At this point in time I think both ESPN and the B1G want to strike a deal for the other half of B1G rights FOX hasn't grabbed. The debate behind closed doors will be money, to absolutely no one's surprise. Because the B1G will not want to be ignored by ESPN and ESPN will not want to abandon the Midwest and East Coast, a deal should get done. But let's suppose for a second that ESPN makes another non-competitive bid. The expectation is 250 Million per year for the other half of the rights, but what if Fox throws in another 100 Million or more to sweeten the deal and allow for some games to be placed on FS2 (all reports I've seen thus far say Big Fox and FS1). Fox could even give the conference more exposure with Women's Basketball maybe some volleyball or wrestling. A deal like that could be tempting to draw the B1G completely away from ESPN or any other suitors and really put FS1 & FS2 into orbit.

At the end of the day I still expect a deal to be done but perhaps a pared down deal with more non-revenue exposure, say for instance 100-150 Million per year for 1 game a week in football on either ABC/ESPN nationwide plus the full compliment for men's basketball games. Then maybe throw in a clause like "ESPN will air as much non-revenue sports content including periperal coverage as the SEC or the ACC whichever is greater excluding conference network content." That would ensure a broad base of coverage for all B1G sports and ESPN gets to hold the line on costs.

That would bring the Football sold package 39 ish games and revenue to 350-400 Million per year. The B1G could then steal a few games away from BTN and sell another 14 ish game package (1 game per week) to Fox or CBS or NBC or TNT or whomever for the last 100 Million or whatever the market will bear.

I want ESPN to come to the table with a 200 ish Million per year bid for the remaining rights but if they don't... I wouldn't be surprised if Fox throws out another mind-boggling figure to make sure they secure the future of FS1 and FS2.

I have doubts that ESPN is going to be left with any B1G rights. ESPN just put in a bid recently for CUSA and a much lower price point than what that conference was getting paid. They don't have the money right now. They are spent right now. They got outbid by FOX and NBC for two of some of their most prized employees.

The folks at the sports journal confirmed that ESPN did want to get the B1G rights and they have serious doubts ESPN will win the second half. They also pointed out that ESPN couldn't afford to match the $1M difference in the offer that Skip Bayless got to go to FOX. FOX wanted to keep Skip but couldn't find the million dollar a year to match the offer.

I see NBC and CBS getting most of the second half of the rights. Wouldn't surprise me if FOX bid for more rights too and then will in return sell off some of their garbage content (low rating stuff) to ESPN to make room for the new content.

I see that as the more likely outcome than ESPN suddenly finding the money.

I don't expect the Big Ten or Fox to want all their rights to go to Fox. Not enough exposure for the Big Ten and too much money spent by Fox.

(05-01-2016 09:41 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  I don't expect the Big Ten or Fox to want all their rights to go to Fox. Not enough exposure for the Big Ten and too much money spent by Fox.

Fox also has to be careful about inventory, as it doesn't have a "Fox Sports U" and Fox Sports 2 is an immature product. The only other option would be to go with FX and FXX, but then that undermines any attempt to build up Fox Sports 2.