GamePlan and FullCourt go away and up to eight selected ESPN3 games will replace them on those channels which will be included in your sports package.
http://www.scout.com/college/arkansas-st...s-big-news

Fantastic news for NIU, a frequent ESPN3 fixture, to get more national recognition and exposure

Takes the sting off Mizzou at Arkansas State being on ESPN3. Unless AState-Toledo gets picked up for a real channel expecting eight games on ESPN3 this year.

This is good news for every conference with TV contract with ESPN. It probably benefits the American and the MAC more than the other leagues. The key is what will be the price point and will all game be in HD.

(08-28-2015 11:07 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  This is good news for every conference with TV contract with ESPN. It probably benefits the American and the MAC more than the other leagues. The key is what will be the price point and will all game be in HD.

Included in sports package with the current providers.

Looks like all 5 AAC ESPN3 games scheduled for Sept. 5th got picked up. With these additions, each week one AAC game will be shown on TV.

Seems like a much better option than the old GamePlan/Full Court PPV setups. They probably expect a broader carriage where a sports package might run you $8 a month as opposed to hundreds a year on those PPV packages. Also, if last season's move to have a college baseball version of Goal Line/Buzzer Beater in the Spring is any indication, I'd bet they have college baseball on the College Extra channels too. Maybe some college hockey and LAX too.

(08-28-2015 12:11 PM)brista21 Wrote:  Seems like a much better option than the old GamePlan/Full Court PPV setups. They probably expect a broader carriage where a sports package might run you $8 a month as opposed to hundreds a year on those PPV packages. Also, if last season's move to have a college baseball version of Goal Line/Buzzer Beater in the Spring is any indication, I'd bet they have college baseball on the College Extra channels too. Maybe some college hockey and LAX too.

Yes it will be multiple sports.

From the release
The service delivers an extensive portfolio of college sports events year-round including football, basketball, baseball, softball and more.

(08-28-2015 12:56 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(08-28-2015 12:11 PM)brista21 Wrote:  Seems like a much better option than the old GamePlan/Full Court PPV setups. They probably expect a broader carriage where a sports package might run you $8 a month as opposed to hundreds a year on those PPV packages. Also, if last season's move to have a college baseball version of Goal Line/Buzzer Beater in the Spring is any indication, I'd bet they have college baseball on the College Extra channels too. Maybe some college hockey and LAX too.

Yes it will be multiple sports.

From the release
The service delivers an extensive portfolio of college sports events year-round including football, basketball, baseball, softball and more.

The access to more baseball games is going to be nice.

(08-28-2015 11:07 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  This is good news for every conference with TV contract with ESPN. It probably benefits the American and the MAC more than the other leagues. The key is what will be the price point and will all game be in HD.

The real benefit I see going to some of these good FCS programs that can get no TV otherwise.

The first week of the College Extra schedule doesn't have Buffalo, Miami or EMU on it and all of those schools are at home on ESPN3.

It does have games broadcasted Cheyney (PA), Monmouth, Furman, Stetson, Stephen A. Austin. The attendance at those schools would likely be better than what is found at EMU, Buffalo and Miami unfortunately.

PPV is all but a dead duck now, especially after WWE abandoned ship for its over-the-top network. UFC is about the only consistent player left (unless boxing can somehow pull more Mayweather-Pacquiao fights out of its arse more than once an eternity).

(08-28-2015 11:07 AM)bearcatlawjd2 Wrote:  This is good news for every conference with TV contract with ESPN. It probably benefits the American and the MAC more than the other leagues. The key is what will be the price point and will all game be in HD.

Actually, I would say the MAC and Sunbelt are the two biggest winners on this. The AAC benefits as well, but the SB and MAC had a ton of stuff on ESPN3 that will now be available via more traditional avenues. I could also see it making ESPN a factor in the ongoing CUSA contract discussions.

I don't see it affecting the AAC much either. Other than most of the FCS opponent games, everything else is already on an ESPN channel, ABC, or CBS Sports Network. Maybe 8 or so AAC games land there. Better than ESPN3, but nothing major.

I heard it will cost around $150-170.

(08-28-2015 12:11 PM)brista21 Wrote:  Also, if last season's move to have a college baseball version of Goal Line/Buzzer Beater in the Spring is any indication, I'd bet they have college baseball on the College Extra channels too.

I hate ESPN. I hate their increasingly political bent. I hate their unabashed gushing bias of the SEC. I hate their extremely SEC heavy employment policies for CFB analysts. I hate their direct and huge conflict of interest in selling the SECN with their own channel renewals while being "partners" with nearly every other conference, who didn't get in on said bundling. But dammit .....Goalline is like mainlining heroin. It's ridiculously awesome.

(08-28-2015 11:15 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  Looks like all 5 AAC ESPN3 games scheduled for Sept. 5th got picked up. With these additions, each week one AAC game will be shown on TV.

Good news.