(02-24-2018 02:41 PM)billybobby777 Wrote: ESPN has been trying to kill my school for over 20 years with conference realignment, BCS/P5 and labeling us “mid-major”. They’ve almost destroyed us. Time to fight back. How to we make ESPN a mid-major and get involved in college sports media realignment? Serious ideas. I want them to hurt as bad as they hurt us.
I want them out.
As it relates to college football and basketball, I'd say the best bet would be for the B1G, PAC, and B12, along with the AAC and MWC to choose other broadcast partners completely.
ESPN would still be strong with SEC and ACC content and networks, but a huge portion of the college football world follows the other conferences. I might have some of the dates and contract benchmarks out of order, but this is how it could happen:
STEP 1
Starting with the 2020 season, AAC, MWC and BYU/WCC split football and basketball inventory with NBC, CBS and Amazon - including the CCGs and basketball tournaments.
* ESPN is left with only its half-inventory of PAC (and Big Sky/Big West?) late night kickoffs and tipoffs. ESPN also loses inventory for ESPN2 and ESPNU by losing weeknight AAC and MWC games and some of the ACC inventory (that goes to the AACN, starting 2019). Must replace with less-attractive games or non-college sports programming.
NBCSports and CBSSN get a bump with some better inventory from the majority of AAC, MWC, and BYU and WCC inventory, with a few football games (including CCGs) and a dozen basketball games for NBC and CBS broadcast to compliment Notre Dame and SEC games.
STEP 2
Starting with the 2020 bowl season, FOX, NBC, and/or CBS negotiate broadcast deals with several major bowl games and most AAC and MWC bowl games. As these networks take over more inventory (see below), they continue to take over broadcasting rights for the major bowl games.
* ESPN is slowly divested of its massive control of the college football post-season. In begins with the AAC and MWC taking over their bowl games and just a couple of other P5 bowl games here or there. Eventually, the CONFERENCES take control of bowl games and broadcasting rights. ESPN is left with massive holes in its holiday broadcast lineup - at least as far as college football goes.
STEP 3
For the 2023 season, Big Ten splits its football and basketball inventory with FOX and NBC - including the Big Ten CCG and basketball tournament.
* ESPN takes it on the chin. Loses significant ABC and ESPN Saturday inventory. Must replace with less-attractive games or non-college sports programming.
NBCSports and FS1 get some better inventory from B1G second tier games. NBC supplements the Notre Dame and AAC/MWC/BYU games.
STEP 4
For the 2024 season, PAC splits inventory with FOX, CBS, and Amazon - including the PAC CCG and basketball tournament.
*ESPN has no quality college sports programming left for the late night timeslots. (This is where ESPN might offer AAC/MWC/WCC significant money, to fill timeslots).
CBS adds quality Pacific timezone inventory for CBSSN and compliments the SEC game of the week and AAC/MWC/BYU inventory. Can now have three CBS-worthy broadcasts each Saturday.
STEP 5
For the 2025 season, CBS extends/renews its SEC game of the week.
*ESPN doesn't have this inventory now, but it would desperately want the best SEC games to help fill out its college football inventory.
CBS keeps the SEC game of the week.
STEP 6
For the 2025 season, either the PAC and B1G expand, destroying the B12,... or the B12 splits inventory with FOX, CBS and Amazon - including the B12 CCG and basketball tournament.
* ESPN is now left with only partial SEC and ACC college sports inventory for ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. However, ABC needs content and the SECN and ACCN need inventory. So, SEC and ACC inventory for ESPN and ESPN2 broadcast is diminished. ESPNU likely doesn't survive, unless Sun Belt and MAC (or Ivy League) sports are deemed suitable replacement inventory.