Honest questions: does this thing have any potential? Do the American's existing media-deals preclude the possibility of our doing something similar? And (if not) should we look into it?

Link goes to a press-release from Sinclair Broadcasting:
http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/ASN%2Epdf

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. announced today that it has launched the American Sports Network, a collegiate sports initiative to be broadcast on a number of Sinclair’s broadcast television stations, and has entered into comprehensive sports rights agreements with a number of distinguished NCAA Division I conferences including Conference USA, the Colonial Athletic Association, Big South Conference, Southern Conference, and Patriot League. The initiative will be led by Doron Gorshein, Chief Operating Officer of Sinclair Networks, a division of Sinclair, who joined the Company in January 2014. The announcement was made by David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair.

Under these agreements, Sinclair will premiere an extensive slate of live, local sporting events, including football, basketball, soccer, and other sports with the opening of this year’s college football season. The initial launch will include over 50 universities and colleges. These local, live, exclusive games will be broadcast in different regions of the country, including where the conferences are located. Sinclair’s broadcast stations will either be carrying the games and original content as part of the primary program line-up (generally on the Company’s CW and MyNet affiliates) or as part of second channels (sub-channels of the primary station’s signal), complimented by access and distribution on digital platforms. Subject, among other things, to successfully securing carriage agreements with distributors in the future, the Company’s plans may include potential development of new cable networks and digital platforms focused on these new content initiatives. In addition, other television broadcasters have expressed an interest in distributing the games in their markets. Additional content and distribution elements will include programming that showcases the colleges, students, and student-athletes, focusing on their aspirations and achievements.

“Broadcasters serve and are closely connected to their communities, of which the colleges and universities are an integral part,” commented Sinclair Networks COO, Doron Gorshein. “We believe there is significant value and consumer appeal for live sporting events from these important institutions, and we can offer expanded distribution through our broadcast platforms, as well as on potential new platforms, deepening our connection to our communities. We’re proud to be working with the Conferences on this initiative, which combines compelling local sports and related content, with enhanced localism, diversity, and positive social purpose.”

“Sinclair is a strategic new outlet for Conference USA programming,” C-USA Commissioner, Britton Banowsky, said. “This alliance provides new and differentiated exposure, which will benefit our member institutions, athletic programs, students, alumni, and communities. We are excited about this new development to the media sector.”

“Sinclair’s entry into the college sports market is important, particularly given their unique connection to local communities and ability to serve consumers in the CAA markets,” said Tom Yeager, Commissioner of the Colonial Athletic Association. “In addition, in conjunction with our Colonial Academic Alliance, Sinclair’s platforms can become outlets for important content about the achievements and public service of our students and student-athletes.”

More at the link

I think the potential is really limited to more exposure for the league. I don't think there is much revenue potential. I kinda look at it like a poor man's Raycom Network that the ACC has.

(07-19-2014 02:20 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I think the potential is really limited to more exposure for the league. I don't think there is much revenue potential. I kinda look at it like a poor man's Raycom Network that the ACC has.

Exactly. It is also similar to ESPN-Regional television that we had games on last season. Its an option that's better than nothing. Its an option that beats pure local coverage on a local station. But, this particular network misses a lot of the bigger cities and concentrates on small to mid-sized markets. Really, this is the replacement for games that would have been on CSS--and its a reasonable replacement for that outlet (perhaps even superior).

The biggest problem with these syndicated networks is the coverage can be a little spotty. I do think such a syndicated network option isn't too bad if it is paired with a digital network as well. For instance, ESPN Regional Television had a ESPN-3 simulcast. So you get over the air television or cable coverage in many areas PLUS full access to the game anywhere not covered via the digital network. In some ways that can superior to a national network like CBS-Sports or a Fox Regional that might pre-empt the game in some sister markets. The big advantage of such a syndicated network is that it offers great Saturday time slots that are not available to the G5 on other national cable networks.

Our ability to broadcast with ESPN Regional syndication and ESPN3 for games not on the ESPN or CBS cable networks beats out doing something like this. Even though the numbers in the TV contract are underwhelming for us, we've got solid national coverage on a week to week basis, something CUSA doesn't have.

(07-19-2014 03:01 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-19-2014 02:20 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I think the potential is really limited to more exposure for the league. I don't think there is much revenue potential. I kinda look at it like a poor man's Raycom Network that the ACC has.

Exactly. It is also similar to ESPN-Regional television that we had games on last season. Its an option that's better than nothing. Its an option that beats pure local coverage on a local station. But, this particular network misses a lot of the bigger cities and concentrates on small to mid-sized markets. Really, this is the replacement for games that would have been on CSS--and its a reasonable replacement for that outlet (perhaps even superior).

The biggest problem with these syndicated networks is the coverage can be a little spotty. I do think such a syndicated network option isn't too bad if it is paired with a digital network as well. For instance, ESPN Regional Television had a ESPN-3 simulcast. So you get over the air television or cable coverage in many areas PLUS full access to the game anywhere not covered via the digital network. In some ways that can superior to a national network like CBS-Sports or a Fox Regional that might pre-empt the game in some sister markets. The big advantage of such a syndicated network is that it offers great Saturday time slots that are not available to the G5 on other national cable networks.

Word is that the Sinclair broadcasts will be distributed digitally on the CUSA Digital Network. If that is true, that'll be great. Being able to stream HD television quality broadcasts (even if they're not ESPN quality) will be a great thing.

I wish CUSA would work on building an app for the CUSA Digital Network for Roku, Apple TV, and FireTV.

I don't see how this is any different than what CSS was doing and it did not help Conference USA when we were in it. You still have to search for the channel to find the game. It will be watched by people who are already fans of the teams playing and offer primarly regional exposure. The tv set up in Conference USA was mediocre when ECU was in the conference and it looks the same to me.

Most troubling for Conference USA is that there are no money figures attached to this. W

(07-19-2014 06:56 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  I don't see how this is any different than what CSS was doing and it did not help Conference USA when we were in it. You still have to search for the channel to find the game. It will be watched by people who are already fans of the teams playing and offer primarly regional exposure. The tv set up in Conference USA was mediocre when ECU was in the conference and it looks the same to me.

That means it'll be up to the member institutions to get their marketing in gear and make it known widely and loudly that their games are on whatever channel they'll be on in the market. But then, if you're not on ESPN/2 or a network, your school should be doing that anyway. Casuals aren't going to know where FS1 or NBCSN are on their 500-channel system.

(07-19-2014 06:56 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  I don't see how this is any different than what CSS was doing and it did not help Conference USA when we were in it. You still have to search for the channel to find the game. It will be watched by people who are already fans of the teams playing and offer primarly regional exposure. The tv set up in Conference USA was mediocre when ECU was in the conference and it looks the same to me.

Most troubling for Conference USA is that there are no money figures attached to this. W

In most cases I don't believe that will be the case. Sinclair owns around 150 stations around the country, and they operate even more stations. The press release stated that these C-USA games will be featured on local Sinclair CW and MyTV stations. Those are not difficult stations to find. The release also stated that games could be broadcast on sub-channels. I think most games will appear on the main CW and MyTV stations. Live FBS football games will draw better rating than 60 year old I love Lucy reruns.

Here in Dallas, the local channel 21 featured SEC games on Saturdays. With the creation of the SEC Network I don't believe that will continue. This syndication package from Sinclair could fill that opening. We will see.

Seems to be the same as CSS and CSTV set up from previous years. So glad to be with ESPN.

(07-17-2014 06:56 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  Honest questions: does this thing have any potential? Do the American's existing media-deals preclude the possibility of our doing something similar? And (if not) should we look into it?

Very little
Don't know
No

I hope they get something out it.

And according to most of you guys, I thought some publicity was better than no publicity at all. You guys love ESPN even though they pay y'all chicken feed and treat y'all like redheaded stepchildren. Whether CUSA gets any monetary value out of deal remains to be seen, the fact is the conference is going to be able to get more games on TV and through the Digital TV network. That's more than any CUSA fan thought they would have before the beginning of the season so it can't be anything but a positive for the conference.

I hope Conf USA gets great exposure with there next tv deal. I just dont see this as any different than CSS coverage overall. Hey, if i am wrong, then good for you guys you deserve it.

(07-20-2014 12:27 AM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  And according to most of you guys, I thought some publicity was better than no publicity at all. You guys love ESPN even though they pay y'all chicken feed and treat y'all like redheaded stepchildren. Whether CUSA gets any monetary value out of deal remains to be seen, the fact is the conference is going to be able to get more games on TV and through the Digital TV network.

CUSA's not getting any extra money for this. These are the games that would have been on CSS. UHF stations are better than CSS, but I'd say ESPN-News is better than UHF stations.

I'd say ESPN-News > Digital network + syndicated TV > Digital network like ESPN3 > Non-basic-tier sports channel > GAme not shown/webcasted by school.

Quote:That's more than any CUSA fan thought they would have before the beginning of the season so it can't be anything but a positive for the conference.

What is Sinclair paying CUSA?

I remember when CSTV signed the MWC to a very rich contract after ESPN lowballed them and tried to make them play at odd times during the week.

MWC went for the money and traditional start times over exposure, and it turned into a disaster. Had the MWC not gotten paid, it would have been even worse.

So -- how much is CUSA getting?

(07-20-2014 06:28 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  What is Sinclair paying CUSA?

I remember when CSTV signed the MWC to a very rich contract after ESPN lowballed them and tried to make them play at odd times during the week.

MWC went for the money and traditional start times over exposure, and it turned into a disaster. Had the MWC not gotten paid, it would have been even worse.

So -- how much is CUSA getting?

CUSA isn't getting any new money. Sinclair is buying these games from CBS Sports and/or Fox.

(07-20-2014 06:28 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  What is Sinclair paying CUSA?

So -- how much is CUSA getting?

Apparently no money. But at least it is some type of exposure and every little bit helps right.

UHF still exist? lol

(07-20-2014 05:46 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  CUSA's not getting any extra money for this. These are the games that would have been on CSS. UHF stations are better than CSS, but I'd say ESPN-News is better than UHF stations.

I'd say ESPN-News > Digital network + syndicated TV > Digital network like ESPN3 > Non-basic-tier sports channel > GAme not shown/webcasted by school.

Cool. It is still more games on TV. Take what you can get and don't be picky about it if you're CUSA.