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Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

isucy86 said:
I am not a big believer in this fixed duopoly of ESPN(Disney) & FOX. They both currently operate from a position of power/leverage. ESPN because it's the "worldwide leader in sports". It's entire business model is televising sports so it is critical for them to buy sport properties to fulfill their "worldwide leader" status. FOX has leverage because of it's ownership of Big10 media rights. Also, people overlook that both Comcast (NBC) & Paramount Skydance (CBS) each invested $350M annually in Big10 media rights. Each investing the same as FOX.

But their roles are not a given. Especially, the ESPN & SEC relationship. The linear SECN will not be a hook in 2034. It will be an albatross. FOX has the hook, but any partnership can be dissolved. Or another Corporation could make FOX a financial offer they can't refuse.

Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Warner Bros/Discovery, Comcast (NBC Universal), Paramount/Skydance have deep pockets and can financially compete with Disney or FOX for college sport media rignts. Just a matter of how much they view live sports as a hook to bring subscribers to their platforms.

If I were Yormark, I would count on ESPN/FOX NOT being significant bidders for the Big12's media rights in 2031. The fact neither stepped up in 2023 to increase the Big12's media deal is pretty telling. The good thing:
  • There are other deep pocketed companies in the media space
  • Each of the companies is trying to grow subscribers to their platforms
  • Platforms as tools to sell product is in its infancy
Sure there is some risk to the Big 12, but there is also an opportunity to close the gap with the Big12/SEC.
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If other bidders don't have CFP access, they have much less incentive to bid up B12 rights and the gap will between the B12 and SEC/B10 will significantly widen.

Fox is essentially a silent partner in the ongoing B10 Equity Deal given the GOR extension terms. Pettiti is working for Fox on this deal in order to extend their relationship.

And as long as ESPN likely controls the CFP bid process as they do now, their relationship with the SEC will continue and they will eventually shed ACC and other conference rights to save money and they can fold in SECN into one of their other linear networks and/or ESPN+.
 
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cykadelic2 said:
If other bidders don't have CFP access, they have much less incentive to bid up B12 rights and the gap will between the B12 and SEC/B10 will significantly widen.

Fox is essentially a silent partner in the ongoing B10 Equity Deal given the GOR extension terms. Pettiti is working for Fox on this deal in order to extend their relationship.

And as long as ESPN likely controls the CFP bid process as they do now, their relationship with the SEC will continue and they will eventually shed ACC and other conference rights to save money and they can fold in SECN into one of their other linear networks and/or ESPN+.
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The advantage for the b12 over ACC is viewership. I believe the b12 has better viewership. The only hiccup there is ND playing in the ACC.
 
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cykadelic2 said:
If other bidders don't have CFP access, they have much less incentive to bid up B12 rights and the gap will between the B12 and SEC/B10 will significantly widen.

Fox is essentially a silent partner in the ongoing B10 Equity Deal given the GOR extension terms. Pettit is working for Fox on this deal in order to extend their relationship.

And as long as ESPN likely controls the CFP bid process as they do now, their relationship with the SEC will continue and they will eventually shed ACC and other conference rights to save money and they can fold in SECN into one of their other linear networks and/or ESPN+.
Click to expand...

The CFP deal with ESPN runs through 2031/32 which is a couple years before ESPN's deal with the SEC ends. And about the same time the next Big12 TV deal is up for renewal. Good timing for the Big12. ESPN has already sub-licensed games to TNT. So obviously someone other than ESPN values televising the CFP.

If we have learned anything, college Presidents are greedy and will follow the money! If ESPN isn't willing to pay top dollar to keep exclusive rights, I'm sure the CFP is more than willing to have games on multiple networks.

I'd be surprised if ESPN+ exists in 3-5 years. Disney is cutting costs and maintaining multiple platforms is silly and costly. At some point Disney will add ESPN+, FUBO and Hulu + to the existing Disney Plus platform.
 
isucy86 said:
The CFP deal with ESPN runs through 2031/32 which is a couple years before ESPN's deal with the SEC ends. And about the same time the next Big12 TV deal is up for renewal. Good timing for the Big12. ESPN has already sub-licensed games to TNT. So obviously someone other than ESPN values televising the CFP.

If we have learned anything, college Presidents are greedy and will follow the money! If ESPN isn't willing to pay top dollar to keep exclusive rights, I'm sure the CFP is more than willing to have games on multiple networks.
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Yeah right.

College Presidents are very stupid when it comes to best monetizing CFB media rights and have obviously acquiesced to the whims of ESPN and Fox given the current state of conference alignment for the sole benefit of ESPN/Fox. They have obviously left millions on the table with that stupidity.

And the only reason ESPN is sublicensing CFP games (and still producing the sublicensed games) is not piss off their bigger partner, the NFL, as the CFP foolishly schedules games vs the NFL.
 
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cykadelic2 said:
And the only reason ESPN is sublicensing CFP games (and still producing the sublicensed games) is not piss off their bigger partner, the NFL, as the CFP foolishly schedules games vs the NFL.
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Exhibit A of how FBS is leaving millions/billions of dollars on the table with the existing media rights process, CFP format and ESPN/Fox oversized conferences:

frontofficesports.com

NFL-CFP Scheduling Clash Returns, TNT Sports Takes Hit Again

The NFL released the kickoff times for its Week 16 doubleheader on Dec. 20, the same day three first-round CFP games will be played.
frontofficesports.com frontofficesports.com
 
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Why is SEC killing Big 10 in ratings?
1. No compelling game. Besides Michigan who has Ohio State played? Indiana same thing.
2. The lazy tv watcher. The SEC has made not having to switch channels into an art form by ditching CBS. Big 10 doesn’t have that luxury.
Big 10 is cashing the Fox cash, but not delivering for Fox.
 
Kinch said:
Why is SEC killing Big 10 in ratings?
1. No compelling game. Besides Michigan who has Ohio State played? Indiana same thing.
2. The lazy tv watcher. The SEC has made not having to switch channels into an art form by ditching CBS. Big 10 doesn’t have that luxury.
Big 10 is cashing the Fox cash, but not delivering for Fox.
Click to expand...
 
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I’ve said it before. The SEC populates the largest footprint for the most rabid consumers of college football in the country. It is a religion down here.

The B1G is historically a Midwest league and comes 2nd fiddle to the NFL. Lions, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Steelers, etc all have massive followings. People don’t show up for the Falcons like they do for UGA or the Titans like they do for Tennessee. Adding the biggest PAC schools doesn’t move the needle when they play Maryland or Purdue.

Couple this with decades of ESPN “It just means more” propaganda and Southerners truly have their flagship thing. It’s an identity. It’s still a regional league.

LSU’s campus library has leaking ceilings but they’re paying 3 football coaches over $140M right now. The state is in $8B of debt. Iowans would not tolerate that at ISU or UI.

There are record numbers of kids coming to SEC schools from the northeast because tuition is cheaper, the cost of living postgrad is lower, and they want the SEC gameday experience.
 
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The Big 10 and SEC has had a terrible month PR wise.
1. Big Tens cash advance plan fizzled.
2. Louisiana Governor. Nuff said.
3. Congressman alleges Big 10 commish tried to “buy votes”
4. LSU being blamed for SCORE act failure.
5. Lane Kiffin takes a hit from Jeffries.

Horns down.
 
MugNight said:
I’ve said it before. The SEC populates the largest footprint for the most rabid consumers of college football in the country. It is a religion down here.

The B1G is historically a Midwest league and comes 2nd fiddle to the NFL. Lions, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Steelers, etc all have massive followings. People don’t show up for the Falcons like they do for UGA or the Titans like they do for Tennessee. Adding the biggest PAC schools doesn’t move the needle when they play Maryland or Purdue.

Couple this with decades of ESPN “It just means more” propaganda and Southerners truly have their flagship thing. It’s an identity. It’s still a regional league.

LSU’s campus library has leaking ceilings but they’re paying 3 football coaches over $140M right now. The state is in $8B of debt. Iowans would not tolerate that at ISU or UI.

There are record numbers of kids coming to SEC schools from the northeast because tuition is cheaper, the cost of living postgrad is lower, and they want the SEC gameday experience.
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Several years ago I saw the SEC ratings from the state of Alabama and it was something like 80 or 90% of TVs watch the SEC. The percentage is astounding when compared to the Big 10 footprint.
 
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I guess I can understand the "idea" NCAA, Presidents, AD's & Conference leadership looking for Congress to help. But the reality is Congress might be one of the few entities in the US more disfunctional than the NCAA.

Maybe it's time for the NCAA & Conferences to solve their own problems. Develop a student-athlete model that brings sanity to the system and can withstand legal scrutiny.
 
BCClone said:
The advantage for the b12 over ACC is viewership. I believe the b12 has better viewership. The only hiccup there is ND playing in the ACC.
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And the Big XII is already BETTER than the ACC overall. If we could get ND in the Big XII, the Big XII would be light years ahead of the ACC. Not sure why the Irish don't see that the Big XII would be better for them than the ACC in all aspects?
 
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Kinch said:
Several years ago I saw the SEC ratings from the state of Alabama and it was something like 80 or 90% of TVs watch the SEC. The percentage is astounding when compared to the Big 10 footprint.
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Just have to ask one question. Would you rather watch an ABC triple header of SEC games on ABC or a triple header of B1G games (random channels) on a CFB Saturday?
 
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