Interesting leak to the AP...
I can't help but think
1. Those TV revenue $ are skewed because they don't include the renegotiation of B12 Tier 1 in 2-3 years...and they assume the SEC gets to completely rip up their current contracts and renegotiate
2. Only a $10 million buyout? What??? I know that's the 2-year option, but still...
3. Interesting to see Notre Dame on there as an option on there (non-football of course)
The Associated Press: APNewsBreak: Document outlines Mizzou SEC options
Missouri is exploring a move to the Southeastern Conference in hopes of getting as much as $12 million each year in additional TV and cable revenue, according to a confidential document obtained by The Associated Press.
The 45-page document, which was reviewed by Missouri's governing board of curators on Oct. 4, outlines the pros and cons of leaving the Big 12 Conference for the SEC. It was obtained from a university official familiar with the discussions who is not authorized to speak publicly.
Among other things, the report outlines the possible contours of broad conference realignment and it includes recent upheaval in the ACC and Big East.
Under the heading of "possible future conferences" for the Big 12,
it lists BYU, Louisville, TCU, West Virginia and Notre Dame (excluding football) as potential new members that could restore the fractured league to full strength. A TCU announcement of such a move was expected later Monday.
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When it comes to money, the report makes clear that Missouri is hopeful for a much bigger payday in the SEC.
The report suggests Missouri could earn $17.16 million in Big 12 TV money in fiscal year 2012, compared to $19.25 million from an SEC deal.
It also envisions a far bigger "per member share potential" should a larger SEC — with millions of more eyeballs in Texas and the Midwest — renegotiate its top-tier TV rights -- up to $12 million more per year.
Missouri could also "leverage (its) Tier 3 more," the report concludes, a reference to the TV rights not committed to cable networks but instead available as for pay-per-broadcast as well as school- and conference-specific networks such as the Longhorn Network, the Texas-ESPN enterprise blamed by some for throwing the Big 12 into turmoil.
"There are 33 million reasons" to join the SEC, said a second university official who had reviewed the report, citing the number of television households in the SEC's reach.
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An immediate departure by Missouri -- within six months, in time to for the 2012 football season -- would risk a hefty Big 12 exit fee of up to
$25.9 million, according to the report, a penalty that would require the school to turn over the remainder of its 2011 TV revenue and all of its projected 2012 TV money to the conference.
A more likely exit fee would approach $10.4 million, the report says, under a scenario where Missouri would give the Big 12 more notice -- as much as two years -- before leaving. Both Nebraska ($9.26 million) and Colorado ($6.86 million) negotiated reduced exit payments upon leaving the Big 12 earlier this year for the Big Ten and Pac-12, respectively.
