XLance
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I Root For: Carolina
Location: Greensboro, NC
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RE: Warchant: New ACC/ESPN deal to provide three "look in" periods
(08-05-2016 09:08 AM)omniorange Wrote: (08-05-2016 08:58 AM)GTTiger Wrote: (08-04-2016 11:51 PM)omniorange Wrote: (08-04-2016 11:12 PM)L-yes Wrote: (08-04-2016 07:21 PM)Lou_C Wrote: Whit Babcock was on Sirius with Mark Packer a couple hours ago. They were talking about the ACC network, and he very explicitly reiterated that the deal will put the ACC on the level of B1G and SEC and separate them from the PAC and B12. Now, I'll still believe it when I see it on 2020 but he was unequivocal, and I don't think he's a guy that you would normally chalk up to be a liar or stupid. So that's encouraging.
I do expect the Big 12 to expand and improve their deal, and the Pac to eventually get carriage and start picking up, so I don't expect there to be significant separation really or at least for long, but if we're in the B1G/SEC neighborhood we'll be ok.
I read an article that was a profile of Jim Delany and the development and launch of the B1G Network. Delany made a comment that resonated with me when the ACC announced its deal. Contrary to message board dogma and the orthodoxy that says it's ALL football driven when it comes to realignment and network considerations, the B1G didn't really take off until basketball season. It was the volume of content that was unavailable that was maintaining steady pressure on the providers to pick up the network as an offering in their package. If this is the case, and this plays a larger role than anyone chattering on these boards realizes, I absolutely believe it will be on par with those two leagues.
I've been saying that since 2008 or 2009. I believe he said that initially after the first or second year anniversary of the BTN.
My concerns with a possible linear ACC Network have always centered around the footprint and the specific model of conference networks being state-wide supported, not its lack of prowess with football. ACC only owns two states - North Carolina and Virginia and good representation in Florida, South Carolina, and upstate New York.
It would seem to me with an ACCN, with ND as a partial member, and with hit and miss media markets in states where there isn't likely to be statewide support, the success of an ACCN may come down to can the current model of linear conference networks be modified to work within specific markets such as NYC, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, DC, Pitt, and Louisville - if not at full-price but at least half- price?
Cheers,
Neil
I think you underestimate some states. The ACC doesn't have to own states, they just enough support to get the full in-state carriage.
As you said NC, and Va are locks, but I think South Carolina and Florida are too.
Between Miami and FSU that's a bigger foothold that Florida. Clemson has become hugely popular in SC. Outside of Columbia Clemson has picked up the casual fan.
Georgia and Kentucky will represent well too. Yes Georgia Tech is not the flagship school of Georgia, but the number of Clemson and FSU alumni in the Atlanta metro area is the highest of any location outside their homestates.
The ACC is syndicated regionally all over the state of Georgia.
Don't disagree with anything you say above, particularly in terms of Florida and South Carolina, which is why they followed the "owned" states of Virginia and North Carolina.
However, as I think you know, being syndicated regionally for games here and there is not quite the same as forking out subscription fees month after month for a linear network. I do think the Atlanta metro area is a good example of where I was heading with this discussion, with the ACCN potentially being a hybrid of the current state-model with a metro-area strategy to support it as well that I listed in my post above.
Cheers,
Neil
Neil, I think you will see that ESPN will market the ACCN along side of the SECN for maximum penetration. Those season ending games will start to be spread out in the season to create must see ACC/SEC matchups.
For the Atlanta market, I think you will see a six team rotation (three each from the SEC and ACC). On the ACC side you will see Ga. Tech, Clemson, and Carolina, while on the SEC side you will see 'lil carolina, Auburn and Georgia. In a six year period you might find Clemson playing South Carolina three times, Auburn twice and Georgia once. I think every team would go in this rotation except Auburn and Carolina which I don't think would ever meet
(no real history).
I think you will see a similar rotation with Va. Tech, Louisville, and Pitt with West Virginia (yes they will end up in the SEC) Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Heck your might even have a deal with the devil, I mean the B1G, with Syracuse, Boston College and UVa and Maryland, Penn State and Rutgers (after all, money is money).
If the Big 12 stays intact or expands, similar arrangements could be worked out with the SEC and B1G in the west.
If there is some cooperation once things get settled, then everyone will be able to get their rate, even with shrinking numbers of cable customers.
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