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Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
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AllTideUp Offline
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Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
I found this interesting if for no more reason than the guy was willing to go on the record.

Dennis Dodd reports

What's also interesting is his honesty with regard to precisely what TV execs want in market representation...something JR has hit on repeatedly.

The thing about expanding the CFP, if they ever seriously take up the question, is that you wouldn't be able to guarantee the biggest brands would be in the final.
01-03-2018 11:45 PM
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JRsec Offline
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RE: Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
(01-03-2018 11:45 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I found this interesting if for no more reason than the guy was willing to go on the record.

Dennis Dodd reports

What's also interesting is his honesty with regard to precisely what TV execs want in market representation...something JR has hit on repeatedly.

The thing about expanding the CFP, if they ever seriously take up the question, is that you wouldn't be able to guarantee the biggest brands would be in the final.

There's more going on there than a press release. CBS is trying to bid up ESPN's costs for the playoffs by putting a number out there. Plus Dodds raises the ante again by talking about the Rose Bowl and what it would cost to buyout the conference championship games. I'm thinking it would take 200 million each to buyout the CCG's of the Big 10 and SEC. 75 million to buy out the Big 12 & ACC games, and maybe a little less to buy out the PAC's.

He also makes an interesting observation that the Northeast and PAC aren't really worth having in the playoff from a ratings standpoint. So half of the ACC and the West coast are laggards for the networks. The Big 12 has always had good saturation numbers (actual viewers / potential viewers).

So yeah pretty much what I've told you that their ideal was to cover as many regions as possible, but to have the SEC vs the B1G as much as possible.

It makes me wonder if the guy is tossing out some numbers so CBS can scoop the CFP the same way that mainline networks have gone after pro playoffs.

If so the bidding war can only help the revenue.

If we ever were to go to an 8 game playoff either the bowls or the CCG's go. If it is the CCG's they would be easier to buy out and the money would go straight to the conferences instead of various local interests via ESPN.

In fact upon reflection, I believe this is a tacit challenge to ESPN who wants to keep the control of 4 schools at less overhead, rather than to float the idea of going to 8 and buying out the CCG's. It's an interesting but subtle ploy that bears watching.
(This post was last modified: 01-04-2018 02:54 AM by JRsec.)
01-04-2018 02:41 AM
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AllTideUp Offline
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RE: Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
(01-04-2018 02:41 AM)JRsec Wrote:  
(01-03-2018 11:45 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I found this interesting if for no more reason than the guy was willing to go on the record.

Dennis Dodd reports

What's also interesting is his honesty with regard to precisely what TV execs want in market representation...something JR has hit on repeatedly.

The thing about expanding the CFP, if they ever seriously take up the question, is that you wouldn't be able to guarantee the biggest brands would be in the final.

There's more going on there than a press release. CBS is trying to bid up ESPN's costs for the playoffs by putting a number out there. Plus Dodds raises the ante again by talking about the Rose Bowl and what it would cost to buyout the conference championship games. I'm thinking it would take 200 million each to buyout the CCG's of the Big 10 and SEC. 75 million to buy out the Big 12 & ACC games, and maybe a little less to buy out the PAC's.

He also makes an interesting observation that the Northeast and PAC aren't really worth having in the playoff from a ratings standpoint. So half of the ACC and the West coast are laggards for the networks. The Big 12 has always had good saturation numbers (actual viewers / potential viewers).

So yeah pretty much what I've told you that their ideal was to cover as many regions as possible, but to have the SEC vs the B1G as much as possible.

It makes me wonder if the guy is tossing out some numbers so CBS can scoop the CFP the same way that mainline networks have gone after pro playoffs.

If so the bidding war can only help the revenue.

If we ever were to go to an 8 game playoff either the bowls or the CCG's go. If it is the CCG's they would be easier to buy out and the money would go straight to the conferences instead of various local interests via ESPN.

In fact upon reflection, I believe this is a tacit challenge to ESPN who wants to keep the control of 4 schools at less overhead, rather than to float the idea of going to 8 and buying out the CCG's. It's an interesting but subtle ploy that bears watching.

By buying out the CCGs, I assume you mean adding that amount of cash to the total pot in exchange for the CFP rights?

Per season or simply tagged onto the whole contract?

I think what's interesting about that is the disparity. If each league is splitting the CFP money then the SEC and B1G might balk at that structure being that their CCGs are worth more. I'm sure there is a way around that though.

The thing I like about getting rid of the CCGs is that it gives everyone an extra BYE week. I think that would be good for the players and it wouldn't be terrible for the networks either as they could stretch out the schedule and get more quality games in decent time slots.

The downside is that it devalues a conference championship. With large conferences, there's no other reasonable way to determine a champ without splitting into divisions and having the winners face off. Teams will still be declared champs, but it won't be so cut and dry. I suppose it used to be like that in the SEC anyway, but I would prefer a system that's a little more objective.
01-04-2018 01:07 PM
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JRsec Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
(01-04-2018 01:07 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  
(01-04-2018 02:41 AM)JRsec Wrote:  
(01-03-2018 11:45 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I found this interesting if for no more reason than the guy was willing to go on the record.

Dennis Dodd reports

What's also interesting is his honesty with regard to precisely what TV execs want in market representation...something JR has hit on repeatedly.

The thing about expanding the CFP, if they ever seriously take up the question, is that you wouldn't be able to guarantee the biggest brands would be in the final.

There's more going on there than a press release. CBS is trying to bid up ESPN's costs for the playoffs by putting a number out there. Plus Dodds raises the ante again by talking about the Rose Bowl and what it would cost to buyout the conference championship games. I'm thinking it would take 200 million each to buyout the CCG's of the Big 10 and SEC. 75 million to buy out the Big 12 & ACC games, and maybe a little less to buy out the PAC's.

He also makes an interesting observation that the Northeast and PAC aren't really worth having in the playoff from a ratings standpoint. So half of the ACC and the West coast are laggards for the networks. The Big 12 has always had good saturation numbers (actual viewers / potential viewers).

So yeah pretty much what I've told you that their ideal was to cover as many regions as possible, but to have the SEC vs the B1G as much as possible.

It makes me wonder if the guy is tossing out some numbers so CBS can scoop the CFP the same way that mainline networks have gone after pro playoffs.

If so the bidding war can only help the revenue.

If we ever were to go to an 8 game playoff either the bowls or the CCG's go. If it is the CCG's they would be easier to buy out and the money would go straight to the conferences instead of various local interests via ESPN.

In fact upon reflection, I believe this is a tacit challenge to ESPN who wants to keep the control of 4 schools at less overhead, rather than to float the idea of going to 8 and buying out the CCG's. It's an interesting but subtle ploy that bears watching.

By buying out the CCGs, I assume you mean adding that amount of cash to the total pot in exchange for the CFP rights?

Per season or simply tagged onto the whole contract?

I think what's interesting about that is the disparity. If each league is splitting the CFP money then the SEC and B1G might balk at that structure being that their CCGs are worth more. I'm sure there is a way around that though.

The thing I like about getting rid of the CCGs is that it gives everyone an extra BYE week. I think that would be good for the players and it wouldn't be terrible for the networks either as they could stretch out the schedule and get more quality games in decent time slots.

The downside is that it devalues a conference championship. With large conferences, there's no other reasonable way to determine a champ without splitting into divisions and having the winners face off. Teams will still be declared champs, but it won't be so cut and dry. I suppose it used to be like that in the SEC anyway, but I would prefer a system that's a little more objective.

The value of the CCG's would have to be accounted for annually for the duration of the contracts. Compensation for the CCG's would have to be specific to the values of each conference before the Big 10 or SEC would buy in and the ACC & PAC would simply have to accept that.

I like what we have and still think consolidation into a P4 is what ESPN would rather have. Moving from the CCG's to the 4 team playoff is therefore less overhead but still keeps the bang for the buck.
01-04-2018 01:36 PM
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hawghiggs Offline
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RE: Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
Damn. Football going to end up a year round sport. Play the regular season in the fall. Then start the playoffs in spring semester.
01-04-2018 02:01 PM
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AllTideUp Offline
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RE: Former CBS exec thinks CFP will expand to 8, others doubt it
(01-04-2018 01:36 PM)JRsec Wrote:  
(01-04-2018 01:07 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  
(01-04-2018 02:41 AM)JRsec Wrote:  
(01-03-2018 11:45 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I found this interesting if for no more reason than the guy was willing to go on the record.

Dennis Dodd reports

What's also interesting is his honesty with regard to precisely what TV execs want in market representation...something JR has hit on repeatedly.

The thing about expanding the CFP, if they ever seriously take up the question, is that you wouldn't be able to guarantee the biggest brands would be in the final.

There's more going on there than a press release. CBS is trying to bid up ESPN's costs for the playoffs by putting a number out there. Plus Dodds raises the ante again by talking about the Rose Bowl and what it would cost to buyout the conference championship games. I'm thinking it would take 200 million each to buyout the CCG's of the Big 10 and SEC. 75 million to buy out the Big 12 & ACC games, and maybe a little less to buy out the PAC's.

He also makes an interesting observation that the Northeast and PAC aren't really worth having in the playoff from a ratings standpoint. So half of the ACC and the West coast are laggards for the networks. The Big 12 has always had good saturation numbers (actual viewers / potential viewers).

So yeah pretty much what I've told you that their ideal was to cover as many regions as possible, but to have the SEC vs the B1G as much as possible.

It makes me wonder if the guy is tossing out some numbers so CBS can scoop the CFP the same way that mainline networks have gone after pro playoffs.

If so the bidding war can only help the revenue.

If we ever were to go to an 8 game playoff either the bowls or the CCG's go. If it is the CCG's they would be easier to buy out and the money would go straight to the conferences instead of various local interests via ESPN.

In fact upon reflection, I believe this is a tacit challenge to ESPN who wants to keep the control of 4 schools at less overhead, rather than to float the idea of going to 8 and buying out the CCG's. It's an interesting but subtle ploy that bears watching.

By buying out the CCGs, I assume you mean adding that amount of cash to the total pot in exchange for the CFP rights?

Per season or simply tagged onto the whole contract?

I think what's interesting about that is the disparity. If each league is splitting the CFP money then the SEC and B1G might balk at that structure being that their CCGs are worth more. I'm sure there is a way around that though.

The thing I like about getting rid of the CCGs is that it gives everyone an extra BYE week. I think that would be good for the players and it wouldn't be terrible for the networks either as they could stretch out the schedule and get more quality games in decent time slots.

The downside is that it devalues a conference championship. With large conferences, there's no other reasonable way to determine a champ without splitting into divisions and having the winners face off. Teams will still be declared champs, but it won't be so cut and dry. I suppose it used to be like that in the SEC anyway, but I would prefer a system that's a little more objective.

The value of the CCG's would have to be accounted for annually for the duration of the contracts. Compensation for the CCG's would have to be specific to the values of each conference before the Big 10 or SEC would buy in and the ACC & PAC would simply have to accept that.

I like what we have and still think consolidation into a P4 is what ESPN would rather have. Moving from the CCG's to the 4 team playoff is therefore less overhead but still keeps the bang for the buck.

If they did move to 8 CFP teams in the future, irrespective of how those schools might be chosen, then I think this structure makes some sense:

1. Start the games in Week Zero.
2. Remove the CCGs, but use Thanksgiving weekend as the final week of the regular season. Everybody still gets 2 BYE weeks, but the kids also get an extra week to study around exam time.
3. Play the first round on campus sites on the Saturday before Christmas thus capitalizing on the long down period in which the NFL is normally allowed to steal the show. You've also given the kids about a 2-3 week break to rest up from the season finale.
4. Play the second round at rotating bowl sites on New Year's Day....Fiesta, Cotton, Sugar, Peach, Orange, and Citrus
5. About a week later, play the national championship game in the Rose Bowl and do it at that site every season. There's something special about Pasadena, but not only that there's amazing brand value in the "Rose Bowl...the grandaddy of them all." That should not only give a slight bump to the ratings in any given year, but it will make travel schedules more predictable and stable.

As far as the contract goes, I think the Power leagues could milk this thing if they're careful. The CBS guy is essentially saying an 8-team CFP is worth 50% more, but they'll have to do better than that considering the Presidents would probably want to get rid of the CCGs.

What the networks could do as a trade-off perhaps is to make some alterations to the regular season and the conference-specific contracts...
01-04-2018 04:16 PM
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