http://www.mwcconnection.com/2017/3/13/1...ew-tv-deal

Might this create more space for C-USA on ESPN & CBS Sports Network?

I'd rather it be seen as a potential model CUSA can follow. Live streaming options only is fine by me.

(03-14-2017 10:03 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  I'd rather it be seen as a potential model CUSA can follow. Live streaming options only is fine by me.

Me too. It's not like we'd be forgoing any huge TV bucks.

The MAC has literally no games on Saturday in November. I don't want that to be us.

Streaming could be a plausible alternative for the current fan base but it certainly isn't beneficial to school/conference branding and will not build the causal fan base. Many complain about current financial package on the flip side same group doesn't want to pay. We are our own enemy.

CUSA and ESPN separated several years ago. Since, conference branding has declined dramatically. Granted other choices and performance play a part in the decline but separation from ESPN was the start.

Conference branding died with 3.0. Most teams that were worth anything got picked up and the others were left behind.

And while streaming may seem like it won't build a casual fanbase, I beg to differ. Young people are looking online more and more for their viewing content. Videos game tournaments get millions upon millions of viewers. Sports are going in this direction, just not at the fastest pace. But the more people who cut the cord (who hasn't been reading this on this very board for a year now?), the more conferences will switch to a streaming option.

Now the real problem is that many still don't get how to make it work. Subscription fees will not supply you with viewers. In fact, sub fees do the exact opposite of what schools are trying to accomplish: make money. What schools need to do is have a free stream with ads and make money off those ads. Do that and we may see some good money coming in.


With that said, the struggle is less about streaming it and more about how many will watch a CUSA school. The people who watch are going to be fans of the schools involved and our fanbases just aren't that large.

It's not an either/or thing. You can have both. MWC is only interested in it due to their location and the late tips and kicks TV forces. 9:00pm in the east is not the same at 9:00pm in the west.

C-USA could still have every game streamed not picked up on TV, but we don't face the same challenges as the MWC when it comes to start times. Therefore, if the MWC wants off traditional TV due to start times then C-USA could eat up that air time.

(03-14-2017 11:23 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  Conference branding died with 3.0. Most teams that were worth anything got picked up and the others were left behind.

And while streaming may seem like it won't build a casual fanbase, I beg to differ. Young people are looking online more and more for their viewing content. Videos game tournaments get millions upon millions of viewers. Sports are going in this direction, just not at the fastest pace. But the more people who cut the cord (who hasn't been reading this on this very board for a year now?), the more conferences will switch to a streaming option.

Now the real problem is that many still don't get how to make it work. Subscription fees will not supply you with viewers. In fact, sub fees do the exact opposite of what schools are trying to accomplish: make money. What schools need to do is have a free stream with ads and make money off those ads. Do that and we may see some good money coming in.


With that said, the struggle is less about streaming it and more about how many will watch a CUSA school. The people who watch are going to be fans of the schools involved and our fanbases just aren't that large.

If the schools do the production like the MW, then the threshold for profit is much less. In addition, adding all of the events on the Olympic sports and the hundreds of views it will add up to where advertisers will want their ads shown. Get a cumulative viewership will be able to show them it is worthwhile to show ads and not just rely of big games or big schools to support it.