(10-12-2018 10:08 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(10-11-2018 08:53 PM)kevinwmsn Wrote:  ESPN needs to allow USA Troy game to be on Saturday, this will be the 4th year in a row for midweek battle. I will give up a ESPN game to have it back on Saturday.

2018 Troy @ South Alabama - Tuesday
2017 South Alabama @ Troy - Wednesday
2016 Troy @ South Alabama - Thursday
2015 South Alabama @ Troy - Saturday
2014 Troy @ South Alabama - Friday

Completely ludicrous.

It especially sucks for USA/Troy because it's a budding rivalry. It's not as established as App/GS, so it hurts y'all a lot more to play that rivalry on week nights than it does us with regards to growing interest and creating an atmosphere.

I would love to see the attendance numbers of an App/GS game played on a Saturday, especially this year when both teams are challenging each other for the East and App is nearly ranked. It would set an attendance record easy if it was on a Saturday.

(10-12-2018 08:14 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  If you personally don't like the midweek games that's fine, it's your experience of the situation. But IMO it's hard for anyone on this forum to claim that they are bad for the MAC or SB or their member schools.

Surely, when signing these deals with ESPN that allow for a lot of midweek games, these schools took into consideration the impact on attendance and the like and decided that the benefits of the TV deal outweighed the demerits.

Rooting for a school who more or less made their name on weeknight football I could not agree more. Now, I would agree that perhaps no team should be required to have more than one weeknight game (and certainly no weeknight game should be relegated to streaming platform (unless paid extra for it), and those who want more can sign up, but I'd be willing to bet several teams enjoy the spotlight. Not all, obviously, but it's good for those who make it work. Especially those that put up big offensive numbers.

The NIU-Toledo game has more often than not determined the winner of the MAC West in the past decade - and we haven't played on Saturday since 2009. Every year, including the upcoming 2018 game, has been on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Not technically a rivalry game but it's big game for the conference. And we do have at least 2 home games every year that are midweek, going back several years at least.

Pros
1.) Exposure for fans and recruits
2.) Money
3.) Attendance is usually bad in November anyways


Cons
1.) Many fans can't attend games
2.) Empty stadiums on TV doesn't look good
3.) Bye-bye to tailgating

Beating a dead horse. Sick of this argument. NEXT!

If your game is not going to be televised nationally on ESPN, ESPN2, or another channel with comparable national tv carriage there is no point in moving that game to a week night.

If you aren't being showcased you should be playing Saturday afternoon for the sake of your fans.

(10-16-2018 08:33 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If you aren't being showcased you should be playing Saturday afternoon for the sake of your fans.

I'm not entirely sure how all that works, but I have a feeling that's up to the networks more than it is to the schools.

(10-16-2018 09:15 PM)McKinney Wrote:  

(10-16-2018 08:33 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If you aren't being showcased you should be playing Saturday afternoon for the sake of your fans.

I'm not entirely sure how all that works, but I have a feeling that's up to the networks more than it is to the schools.

AFAIU, the MAC contract specifies a minimum number at a minimum tier, and how many games ESPN will have to choose from. There has to be choice for ESPN to guarantee to do a broadcast. Both games on a national cable channel, or any game on the mothership, rests on the games being attractive enough to pick up.

I think the MAC should stick with mid-week but better monetize it.

-Have a rivalry week in October that is protected.

-Have no more than 2 per week over a 6 week period.

-Pitch the mid week package to another outlet for BE/AAC money.

FS1/FS2 would be better for the MAC since they aren't plugging ESPNs content each broadcast and has more time windows to fill.

(10-17-2018 01:11 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I think the MAC should stick with mid-week but better monetize it.

-Have a rivalry week in October that is protected.

-Have no more than 2 per week over a 6 week period.

-Pitch the mid week package to another outlet for BE/AAC money.

FS1/FS2 would be better for the MAC since they aren't plugging ESPNs content each broadcast and has more time windows to fill.

Yea, that's an issue with all the E$PN broadcasts that we didn't have with CBSsports or Comcast sportsnet when we were on there.

(10-17-2018 01:11 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I think the MAC should stick with mid-week but better monetize it.

-Have a rivalry week in October that is protected.

-Have no more than 2 per week over a 6 week period.

-Pitch the mid week package to another outlet for BE/AAC money.

FS1/FS2 would be better for the MAC since they aren't plugging ESPNs content each broadcast and has more time windows to fill.

Fox declined to even bid on the CUSA contract. I think they've made a strong statement regarding their interest in G5 content.

(10-17-2018 11:00 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Fox declined to even bid on the CUSA contract. I think they've made a strong statement regarding their interest in G5 content.

I wonder, would TBS have an interest in expanding their rights beyond the NCAA tournament and into college football? What about TruTV or TNT?

Just putting out some alternative networks that already have shown at least some interest in college athletics.

TBS had some Big XII/Pac XII games from 2002-2006 but go out of the college football game.

(10-17-2018 01:20 PM)McKinney Wrote:  

(10-17-2018 11:00 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Fox declined to even bid on the CUSA contract. I think they've made a strong statement regarding their interest in G5 content.

I wonder, would TBS have an interest in expanding their rights beyond the NCAA tournament and into college football? What about TruTV or TNT?

Just putting out some alternative networks that already have shown at least some interest in college athletics.

Before the Big East broke up they had interest in the BE TV rights back in 2011 or so, or whenever that was. From what I understand, the plan they were working on would have utilized TBS, TNT, Tru, and NBA TV to show games. So it is possible. But I doubt they would want anything but big market teams.

Ironically I always thought NFL Network would be a good option. Years ago they used to carry a bowl game. But it seems having a Saturday game or two would be good for them.

(10-17-2018 03:15 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  Before the Big East broke up they had interest in the BE TV rights back in 2011 or so, or whenever that was. From what I understand, the plan they were working on would have utilized TBS, TNT, Tru, and NBA TV to show games. So it is possible. But I doubt they would want anything but big market teams.

Ironically I always thought NFL Network would be a good option. Years ago they used to carry a bowl game. But it seems having a Saturday game or two would be good for them.

I think they "know their place". They know that ESPN/ABC/CBS will have the Power Five. NBC has Notre Dame. Fox has the Big East. If they want a "slice of the pie", grabbing some G5 games on the cheap would be an easy way to do it.

Let's face it, at the compensation of the G5 TV deals, most of the value is in exposure. It's not really operating revenue. If Turner Broadcasting is willing to give them the exposure, they'll be able to air it for next to nothing. Likely for less money and more viewership than what they currently air: sitcom reruns that people would rather watch on Netflix.

The problem here is that conferences like the MAC signed away their exclusive rights. So now they have content that isn't being aired by the broadcaster and they legally can't even approach a different network until 2027?

(10-17-2018 03:49 PM)McKinney Wrote:  

(10-17-2018 03:15 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  Before the Big East broke up they had interest in the BE TV rights back in 2011 or so, or whenever that was. From what I understand, the plan they were working on would have utilized TBS, TNT, Tru, and NBA TV to show games. So it is possible. But I doubt they would want anything but big market teams.

Ironically I always thought NFL Network would be a good option. Years ago they used to carry a bowl game. But it seems having a Saturday game or two would be good for them.

I think they "know their place". They know that ESPN/ABC/CBS will have the Power Five. NBC has Notre Dame. And Fox has the Big East. If they want a "slice of the pie" grabbing some G5 games on the cheap would be an easy way to do it.

Let's face it most G5 programs are more interested in TV for the exposure than the money. If Turner Broadcasting is willing to give them the exposure they'll be able to air it for next to nothing. And likely for less money (licensing) and more viewership than what they currently air: sitcom reruns that people would rather watch on Netflix.

The problem here is that conferences like the MAC signed away their exclusive rights. So now they have content that isn't being aired by the broadcaster and they legally can't even approach a different network until 2027?

It would be an interesting test case.

If you wanted to do it, I think basically TBS or TNT has to go all in that is at least one of the two stations has to clear three broadcast windows during the day and do that each week of the season or otherwise you don't build the viewership habit.

I think you have to sign MWC, MAC and at least one of AAC, Sun Belt, CUSA to get the geographic spread. You have to have the top tier so there is no question you get the occasional P5 visitor.

They aren't going to sign on for free, but I would expect you instead end up with a ad share system. The conference gets x minutes of ad inventory to sell which they are just going to hand over to someone like Learfield to sell on their behalf, maybe some sort of production cost share.

If you can deliver an audience, then you can price your ad inventory and come out OK and if you can't then money-wise you were probably better off with ESPN.

It would have to be a low overhead investment for anyone to want to take on ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/FS1 in the market.

I think it would be very unlikely because TBS can get their current content for very little investment. They don't make a fat return but they have very little tied up in it.

(10-17-2018 04:06 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  It would have to be a low overhead investment for anyone to want to take on ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/FS1 in the market.

I think it would be very unlikely because TBS can get their current content for very little investment. They don't make a fat return but they have very little tied up in it.

Provide a graphics package (for consistency across the network), maybe recommend some commentators, but I say let the schools do the production. Aren't a lot of schools doing that anyway for streaming?

(10-17-2018 01:34 PM)chidave Wrote:  TBS had some Big XII/Pac XII games from 2002-2006 but go out of the college football game.

That was around the time VS had PAC(?) games too.

(10-17-2018 10:06 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(10-17-2018 01:34 PM)chidave Wrote:  TBS had some Big XII/Pac XII games from 2002-2006 but go out of the college football game.

That was around the time VS had PAC(?) games too.

Versus had the Stanford/USC game in 2007 when Stanford upset #1 USC as a 40+ point underdog. And their announcer (Ron Thulin) completely botched the game winning TD call, saying it was a USC touchdown instead of Stanford.

The problem with TBS/TNT/truTV getting G5 leagues is you would likely have to have them show basketball games from these leagues as well. They wouldn’t just want one sport deals. Mountain West and AAC games on these networks would draw decent numbers, but that’s about it.

An AAC deal could actually make sense with football, men’s basketball, and UConn’s women’s basketball probably providing decent ratings.

The movies, reruns and reality shows still draw a few hundred thousand viewers each on Saturdays. Ohio/Buffalo on a Saturday at Noon or 3:30 on TBS against the best that every college football conference has to offer would struggle to hit six figures.

(10-17-2018 03:49 PM)McKinney Wrote:  Let's face it, at the compensation of the G5 TV deals, most of the value is in exposure. It's not really operating revenue. If Turner Broadcasting is willing to give them the exposure, they'll be able to air it for next to nothing. Likely for less money and more viewership than what they currently air: sitcom reruns that people would rather watch on Netflix.

Except to get the same exposure for the MAC, Turner Broadcasting would also have to be able to stream all of the MAC BBall games, which isn't something they are set up to do as well as ESPN.

Indeed, a big chunk of the exposure for the conference is because there are (typically) a pair of games on Tuesday, with at least one getting on National cable, and a pair of games on Thursday, with at least one getting on National cable ... the games might be on national cable on Saturday on a different network, but they aren't going to get the same audience.

And if the deal is to have Turner Broadcasting handle the broadcasts of weeknight Tuesday and Thursday games, they are less attractive places to be, and there really would not be the same opportunity to get both games of the pair on National cable in years when the lineup attracts enough interest for ESPN to opt to do that. It's likely that the "other" programming on the Turner Broadcasting networks at the same time is a lot harder to bump.

(10-18-2018 12:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  Except to get the same exposure for the MAC, Turner Broadcasting would also have to be able to stream all of the MAC BBall games, which isn't something they are set up to do as well as ESPN.

IMO streaming is not yet a direct replacement for linear broadcast. You should be able to sell linear rights to Turner and streaming rights to ESPN+. Neither company really has any overhead in that deal, and ESPN should take it because they apparently have no interest in broadcasting that content linearly.