(10-14-2017 12:22 PM)Attackcoog Wrote: (10-13-2017 02:49 PM)CougarRed Wrote: (10-13-2017 11:51 AM)Attackcoog Wrote: Correct. However, between that minor ACC loss combined with the loss of 50% of the Big10 inventory---and ESPN has holes to fill.
How did they fill the Big 10 loss this year?
In 2016, they showed the following Big 10 games
ABC = 19
ESPN = 11
ESPN2 = 8
ESPNU = 8
ESPNews = 10
That's 46 games on "rated" channels, and 56 total including ESPNews.
In 2017, ESPN is airing 27 total games. None on ESPNews.
So they have 19 slots to fill this year, next year and 2019 with the Big 10 loss. Pretty sure those spots will be redistributed before the next American deal goes into effect.
Correct. That's the whole point. When ESPN decided to match NBC's low ball offer to an unproven unstable AAC---they didn't really need the inventory. We were replacing lost Big East inventory. Since realignment had provided ESPN with a larger ACC, Big10, and SEC---there wasn't really that many Big East holes left to fill. We were surplus inventory (which explains why ESPN's original offer was much more ESPN3 oriented). They chose to make ESPN News a live sports network on Saturdays to make the AAC deal work. But today---with the loss of 50% of the Big10 inventory (with no expansion in the inventory of thier other ESPN owned properties)----we are part of thier current solution for filling all those vacant Big10 slots. ESPN actually needs AAC inventory.
I would add, under it's new deal with the B1G, ESPN can't show any in conference games on ESPNU and can't show any games at all on ESPNews. This year, it has used its flexibility with respect to OOC games only once, showing only Bowling Green at Michigan St. on ESPNU. Thus, its 38 game ABC/ESPN/2 inventory from 2016 has been reduced by only 12 games to 26 games in 2017.
So, the total freed slots for the entire 2017 season as compared to 2016 actual appearances:
ABC/ESPN/2: 12
ESPNU: 7
ESPNews: 10
And here's the B1G's actual appearances through Week 8:
2016:
ABC: 11
ESPN: 3
ESPN2: 6
ESPNU: 6
ESPNews: 7
TOTAL: 33
2017:
ABC: 11
ESPN: 2
ESPN2: 4
ESPNU: 1
ESPNews: 0
TOTAL: 18
Just for curiosity, I decided to look at how the ACC, SEC and American's appearances have changes through week 8 (next week) in 2017 from 2016:
ACC Thru Week 8
2016:
ABC: 8
ESPN: 10
ESPN2: 3
ESPNU: 4
ESPNews: 0
TOTAL: 25
2017:
ABC: 7
ESPN: 12
ESPN2: 7
ESPNU: 4
ESPNews: 0
TOTAL: 30
American Thru Week 8
2016:
ABC: 2
ESPN: 5
ESPN2: 3
ESPNU: 6
ESPNews: 5
TOTAL: 21
2017:
ABC: 2
ESPN: 4
ESPN2: 2
ESPNU: 10
ESPNews: 3
TOTAL: 21
SEC Thru Week 8
2016:
ESPN: 12
ESPN2: 4
ESPNU: 4
TOTAL: 21
2017:
ESPN: 14
ESPN2: 5
ESPNU: 5
TOTAL: 24
In general, it suggests that the ACC has picked up some of the B1G's ABC/ESPN/2 slots and that the SEC has picked up some of of the B1G's ESPN/2/U slots, but that the American has not. The American's total appearances hasn't changes, but it appears to have upgraded some of its former ESPNews appearances to ESPNU. Here's the total change by network and conference:
ABC: B1G Even, ACC +1, American Even
ESPN: B1G -1, ACC +2, American -1, SEC +2
ESPN2: B1G -2, ACC +4, American -1, SEC +1
ESPNU: B1G -6, ACC Even, American +4, SEC +1
ESPNews: B1G -7, American -2