ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
While I don't believe the rights will keep increasing at the current pace, and wouldn't be surprised if they drop, I don't think any drop will be caused by "less attractive" match-ups with Maryland and Rutgers.
Well it's "caused by" a number of factors, right? The overall trends in the industry is the biggest one, far bigger than the individual team effects, but remember, it's not just that the overall package is less attractive, it's also that it now has to be divided 14 ways instead of 12.
opening up NY & DC shouldn't be understated & currently this is still more about the Tier 1 rights than BTN money
Balderdash. Rutgers and Maryland are meaningless entities in those markets, especially Rutgers in NY. The play was a one-time heist to steal a dollar a month from every granny in the tri-state area who's never watched a college football game in her life. Credit to Jim Delany, he pulled off the heist and got his sack of money for the conference (while of course only further hastening the death of cable). Now he's leaving behind a weaker, more diluted, less meaningful brand to compete in a marketplace where having actually interested and engaged customers means more than backroom chicanery.