(12-18-2017 11:53 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote: (12-18-2017 11:08 AM)Wedge Wrote: (12-18-2017 10:40 AM)JRsec Wrote: (12-18-2017 10:20 AM)orangefan Wrote: http://www.bigten.org/genrel/121509aaa.html
Quote:Big Ten Statement on Expansion
Dec. 15, 2009
The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) discussed the future of the Big Ten Conference at its winter meetings on Dec. 6 in Park Ridge, Illinois. The following statement is issued by the Big Ten office on behalf of the COP/C.
Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference in June of 1990 and its addition has been an unqualified success. In 1993, 1998 and 2003 the COP/C, in coordination with the commissioner's office, reviewed the issue of conference structure and expansion. The COP/C believes that the timing is right for the conference to once again conduct a thorough evaluation of options for conference structure and expansion. As a result, the commissioner was asked to provide recommendations for consideration by the COP/C over the next 12 to 18 months.
The COP/C understands that speculation about the conference is ongoing. The COP/C has asked the conference office to obtain, to the extent possible, information necessary to construct preliminary options and recommendations without engaging in formal discussions with leadership of other institutions. If and when such discussions become necessary the COP/C has instructed Commissioner James E. Delany to inform the Chair of the COP/C, Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon, and then to notify the commissioner of the affected conference(s). Only after these notices have occurred will the Big Ten engage in formal expansion discussions with other institutions. This process will allow the Big Ten to evaluate options, while respecting peer conferences and their member institutions. No action by the COP/C is expected in the near term. No interim statements will be made by the Big Ten or the COP/C until after the COP/C receives the commissioner's recommendations and the COP/C determines next steps, if any, in this area.
Well..., I think we've passed the period of polite formality. I suspect if/when it happens again there will be little to no public notice prior to the announcements and because of GOR's notification of other conferences will be nil as departures will likely be timed with contract and GOR expiration. I also expect that serving notice will be bypassed simply because the conferences suffering losses will withhold funds to the departing anyway. So an announcement followed by immediate departure with the forfeiture of one year's revenue will probably be M.O.. But as with all things we'll see.
We'll know something is up if the Big 12 GOR is not extended before it expires. They'll start talking about extending the GOR and their TV deals about 2 years before the expiration date. If a school or schools is stalling on committing to an extension, that news will leak out. Or, they'll just sign an extension and that will be that.
It should be an interesting next few years. If the stories being posted about grumblings happening in the PAC are true, it could be a game changer for realignment. Factor in the recent Fox/Disney merger and we could be looking a whole new ballgame. The way it sounds the new Fox will be focusing more on sports and news which could mean more $$$ thrown at conferences and conference programming.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rupert-murd...1513280513
Let the rumors begin!
If that's what you are thinking, think again. Here are a few reasons:
1. Most of the buyout was in Disney stock. Is FOX going to do anything to undermine their holdings?
2. Murdoch wasn't bullish on sports. FS1, FS2, and the BTN probably weren't on the auction block because they might have tipped the definition of monopoly against the deal.
3. Look for greater cooperation between FOX and ESPN moving forward. If so look for more collectivization among the P5 as they try to gain bargaining leverage.
The Big 10 isn't going to be hurt by this move, but thy won't be helped either. And that is true for all of the conferences. If anything all this does is to remove the bidding tension for our rights.
I look for realignment to occur a few years from the current contract expiration so that the networks (FOX and ESPN) can use renegotiation clauses to lock in the top conferences before they come up for bid again. If so look for contracts into the 2040's to take their place.
I also find the Skipper resignation to be an interesting one. (a) It is what it is. (b) He groped a woman while drunk 30 years ago and doesn't want to go through that mess. (I'm not serious here but given the current climate who knows?) © The realignment plans for the future might violate his loyalties and they are coming sooner rather than later. (d.) Some or all of the above.
It will be fascinating to watch this soap opera play out.
But no matter what, the way this move was monetized it is more of an unofficial partnership between FOX and Disney than anything else. They have financially made turned their self interest into a mutual interest and have done so to prepare against the onslaught to the tech companies streaming threat, and to cut overhead by not bidding against one another. I see absolutely nothing here to indicate their aggressive movement for any sports rights.