Big Ten Media Rights / Conference Realignment
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Not advocating switching for switching's sake. ESPN is clearly the most desirable option for the remaining half. However, if ESPN's offer is deficient, there is a backup plan. And they know it.
I just mean that they have the open timeslots to put the games.
Save for 6-7 Notre Dame home games a year and the occasional 11AM Premier League game, NBC is wide open on Saturdays and after soccer ends on Saturday morning, NBCSN is usually showing like thumb wrestling or something. They have room to showcase the content. ESPN is always juggling because they have so many college sports properties, and now with the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12, Fox and FS1 are going to run into the same thing.
Right, I was commenting on the idea of splitting up the remaining half, not switching away from ESPN.
If money was their driving factor, the fact that Rutgers will be making way more $$ than them would lure them in.
But that's not their stumbling block.
I think you posted link to Frank the Tank earlier...
https://frankthetank.me/2016/04/21/b1g-tv-deal-coming-out-like-a-fox/
He does a good job explaining this as far as ESPN goes & there importance to B1G.
I do think the plan is to sell the 2nd half to ESPN, but I suspect selling the first 1/2 to Fox without having ESPN on board already was plan "B" already. Plan "C" plan will be to split the second half if ESPN won't pony up, until ESPN begs for forgiveness.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
No. Luring ND isn't any of the rationale for NBC getting part of the package.
If money was their driving factor, the fact that Rutgers will be making way more $$ than them would lure them in.
But that's not their stumbling block.
Not disagreeing, I have no doubt ND would like to remain independent, however times are a changing...
With NBC exclusivity ND was making there share of money, this deal is adding 10 -20 million/yr to B1G money with no end in sight to increases. At some point money has to matter to ND.
A lot of speculation that Delaney enters the expansion game again at the end of this contract, there is much uncertainty for ND as a football independent depending on how this all ends. Eventually, when this game up musical chairs ends, someone doesn't have a seat or in ND's case they likely join ACC for maybe 20 million less/yr. If B1G takes UVA or UNC or Clemson or GT or FSU, then the seat at the ACC table looks a lot less attractive to ND. If ND joins a conference fully, can't believe it won't be the B1G. They could try to partner with Texas and maintain more control, but that isn't exactly working real well either, SEC or Pac make much less sense geographically & are shaking out to less money, so why?
I know. I'm saying if Delaney wants to add nd, having a contract already with nbc is more incentive to go. It's not on the radar for nbc, but it's on the radar for Delaney.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Not to beat a dead horse, but it isn't on the radar for Delany. It really, really, really isn't.
Respectfully, I don't think it would be a factor at all.
Adding ND? That has been on the radar of the Big Ten for going on a century and it always will be until it happens.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Again, there is absolutely no ND angle on having the BIG do a contract with NBC.
Oh, yeah, probably not.
But if Big Ten expansion ever rolls around again, ND is always going to be a part of that conversation.
They were just added to hockey, and you don't think they aren't in the radar any other sports? Com' on....
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
ND only (ONLY!) fully joins a conference when they're facing being shut out of the playoffs. Until then, NFW. And when that time comes, the majority (vast?) of their fanbase will be against joining the BIG, regardless of how much sense it makes.
The BIG has made their case to ND. ND has little uncertainty about it and that could be cleared up almost immediately (the problem here is not info).
The next move for the conference is eastern/southeastern expansion. That the ACC is going to be torn asunder is juicy and ironic. Look for UT and ND to Frankenstein something together.
I agree with that, though there is a both a structural route to being "shut out" and a financial route as well, IMO.
Well, they are a member of the ACC for the rest of their sports (and subject to the associated grant of media rights penalties) and aren't likely to join any conference for football unless absolutely forced to do so. So yeah, not likely they move anywhere unless there's a big shakeup to the ACC and some other large movements going on.
this, the B1G is winning the money wars, at some point this matters to ND.
Don't remember the details on the ACC deal, but I'm sure there is an out at some point & MD made the move despite the money & negotiated it down... The money separation between the B1G & ACC is still growing. ND obviously has there reasons for wanting to be independent, one of them is money/NBC exclusive & another is the whole independent thing. This new contract shifts the money more in favor of the B1G, in 6 yrs when the next contract comes up B1G money gap may grow again. At the same time, how comfortable does the ACC look if we poach UNC & VA or Clemson, GT, FSU. Big12 is still a mess, is there enough money Texas is in play, I don't know? Would the B1G expand above 16? ND doesn't want to end up in the ACC that the B1G has just poached the 2 schools of there choice. So I think ACC shake up is whenever Delaney wants it & with increasing money ND should be rethinking its position already.
Didnt we extend an offer to ND last time but only if they joined for football as well, and they refused? So they went to the ACC for everything else?
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
The invitation was always all (football plus) or nothing. Equal member or nothing. As it will be. As it should be. Still, no expectations that ND will join. If their path to the playoffs changes, that changes things.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
You are wholly underestimating the value of independence to ND, particularly to a large swath of its fanbase. IMO, ND's admin and faculty would be pro-joining. But the fanbase? Emphatically, not. They will stomach the growing economic disparity for their cherished independence. Good for them.
When the BIG expands to 16, and the legs are taken out of the ACC, I'll enjoy making ND squirm if they come knockin'. Fever dream.
You're in ACC country (Greensboro), correct? Is there any interest from UVA, UNC, Clemson or FSU in leaving the ACC to join the Big Ten? Are they indicating any dissatisfaction with the conference that they would want to leave? I haven't heard of any. They don't seem to be hurting financially that they need to move. I just don't see the Big Ten poaching any of those schools any time soon.
Independence clearly means something to ND. But college football is a serious business as well and B1G money is growing fast. With there solo deal with NBC they have made enough money to keep there independence, but ND is walking a fine line trying to hold up the ACC to keep there independence. I also doubt they are keeping pace with B1G money, what about next bad spell they had a couple decade ago. It seems most likely the ACC is the target for next B1G expansion, ND has enough football leverage they can probably find a home...but when Delaney shakes the bushes ND has a tough decision on there hands, they are taking on a lot of risk to keep there independence, it now may be costing them money as well, is it worth the risk, time will tell.