Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[woofermazing]

I have to agree. My initial thought on a "UT Network" was "How will they leverage this into something akin to the BTN?"

They can't. And don't need to, because they don't have an 11 way split.

Perhaps not having an OSU Network was the mistake.

It wasn't a mistake, we wouldn't have the capital to make it something worth watching outside of exclusive football games. The quality of BTN game broadcasts aren't jaw dropping, but I rate them very good so far and way better than ESPN2 or ESPNU.

We would have also had to buy back rights to some football games if we wanted to broadcast them. Texas still has to do this to launch a network unless it's going to be a non-revenue sport channel. With the exception of women's volleyball, I'm not sure that would be a winner either.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Colorado, who moved to the PAC only to be with UT and OU and who jumped the gun to block Baylor, now finds themselves 800 miles from their nearest opponent and will play virtually all of their conference games in a different time zone.

I think Colorado is quite happy right now. They've wanted to be part of the Pac 10 for decades. Now they have both made that jump and gotten away from the Bevo Conference, taking the Denver media market with them.

I still foresee Utah getting a Pac 10 invite before too long. It just makes too much sense.

 

[matcar]

Posts like that last line, given your penchant for sarcasm, are why I never know whether you are bring serious.

The big ten members aren't needy, starry eyed buffoons like the victims of Texas now and before.

Kudos to Texas for getting theirs, but I'm glad they aren't part of ours.

OK I think we all wish that UT was a bit less demanding but are you truly happy that The Game is no longer our last game and that adding Nebraska is the offset to that?

I'm not. Nebraska is a fine institution, but I wouldn't have made this trade at the onset of this adventure.

 

[colobuck79]

I think Colorado is quite happy right now. They've wanted to be part of the Pac 10 for decades. Now they have both made that jump and gotten away from the Bevo Conference, taking the Denver media market with them.

I agree with everything you say, except the Denver media market doesn't give a rip for college football. CU couldn't sell out their home games if they gave the tickets away (except, ironically, against NE). This is a one horse town, and that horse is a bronco. [puke]

 

[Oh8ch]

No, I wasn't serious about an OSU Network - at least not for the most part.

I do like that the Big Ten has a "one for all and all for one" mentality. I like that programs like OSU and Michigan are willing to share (much of) the wealth to maintain the health of the pond in which they swim. But I don't think it is complete altruism. OSU needs the Big Ten in a way that Texas may not need the Big XII.

Many are arguing that Texas will somehow "fail". I don't see how.

Their network might not work. Their financially out of balance 10 team Big XII may not last.

But Texas football will live on.

OSU is OSU largely because we have a virtual monopoly on talent from Ohio (due in no small part to tradition and our presence in the Big Ten).

Texas is Texas because they have a virtual monopoly on the top tier talent from a state that produces considerably more talented players than Ohio. I don't see that or the monetary value of Texas football changing anytime soon. Texas was thriving when Nebraska was struggling and they will thrive when Nebraska is gone.

 

[Buckeye86]

Not sure how Texas is doomed for failure.

they are in a shit conference that has absolutely no national draw outside of OU vs. Texas, even if they got to keep ALL of the money the conference generates it 1) won't be as much as they could make in a nationally recognized conference with marquee matchups nearly every week and an already established network with a national audience and 2) the unequal sharing system, which is exactly what destroyed the Big 12 to begin with, is almost sure to cause resentment with in the new, even worse conference, almost immediately, making the long term viability of the "new" rebuilt Big 12 extremely doubtful

that it why they are losers and will continue to be until they bight the bullet and treat people like equals

 

[Colvinnl]

they are in a [censored] conference that has absolutely no national draw outside of OU vs. Texas, even if they got to keep ALL of the money the conference generates it 1) won't be as much as they could make in a nationally recognized conference with marquee matchups nearly every week and an already established network with a national audience and 2) the unequal sharing system, which is exactly what destroyed the Big 12 to begin with, is almost sure to cause resentment with in the new, even worse conference, almost immediately, making the long term viability of the "new" rebuilt Big 12 extremely doubtful

that it why they are losers and will continue to be until they bight the bullet and treat people like equals

They could pick any conference to go to and you think they are "losers?" They are rumored to get a guaranteed $20 million a year in the new contract. OSU gets what, $15 mill from theirs? If the Big 12 falls apart again they can go to the Big 10 or Pac 10 or SEC at the drop of a hat. If that counts as being a "loser" count me in.

 

[Buckeye86]

If the Big 12 falls apart again they can go to the Big 10 or Pac 10 or SEC

apparently they can't, the Pac 10 and the Big 10 demand that Texas be equals in their respective conferences, which was clearly a hold up in the negotiating process over the last several weeks, and the SEC is a fucking joke in every respect outside of being competitive on the football field

so yes, they are losers stuck in a dying conference that in no way can sustain the "guaranteed" 20 million that they are currently promised... if that is even true and if they can even make that much, which I personally highly doubt

 

[Gatorubet]

apparently they can't, the Pac 10 and the Big 10 demand that Texas be equals in their respective conferences, which was clearly a hold up in the negotiating process over the last several weeks, and the SEC is a [censored]ing joke in every respect outside of being competitive on the football field

Your mother wears Wolverine gear...

 

[Colvinnl]

apparently they can't, the Pac 10 and the Big 10 demand that Texas be equals in their respective conferences, which was clearly a hold up in the negotiating process over the last several weeks, and the SEC is a [censored]ing joke in every respect outside of being competitive on the football field

so yes, they are losers stuck in a dying conference that in no way can sustain the "guaranteed" 20 million that they are currently promised... if that is even true and if they can even make that much, which I personally highly doubt

The TV contract has been widely reported at $ 20-25 million for Texas (which I agree might be dumb from the network's standpoint). They can go to the Big 10 or Pac 10...they would just make less money and have less control (which is better according to you). We are their backup plan, if the conference dies (which I agree it could)...they can simply go the backup plan.

Honestly, I think they are clear winners. They leveraged this into a great new tv deal and will be making loads more money. It is win-win.

 

[Buckeye86]

The TV contract has been widely reported at $ 20-25 million for Texas (which I agree might be dumb from the network's standpoint). They can go to the Big 10 or Pac 10...they would just make less money and have less control (which is better according to you). We are their backup plan, if the conference dies (which I agree it could)...they can simply go the backup plan.

Honestly, I think they are clear winners. They leveraged this into a great new tv deal and will be making loads more money. It is win-win.

they would make less money in the Pac 10 for sure, but I am fairly confident that the mega Big 10 with Texas as a part of it would be in a position to make significantly more money than any current arrangement (someone can correct me if I am wrong on that), so in the short term they are marginally better, and in the long term I suppose they could just fall back on joining an established conference, but I still think their attitude of superiority and privilege is going to prevent them from joining a viable long term conference and makes them losers in the long term... unless or until they drop that attitude

 

[MaxBuck]

I'm happy with the Big Ten where it is right now, and I see no need to trash any other conference in order to feel better about our own. Finally we have a twelfth team, which is good; Nebraska is an excellent fit for us.

Big XII will apparently survive, and good luck to them.

Pac-Whatever will apparently survive, and good luck to them.

SEC will obviously survive also. Sodomize them with a chainsaw.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

So far, and I think we are aware of this, but there is no new contract. Its a plan... possibly a plan with mostly concrete details, but it is not written in stone. And the guarantee $20mil is based entirely on speculation. If it was like their old one, then it depended on nationally broadcast or high-regional broadcast appearances. In a 10 team league that lost a lot of luster, I ponder where the dramatic increase in consistent revenue will come from.

 

[jwinslow]

They can go to the Big 10 or Pac 10...they would just make less money and have less control (which is better according to you).

quite false. They'd make more, they just want the biggest cut OF "more"

We are their backup plan, if the conference dies (which I agree it could)...they can simply go the backup plan.

they arent welcome on these terms, and threw up a Texas sized red flag for any future consideration in the conference.

Their only option after this may be the sec, which a huge loss in their book regardless of revenue or football .

Honestly, I think they are clear winners. They leveraged this into a great new tv deal and will be making loads more money. It is win-win.

they cashed in, but they mortgaged their future if this conference doesn't last, which is likely given their last two tries.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

quite false. They'd make more, they just want the biggest cut or "more"

We are their backup plan, if the conference dies (which I agree it could)...they can simply go the backup plan.

they arent welcome on these terms, and threw up a Texas sized red flag for any future consideration in the conference.

Their only option after this may be the sec, which a huge loss in their book regardless of revenue or football .
they cashed in, but they mortgaged their future if this conference doesn't last, which is likely given their last two tries.

Lets not forget how weak this new conference will be.... I heard them saying on the radio this afternoon that Dan Beebe was telling everyone not to schedule cupcakes for non-conference schedules.

IMHO, Texas will get richer and further separate itself as the richest AD in the country...

but they'll end up suffering when it comes to perception in football, outside of a truly marque game in the non-conference for them and OU, I don't see a way they make it to the national champion game. The conference is in the toilet.