable and not all games were on tv.

I'd also venture to guess NIU makes more money off the MAC deal with ESPN than they could trying to negotiate their own multi-sport agreement that also showed all football and men's/women's games. For one, they'd never find a station to do that and second, it would be financially worse for them than the espn deal.

Not to mention, would greatly decrease their national exposure.

Tbh, the notion that anything about media availability of "the days when..." being better in any way is mind-boggling to me. At no point in history has it been easier to consume almost anything you want in regards to live sports.

The ESPN deal does have one positive. Every one of our games is available on some platform. The deal has been terrific for basketball. Now, almost all of our men's and women's games are available on ESPN3 or ESPN+. And, some of the games on ESPN may be on a TV station (DirecTV), which carries a few of the ESPN3 games on one of several channels. Before the ESPN deal, it would be extremely rare to see one of our basketball games on any platform. Plus, you can even view some other Huskie sports on one of the ESPN platforms.

(05-20-2022 12:29 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(05-19-2022 10:59 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-19-2022 10:06 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(05-17-2022 08:49 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Pretty sure they won't. Pretty sure they can't.

NIU, MAC is tied to ESPN, CBS sports for conference, even for OOC home games. Although I do remember years ago a couple MAC games on local sports networks in Ohio.They appear on conference stations, affiliates when on road due to rights. Marquee has deal with ISU and ACC I think, or they did. They carried a few regional games not on networks like ESPN, ABC or ACC.

Yep, I don't think this is possible under the media rights deal the MAC signed, which is awful and makes me want to vomit.

I badly miss the days when you could watch NIU football games on Fox Sports Net. I truly feel NIU football felt more relevant and present in Chicagoland back when games were on FSN (later CSN).

Yes, those were great days when you could just turn on the TV and watch a Huskie game. I loved recording the games I attended and watching it the next day with a cold beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other (the one I couldn't get at the game).

I can still do that (because I have internet tv...which...most people in this area can get and it's cheaper than cable or satellite), but back then, you HAD to have cable and not all games were on tv.

I'd also venture to guess NIU makes more money off the MAC deal with ESPN than they could trying to negotiate their own multi-sport agreement that also showed all football and men's/women's games. For one, they'd never find a station to do that and second, it would be financially worse for them than the espn deal.

Not to mention, would greatly decrease their national exposure.

Tbh, the notion that anything about media availability of "the days when..." being better in any way is mind-boggling to me. At no point in history has it been easier to consume almost anything you want in regards to live sports.

I have satellite TV (DirecTV), and there are problems with both satellite and internet TV depending on where you live. The satellite will go out during periods of heavy rain or with snow/ice on the dish in the winter (which granted is pretty often here). Internet TV is dependent on a continued stream, which would be a problem for me. My home internet goes out often and sometimes for a day (or more). When my satellite reception is interrupted, there is usually some channel that I can get, or I just watch a recorded program. Never had any of these problems with the good old rabbit ears. I may install an HD antenna so I can at least watch the local channels when my satellite goes out.

(05-20-2022 01:35 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-20-2022 12:29 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(05-19-2022 10:59 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(05-19-2022 10:06 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(05-17-2022 08:49 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Pretty sure they won't. Pretty sure they can't.

NIU, MAC is tied to ESPN, CBS sports for conference, even for OOC home games. Although I do remember years ago a couple MAC games on local sports networks in Ohio.They appear on conference stations, affiliates when on road due to rights. Marquee has deal with ISU and ACC I think, or they did. They carried a few regional games not on networks like ESPN, ABC or ACC.

Yep, I don't think this is possible under the media rights deal the MAC signed, which is awful and makes me want to vomit.

I badly miss the days when you could watch NIU football games on Fox Sports Net. I truly feel NIU football felt more relevant and present in Chicagoland back when games were on FSN (later CSN).

Yes, those were great days when you could just turn on the TV and watch a Huskie game. I loved recording the games I attended and watching it the next day with a cold beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other (the one I couldn't get at the game).

I can still do that (because I have internet tv...which...most people in this area can get and it's cheaper than cable or satellite), but back then, you HAD to have cable and not all games were on tv.

I'd also venture to guess NIU makes more money off the MAC deal with ESPN than they could trying to negotiate their own multi-sport agreement that also showed all football and men's/women's games. For one, they'd never find a station to do that and second, it would be financially worse for them than the espn deal.

Not to mention, would greatly decrease their national exposure.

Tbh, the notion that anything about media availability of "the days when..." being better in any way is mind-boggling to me. At no point in history has it been easier to consume almost anything you want in regards to live sports.

I have satellite TV (DirecTV), and there are problems with both satellite and internet TV depending on where you live. The satellite will go out during periods of heavy rain or with snow/ice on the dish in the winter (which granted is pretty often here). Internet TV is dependent on a continued stream, which would be a problem for me. My home internet goes out often and sometimes for a day (or more). When my satellite reception is interrupted, there is usually some channel that I can get, or I just watch a recorded program. Never had any of these problems with the good old rabbit ears. I may install an HD antenna so I can at least watch the local channels when my satellite goes out.

I'd say we're closer to getting reliable high speed internet everywhere than satellite companies ever figuring out how to keep their signal from going out when it rains (it may not actually be possible).

"The devil you know is better than the one you don't."

As several pointed out, you can find NIU sports just about any time, and not just fb and bball. Gymnastics or volleyball anyone? Those so-called minor sports would be nowhere to be found in some other deal, and I doubt NIU has enough brand draw to get those on by itself. Even with streaming, they'd be scattered tither and yon if platforms could be found.

I don't know anyone who likes weekday night football (except couch potatoes) but it's the price we pay for being on ESPN ad getting all the sports out there. Check out some of the threads as the schools leaving CUSA for the Sun Belt were making their exit ... a huge complaint was the plethora of platforms CUSA used just to get on and how hard it was to find them.

Hopefully ther next ESPN deal will have some better components. However, since ESPN is going to put AAC and SBC fb on some weeknights (I read Fridays somewhere), I'm actually more worried the MAC's Tues-Weds exclusives might be compromised. But all-Saturdays is gone.