(04-05-2015 09:45 PM)mtmedlin Wrote: (04-05-2015 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: (04-05-2015 09:06 PM)mtmedlin Wrote: (04-05-2015 08:56 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote: (04-05-2015 01:41 PM)mtmedlin Wrote: Id ask this... How is taking two conferences that make almost identical money and merging them going to get you more money?
ESPN "could" see the potential with adding a bunch of markets in a true east coast to west coast conference. The bigger league would have us watching MWC games that we care less about at 11PM at night.
Unless the money is way higher, the coast to coast league makes zero sense. We could do some FB only schools since we only play 4 away league games. It just doesn't make sense for other sports unless the money is way higher and some pods can be setup to reduce travel.
Problem is, that ESPN already owns both. No upside. Only thing it would do is change the opponents. The time slots they already own.
I get that ESPN owns both but the total viewership should rise. Think about late night games on the MWC. You're probably not going to say up to watch the MWC unless there is some type of connection.
I dont see interest skyrocketing for those games. For instance, I am gonna watch all USF games and some AAC games. Just because they are now playing more MWC teams doesnt mean I am gonna watch even more of those games. They dont interest me anymore then watching the current AAC.
Now if an AAC team is playing a P5 opponent, I typically will tune in cause I want to see our team knock off the big boys... but I honestly couldnt give a crap if were beating a MWC team.
Overall, I think with ESPN already owning the MWC and AAC they have just about as much viewership as they are going to get out of those opponents and time slots. What ESPN needs to do is get the P5 conferences to stop scheduling the MAC, Sunbelt and CUSA. This would increase viewership in us since its a better opponent.
If the AAC added the 12 MW schools just prior to the AAC ESPN renegotiation, the ESPN would actually NOT own the MW rights as the MW would no longer exist.
A nationwide G5 conference would create synergies by making a game between Frenso and Colorado St have some impact on far flung G5 fans in Philly, Dallas, and Houston, and Orlando. Basically, instead of having just 12 fan bases interested in the outcome of games, you have 24 fan bases. That likely comes close to equaling the number of fans interested in Big-12 games or ACC games. It just took twice as many fanbases to reach that interest number. That said, does TV really care how many fanbases it takes to reach "X" ratings? Nope---its just important that something draws "x' ratings.
My guess is that a conference like that can draw near P5 ratings (especially for its bigger games between key members) and will be paid near the P5r rates (eventually). It may take a while to get there as the conference would have to build a track record before the networks would be willing to pay full freight---but it would eventually occur as the nationwide conference becomes the most well known, most recognized, most followed, and most watched G5 conference in the nation. The reality is, schools in the conference would only make half as much as the P5 (twice as many members), but the conference would make about the same size contract as a 12-team P5. That's a significant increase over where we are now. Making 50% of what power conference schools make is a target point we likely cannot reach as we currently stand (we currently make about 10% of what a P5 makes).
For a NATIONAL cable broadcaster who would be showing a G5 game NATIONALLY, it makes sense to do so within the context of a NATIONAL conference. If you are showing a game between Fresno and Colorado St in Philly as well as Colorado---wouldn't it make more sense to do it in the context of a league where folks in Philly, Orlando, and Dallas might actually have some common interest in the outcome?
A national college conference is actually the perfect product for a national cable sports network.
Finally, control of supply would be one more area where the value of a 24 schools cross country conference would change the dynamic. There are 62 G5 conference teams. By combining the AAC and MW, the AAC would control nearly 40% of the G5 inventory and nearly ALL of the G5 inventory that media would be particularly interested in.
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