Big East commissioner John Marrinato commented on the league's upcoming television negotiations and expansion plans at Tuesday's Big East Media Day in Rhode Island. Here is what he had to say about both hot topics:

Quote:“I can assure you I am a student of the rapidly changing media landscape. It doesn’t take a high-priced TV consultant to know that we as a league are very well positioned for the future given the TV households and markets we represent, the interest in our programs, and the landscape that has been cultivated by those who have entered the market before us.

“We’ll continue to evaluate potential opportunities for further expansion and, similar to TCU, any new candidate for membership must also bring real value. Our process is ongoing and we continue to study all options.”

To read the entire article, go to Insidetheville.com

1st quote makes me wonder if Tagliabue is even involved with the Big East anymore.

(08-02-2011 10:27 AM)mattsarz Wrote:  1st quote makes me wonder if Tagliabue is even involved with the Big East anymore.

+1

(08-02-2011 10:36 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  

(08-02-2011 10:27 AM)mattsarz Wrote:  1st quote makes me wonder if Tagliabue is even involved with the Big East anymore.

+1

Wilkie, I'm fine if he isn't. My feelings on that are elsewhere here.

(08-02-2011 10:27 AM)mattsarz Wrote:  1st quote makes me wonder if Tagliabue is even involved with the Big East anymore.

My understanding is that Tags did his work. It's up to the conference now to decide which way it will go based upon his recommendations.

Cheers,
Neil

(08-02-2011 10:25 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  Big East commissioner John Marrinato commented on the league's upcoming television negotiations and expansion plans at Tuesday's Big East Media Day in Rhode Island. Here is what he had to say about both hot topics:

Quote:“I can assure you I am a student of the rapidly changing media landscape. It doesn’t take a high-priced TV consultant to know that we as a league are very well positioned for the future given the TV households and markets we represent, the interest in our programs, and the landscape that has been cultivated by those who have entered the market before us.

“I’m confident that we are solidly positioned for the future as we approach the 13-month runway to what I believe will be the most important television negotiations in our history…We are currently in the middle of concurrent six-year TV agreements, agreements that negotiated four short years ago were negotiated during a very different era and marketplace and following a very difficult time for this conference.

“Since then the television world has changed dramatically and the Big East has re-solidified itself as one of the premier conferences in the country. Given the ever-growing demand for live sports….and the confidence I have in our product I view this as a golden opportunity to secure our long-term stability and security into the next generation.

“Since Dave Gavitt founded this league in 1979, creativity in the world of television has been one of our hallmarks. And I promise you it will continue to be as move forward in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Simply stated, the bottom line is that the next round of media negotiations will propel the Big East into a place where we will again achieve equity with the other major conferences in terms of revenue and exposure.

“The long standing partnership between the Big East and ESPN continues to be strong. The Big East and ESPN were both born in 1979. We have grown up together. We are proud and respectful of our three decade relationship. The Big East reaches more households than any other conference. Seven Big East members are located in the Top 14 media markets, and 12 in the Top 35, covering more than 25 percent of all U.S. households.

“Expansion and television are interrelated and in many ways go hand in hand. [Adding] TCU was a very important first step toward our goal of creating long term stability for this league. The addition of the defending Rose Bowl champion will expand the largest footprint of any conference in the country to more than 30 percent of the TV households in America and into the fifth largest market in the country. It also enhances the conferences already strong footing as an automatic qualifying member of the BCS.

“We’ll continue to evaluate potential opportunities for further expansion and, similar to TCU, any new candidate for membership must also bring real value. Our process is ongoing and we continue to study all options.”

The fact that there were so many tv executives at the media day dinner should also give him reason to be confident.

Quote:Despite headaches over contraction or expansion, the Big East finds itself as one of the most desirable free agents in the sports television market. No wonder executives from Comcast, Fox, CBS, ESPN and SNY had a seat at Sunday night's table.

For those who think it is a mistake that the BE turned down Espn's $11 million per school offer, pay close attention to the hilited paragraph.

We got 13 months to finalize this thing. Can this guy get it done? We will see. I would have no problem if UCONN's new president took charge of this TV thing. Just in 2 months on campus, she already laid down massive plans to improve our school for the future. I just hope Marinnato got someone like that in his office to help him out.

(08-02-2011 12:27 PM)cuseroc Wrote:  

Quote:Despite headaches over contraction or expansion, the Big East finds itself as one of the most desirable free agents in the sports television market. No wonder executives from Comcast, Fox, CBS, ESPN and SNY had a seat at Sunday night's table.

For those who think it is a mistake that the BE turned down Espn's $11 million per school offer, pay close attention to the hilited paragraph.

There were plenty of naysayers of the BE. Many thought BE was doomed. Number of posters here thought B11 would rip the BE apart. None of those guys been right.

I have stated long before BE turned down the $11M per year deal that BE should not settle for less than $15M+ per year for the new deal. Some thought I was nuts. We will see who is right at end of the day. BE is positioned better today for a TV negotiation better than any time in its history.

(08-02-2011 12:34 PM)SF Husky Wrote:  We got 13 months to finalize this thing. Can this guy get it done? We will see. I would have no problem if UCONN's new president took charge of this TV thing. Just in 2 months on campus, she already laid down massive plans to improve our school for the future. I just hope Marinnato got someone like that in his office to help him out.

I'm fine with that. Remember that the conference had several ADs on the last negotiating committee.