B1G and ESPN Breakup?

[Frostberg]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/05/18/would-espn-let-the-big-ten-slip-away-would-big-ten-coaches-want-to-go/

 

 

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? -Northwestern Athletic Director Jim Phillips

 

I think ESPN/ABC is great for national exposure.

[Kiyoat Husker]

High stakes poker, baby! Delaney is betting on his brand. Reminds me of when TO called Texas's Pac-16 bluff. How's that working for ya, Longhorns?

[C N Red]

f'ing stronghorns suck!!

[VectorVictor]

I could see that final half split further between ESPN and, say, NBC Sports. ESPN may not be comfortable paying $500m for the remaining half, but they could split it 70/30 and pay, say, $300-400m/year, and NBC Sports pay $150-200m/year for their part.

 

There's still talk that NBC Sports is looking to do more collegiate football and have a Saturday Night Football program to compliment their popular Sunday Night Football programming--you could possibly tap Collinsworth and pair him with Tirico to get that off the ground, and alternate between B1G and Notre Dame night games.

 

And there's always the wild card option that keeps coming up, in that the BTN could expand their coverage and air second-tier games. The B1G gets significantly more revenue this way in the long-term, but it would require costly expansion of facilities up front, and possibly a second channel (not an overflow channel like they already have) to air all that content.

[Michiganball]

If this was a chess game Delaney seems to be thinking 3-4 moves ahead while others are reacting. Whatever happens I cant help but trust the guy to do something outstanding for B1G, as the only thing he ever disappointed with was approving the old division names.

 

My single concern is Fox sports cable FS, while they do have a OTA network that will do fine coverage, their FS1 network seems to be doing their best not to be watched. Their CEO actually said, that they have no plans to do web streaming like espn or nbcsn because they want to provide value to the cable bundle. Essentially he is saying, we want to continue providing value for the VCR tape as we believe the VCR tape is the future.

 

These streaming sites do far more then just get eyeballs, they keep peoples minds on your channel. If anyone was to add value to the bundle it would be espn anyway, however not only do they allow streaming on espn 3, they allow those who dont have cable to watch all the college games that aired in replay. So instead of someone downloading the game elsewhere they keep you tuned to their brand.

 

FS1 also has problems making things into a "event". Take NBCSN for instance, after they took over the English Premiere League rights from Fox sports, the ratings went through the roof, they had a great cast, nice studio and most of all, you can watch any game you want, it's a true game day excitement in the early morning. So what does FS do?(they got the German league rights) They put most their games on some 1990's like $15 a month channel. So you get maybe 2 games of teams you may not care for, you hardly hear any buzz and the whole thing is like, meh, watch it or dont, will just put it out there, do what you want., instead of this bounty of choice and proper hype like NBCSN.

 

So yea, that is not good, but I'll give the CEO of theirs 3 years tops before he's fired anyways, unless he get's he's act together, or Delaney has a chat with him on how to be active rather then reactive.

[VectorVictor]

So yea, that is not good, but I'll give the CEO of theirs 3 years tops before he's fired anyways, unless he get's he's act together, or Delaney has a chat with him on how to be active rather then reactive.

 

Remember, they only have an agreement in principle so far. No one has signed on the dotted line just yet--I'm sure Delaney is addressing the lack of streaming and the piss-poor marketing of their channel with Fox right now.

 

Well, not *RIGHT* now, but you get the point.

[Michiganball]

Yea V V, I suspect that's the case, there has been some hints that there may be some additional "creative" distribution coming out at the end of these negotiations. What that might mean is all code at the moment, for all we know it might just end up with espn forking out the money. Do they really want to bet against B1G again? Seriously, if college sports went, there would be little reason to tune in that channel in my area at least as our pro teams all play on the Fox Detroit network already. Loosing much of the North and some of the biggest markets in the US so you can keep loosing millions on the Longhorn network and conferences that dont bring in the ratings seems like a good way to make one self less relevant. Unless they are betting on bringing more NFL to their channel, but good luck with that.

[Notre Dame Joe]

No one can risk not being on the wwl, so whatever compromise is worked out will still have ESPN/ABC tlelvising your games.

[VectorVictor]

No one can risk not being on the wwl, so whatever compromise is worked out will still have ESPN/ABC televising your games.

 

Dunno about that. People will go to where the games are if they're interested in the conference and/or teams...to a point.

 

But if the B1G does break away from them, and succeeds...ESPN is going to have a nightmare scenario on their hands trying to secure programming when contracts expire. It may be best for ESPN to pony up the other $500m/year for the remainder of the B1G content, just so they don't risk conferences pointing out that the WWL has no clothes.

[Saunders]

ESPN stays in the game

ESPN will buy the second half of the Big Ten’s media rights package, ending months of speculation that the two were about to sever their 50-year relationship.

 

ESPN will pay an average of $190 million per year over six years for essentially half the conference’s media rights package, according to several sources close to the talks. Two months ago, Fox Sports agreed to take the other half of the package for an average of $240 million per year. CBS Sports also has told the conference that it will renew its basketball-only package for $10 million per year.

 

The six-year, $2.64 billion media rights haul represents a big win for the Big Ten Conference, of course, which will see its average media rights payout nearly triple when it takes effect next fall.

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/06/20/Media/ESPN-Big-Ten.aspx

 

[huKSer]

 

ESPN stays in the game

ESPN will buy the second half of the Big Ten’s media rights package, ending months of speculation that the two were about to sever their 50-year relationship.

 

ESPN will pay an average of $190 million per year over six years for essentially half the conference’s media rights package, according to several sources close to the talks. Two months ago, Fox Sports agreed to take the other half of the package for an average of $240 million per year. CBS Sports also has told the conference that it will renew its basketball-only package for $10 million per year.

 

The six-year, $2.64 billion media rights haul represents a big win for the Big Ten Conference, of course, which will see its average media rights payout nearly triple when it takes effect next fall.

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/06/20/Media/ESPN-Big-Ten.aspxE

Yeah for the money

 

Boo for 11 AM games

 

ESPN has been around 50 years?

[VectorVictor]

 

ESPN stays in the game

ESPN will buy the second half of the Big Ten’s media rights package, ending months of speculation that the two were about to sever their 50-year relationship.

 

ESPN will pay an average of $190 million per year over six years for essentially half the conference’s media rights package, according to several sources close to the talks. Two months ago, Fox Sports agreed to take the other half of the package for an average of $240 million per year. CBS Sports also has told the conference that it will renew its basketball-only package for $10 million per year.

 

The six-year, $2.64 billion media rights haul represents a big win for the Big Ten Conference, of course, which will see its average media rights payout nearly triple when it takes effect next fall.

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/06/20/Media/ESPN-Big-Ten.aspx

 

 

 

The SEC had a per school payout of approx. $31.2m for last year, which included all media revenue.

 

The B1G is looking at a per school payout of approx. $30.7m per year, and that's only with Fox and ESPN/ABC revenue accounted for--there's BTN revenue which the schools get 49% of (Fox gets the 51%), and there are bigger profit margins for broadcasting on the network which may add another $3-5m/school to the pot. Oh and don't forget bowl payout distributions, too.

 

In short, we're doing rather well for ourselves with this six year deal. And when the Big XII GOR is done in six years and the B1G can poach certain schools...

 

 

Yeah for the money

 

Boo for 11 AM games

 

 

 

ESPN has been around 50 years?

 

 

Wikipedia says 36 years old. Wonder if they meant ABC Sports has been around for 50 years?...though that doesn't sound right either.

[Landlord]

Wikipedia says 36 years old. Wonder if they meant ABC Sports has been around for 50 years?...though that doesn't sound right either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Ten’s ESPN deal will further a relationship that dates back five decades. ESPN’s sister station ABC started carrying Big Ten games as far back as 1966; ESPN carried Big Ten games in its first year of operation, 1979.

[Kiyoat Husker]

 

Yeah for the money

 

Boo for 11 AM games

 

Agree about the money, but I'm a little disappointed that some "creative online offerings" do not seem to have been part of discussions. Seems like more of a status-quo negotiation. Like they punted on the cable-cutting elephant in the room.

[Michiganball]

 

 

Yeah for the money

 

Boo for 11 AM games

 

Agree about the money, but I'm a little disappointed that some "creative online offerings" do not seem to have been part of discussions. Seems like more of a status-quo negotiation. Like they punted on the cable-cutting elephant in the room.

 

Yea, to bad. There are plenty of people who would pay them for the service. As is they can watch it without a sub anyway.