(02-10-2013 04:15 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 04:03 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  I do wish the MAC would try and make a deal with NBCSN to get some more coverage, and get with them before they get real big.

ESPN owns all our rights until 2016 though right?

The problem there is owning "all rights." (Although obviously FSO has a stake.)

I'd rather the MAC have a deal w/ ESPN for the first choice of games, then the MAC could sell games to other sources. Wouldn't be a lot of money, but as little as the MAC makes, anything extra helps.

(02-11-2013 11:01 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 04:15 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 04:03 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  I do wish the MAC would try and make a deal with NBCSN to get some more coverage, and get with them before they get real big.

ESPN owns all our rights until 2016 though right?

The problem there is owning "all rights." (Although obviously FSO has a stake.)

I'd rather the MAC have a deal w/ ESPN for the first choice of games, then the MAC could sell games to other sources. Wouldn't be a lot of money, but as little as the MAC makes, anything extra helps.

I agree. E$PN treats the MAC like s***, and there is nothing the MAC can do about it.

The current ESPN deal allows the MAC to distribute its games to other outlets (now STO, formerly Fox Sports which has now purchased STO). It's minimal money, if any, that MAC schools get for those games. Just exposure. The MAC just can't command top dollar for the product. Even the next deal, while it will no doubt be an increase, won't make the MAC competitive with the major conferences. There is escalating money been thrown at FBS schools, it is overwhelmingly being funneled at the major 5 conferences. The gap continues to widen between them and us. And that is the plan, even with the guaranteed inclusion of a Gang of Five team in a BCS bowl. We are being slowly strangled.

(02-11-2013 11:19 AM)axeme Wrote:  The current ESPN deal allows the MAC to distribute its games to other outlets (now STO, formerly Fox Sports which has now purchased STO). It's minimal money, if any, that MAC schools get for those games. Just exposure. The MAC just can't command top dollar for the product. Even the next deal, while it will no doubt be an increase, won't make the MAC competitive with the major conferences. There is escalating money been thrown at FBS schools, it is overwhelmingly being funneled at the major 5 conferences. The gap continues to widen between them and us. And that is the plan, even with the guaranteed inclusion of a Gang of Five team in a BCS bowl. We are being slowly strangled.

Good comments.

One thing I see also is the chance for a MAC school to move up and join the ranks of the Big Boys is now shut for good. There is no longer a true entry level contract conference like the old Big East that was theoretically "in reach" of a MAC school if they could catch lightening in a bottle like Boise State.

I think what you are going to see is internal realignment among the B1G, SEC, B10, PAC and ACC. The SEC and B1G will target ACC schools and the leftovers will probably end up in the B12. The ACC could be compeltely swallowed up in the next 5-10 years.

Now its possible that a school like UConn could find itself among the big boys again if they can get the football stadium up to 55,000 seats. There is just no way a MAC school can build up to 55k in support in this day and age of weekday stadiums. To be honest, most MAC schools struggle with hitting 15k when losing.

The MAC though may draw pretty close to the BE in football in TV revenue though with an overall deal of 1 million and 500k per game TV revenue sharing. At least the big gun schools like NIU, Ohio and Kent State would make TV $$$ at near BE levels.

Most of our posters were not alive the last time the "Big Gun" schools of OU and Kent were MAC champs.

(02-11-2013 05:02 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  I think what you are going to see is internal realignment among the B1G, SEC, B10, PAC and ACC. The SEC and B1G will target ACC schools and the leftovers will probably end up in the B12. The ACC could be compeltely swallowed up in the next 5-10 years.

Maybe. But I don't see the math working here. I didn't see it for UMd/Rutgers, and I see it less for the others.

Law of diminishing returns.

Doesn't mean it won't happen, but it will be stupid.

ACC is a step down from where they were in 1990, but not so far off. Frankly, losing Rutgers is a plus. Gaining Pitt is a plus. Losing UMd and taking BC and Syr are the minuses. At this point, might as take UConn and call it done.

There's not enough room in BiG and SEC to poach that much more. ACC will continue, even if it looks like oBE.

Quote:Now its possible that a school like UConn could find itself among the big boys again if they can get the football stadium up to 55,000 seats.

See above.

3/4 of the MAC could make a logical argument to be added to the BE. Really only the MI schools are the 1/4 who don't have much of a pitch.

(02-12-2013 12:44 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  3/4 of the MAC could make a logical argument to be added to the BE. Really only the MI schools are the 1/4 who don't have much of a pitch.

OK NIU is up right now we get it, however, it was not long ago CMU was winning MAC titles. Football in the MAC is cyclical, what goes up eventually comes down. I wish fans of the MAC can just focus on trying to make the conference better rather than looking for the next conference to jump to.

2 years ago it was one of those MI schools that gave NIU the lone conference loss.

(02-12-2013 03:34 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  

(02-12-2013 12:44 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  3/4 of the MAC could make a logical argument to be added to the BE. Really only the MI schools are the 1/4 who don't have much of a pitch.

OK NIU is up right now we get it, however, it was not long ago CMU was winning MAC titles. Football in the MAC is cyclical, what goes up eventually comes down. I wish fans of the MAC can just focus on trying to make the conference better rather than looking for the next conference to jump to.

2 years ago it was one of those MI schools that gave NIU the lone conference loss.

Football is not as cyclical as it was in the MAC. Its not like EMU or UMass can compete for the MAC crown in 2013 where there programs are at.

NIU and Toledo have had a couple of down years in the MAC but for the last 10 years have been consistent. Central Michigan has a couple of down years but it looks like they're on the way back.

In rectruiting you see it every year the same names have good classes, Toledo, NIU, CMU, Miami, Ohio while the others lose most of the recruiting battles against the top group.

(02-12-2013 08:17 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(02-11-2013 05:02 PM)Louis Kitton Wrote:  I think what you are going to see is internal realignment among the B1G, SEC, B10, PAC and ACC. The SEC and B1G will target ACC schools and the leftovers will probably end up in the B12. The ACC could be compeltely swallowed up in the next 5-10 years.

Maybe. But I don't see the math working here. I didn't see it for UMd/Rutgers, and I see it less for the others.

Law of diminishing returns.

Doesn't mean it won't happen, but it will be stupid.

ACC is a step down from where they were in 1990, but not so far off. Frankly, losing Rutgers is a plus. Gaining Pitt is a plus. Losing UMd and taking BC and Syr are the minuses. At this point, might as take UConn and call it done.

There's not enough room in BiG and SEC to poach that much more. ACC will continue, even if it looks like oBE.

Think about this.....How can the ACC look like the oBE when the flagship school of the oBE West Virginia is already in the B12? Also Rutgers wasn't in the ACC before. They've always been in the Big East.

If you look 5 power conference system of 2014 the same schools are included that were in it in 2005 with the exception of TCU and Utah in while UConn, UC and South Florida are out. 12 schools moved internally between power conferences.

The B12 would like to get their paws on Louisville, Clemson and Florida State but can't quite do it yet. That is if they go to 12-14. What if the B1G moves to 16-20 schools? The ACC gets gutted and the SEC/B12 pick over the leftovers.

I could see where the B1G might do something unexpected like take UConn and UVa. Rutgers to the B1G was slightly unexpected. I could also see where UConn would help strengthen the Big Ten network across the New York metro and perhaps even Boston. UConn like Rutgers before it still has some growing up to do before its ready for the BIG.

How much does Navy make from its current TV contract? I know that CBS pays $5mil PER YEAR until 2018 for the Army/Navy game alone. So assuming an even 50/50 split that means that Navy would get 2.5mil just from that game and 2mil from the BE in TV money on top of the BCS access money.

The question is does that 2mil TV money + BCS money = what they get now from CBS minus the Army/Navy game? I doubt it but it that is true then they may consider not joining in 2015.

(02-12-2013 05:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  How much does Navy make from its current TV contract? I know that CBS pays $5mil PER YEAR until 2018 for the Army/Navy game alone. So assuming an even 50/50 split that means that Navy would get 2.5mil just from that game and 2mil from the BE in TV money on top of the BCS access money.

The question is does that 2mil TV money + BCS money = what they get now from CBS minus the Army/Navy game? I doubt it but it that is true then they may consider not joining in 2015.

i'm not sure if Navy does get paid for its deal with CBS Sports.

A couple scenarios could play out here, Navy could leave the BE or Navy could stay insisting that Army has first rights as the 12th school.

CBS complications might be what has held Army back as a BE candidate. Could the MAC add Army and pick up a secondary deal with CBS Sports in the process? That I do not know.

Sure you do. Army is never joining the MAC.

(02-11-2013 08:31 PM)DICK Wrote:  Most of our posters were not alive the last time the "Big Gun" schools of OU and Kent were MAC champs.

What I'm talking about when I'm saying Big Gun is that schools like Ohio and Kent State have close to 40k in enrollment, lead the league in FB/BB attendance and have success in FB/BB.

Kent almost won the FB MACC in 2012, Ohio the FB MACC in 2011. Both schools have put a lot of guys into the NFL over the last 5-8 years. I think for Kent 2012 was more of a break out season after many teams that fizzled in November.

Schools with success in FB/BB can cash in with a pay for TV appearance system. A school like Eastern Michigan won't benefit as much but it doesn't matter because they aren't going anywhere.

Taking Ohio's TV appearance numbers from 2012 plus travel savings and BB distribution Ohio is doing much better than if it played in CUSA.

Football TV Money 150k x 6 (900,000)
Basketball TV Money 50k x 4 (200,000)
Base MAC TV distribution (125,000)
Travel Cost Savings (1,000,000)
Total MAC Value (2.25 million)

Compare that with the CUSA TV deal and having to absorb increased travel costs.

MAC Value (2.25 million)
CUSA TV distribuiton (1.0 million)

The MAC is already a better deal for Ohio than CUSA but the conference signs the next deal and all the payouts and appearances increase its going to be even better than full membership in the Big East. You have to assume that overall national appearances would bump up if both NBC and ESPN are invloved too.

Football TV Money 300k x 8 (2.4 million)
Basketball TV Money 100k x 10 (1 million)
Base MAC TV distribution (1,000,000)
Travel Cost Savings (1,000,000)
Total 2016 MAC Value (5.4 million)

2016 MAC Value (5.4 million)
BE TV distribuiton (3.0 million)

The additional travel cost issue that has always been a problem for a MAC school moving to CUSA is now also a problem for a MAC school moving to the Big East with schools having a CUSA style spreadout footprint now.

Its worth considering too that the Big East football conference is only 1 major realignment move from being completely destroyed. UConn leaves and Tulsa, Houston and SMU are out the door to the Mountain West.

Depending on how much the C7 get offered, it might be in Cincinnati and UConn's best interests to join the MAC for football and the C7 in everything else. Get the benefit of two TV contracts that might add up to be more than what the Big East gets.

(02-12-2013 06:31 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Depending on how much the C7 get offered, it might be in Cincinnati and UConn's best interests to join the MAC for football and the C7 in everything else. Get the benefit of two TV contracts that might add up to be more than what the Big East gets.

C7 is going to be offered only 3 million per school, about the same as the new Big East.

Otherwise, I'm totally in agreement that UConn or UC football would be a good pick up for the MAC.

Reports coming out that NBC Sports is offering $20 million per school per year.

(02-12-2013 09:15 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  Reports coming out that NBC Sports is offering $20 million per school per year.

That 20 million figure for the Big East is for all schools included, 23 million if there is a championship game. Closer to 2 million per school per year.

After they split the package then maybe 3 mill per school.